The Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA40104) has become the standard teaching qualification in the vocational education and training (VET) sector. Therefore the extent to which it provides competency in training and assessment, arguably the key element of being an effective teacher, is a fundamental issue. The author investigates the extent to which practitioners believe that this certificate provides an effective foundation for the delivery and assessment of training in the VET environment. Through interviews and surveys with teachers, trainers and registered training organisation managers, this project is designed to explore individual practitioner experiences and expectations upon completion of the TAA40104 qualification, after approximately a six-month period of application in the field and then, approximately 12 months after completion, a final reflection. This background paper provides a history of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and reviews the limited research on this qualification. The paper also outlines some of the key issues surrounding TAA40104, such as uneven quality, inconsistencies in delivery and the perceived inability to meet the skills and knowledge needs of trainers in workplaces or teachers in institutional settings. These issues provide the impetus for a review of TAA40104 being undertaken by the skills council, Innovation & Business Skills Australia (IBSA). A key message emerging from this background paper is that the position of TAA40104 as the key qualification for VET practitioners is under pressure. This is highlighted by the availability of other relevant qualifications now available to practitioners and by industry concerns about assessment approaches and assessment decision-making. (Contains 1 table.) [Funding for this document was provided through the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.]