I'm afraid we are stuck with 401XX under the current regime. Several points, as I understand things -
(a) the ticket doesn't expire, per se, but periodically the subject grouping requirements change so one has to do a bit of an upgrade to pick up the new subjects. Historically, the syllabus is on a nominal 6 year cycle with the next one due in 2022. I did mine at Chisholm a couple of years ago (a day a week for the best part of the year - no complaints re the work, though) so I await to find out what I need to do in the next year or two to keep in good standing with the system. While I see the course as being useful for those who have no teaching background, the more you have, the less will be new to you. In the latter case, just a chore to be ticked off although there will be new bits so there is some value to be had.
(b) RPL should be available but, as another poster has suggested, probably more trouble than it's worth and there is the risk that you might pick up some new stuff along the way if you just grin and bear it and do the thing in toto. Certainly, if your story is not very recent and comprehensive, it just isn't going to be a starter.
(c) there was a significant change in the workload requirements at 40116 with a minimum (as I recall) of 30 weeks to be done. The story I received was that this was to get around the on line rush jobs ...