How does NZQA analyse my application for course approval and accreditation?

There are two processes for analysing an application for course approval and accreditation: the Standard Track and the Preferential Track.

Standard Track

NZQA will analyse your application documentation to ensure that all criteria for approval and/or accreditation are met and clearly documented. This analysis also includes consideration of a report written by an independent subject expert.
If there are any gaps or weaknesses in the application, or further information is required, NZQA will send you a preliminary report. You will be asked to respond within three weeks.
If you are unable to provide information to the required standard within the three weeks, you will be notified that the application may be cancelled. If the application fails to meet NZQA requirements after two attempts, you will be notified that your application has been declined. The file will be closed.
If substantial changes are made to a course during the approval process, you will need to supply a final version before approval can be granted.
When all criteria for approval and/or accreditation have been met, you will be formally advised that the course is approved and your organisation has been accredited to deliver it (as applicable).
Courses can be approved for a specified term only. Conditions can be attached to an approval or to an accreditation. Some courses may be monitored.
The overall target turnaround time for Standard Track applications is three months. However, the turnaround time may be longer. This will depend on the quality of documentation and how long an applicant takes to return information requested.

NZQA will first assess the eligibility of your course for the Preferential Track.
If your application is not eligible for analysis on the Preferential Track, you will be notified by letter. Your application will be analysed on the Standard Track.
Eligible applications are analysed using evidence in the application documents in relation to:
- the level of stakeholder support
- the content of the independent subject expert report
- the degree of compliance with internal procedures of your quality management system
- information supplied in the NZQA application forms.
Once NZQA is satisfied that the course meets the criteria for course approval and accreditation, the course will be approved and you will be notified by letter.
If concerns surface during this process, NZQA may need to conduct a full analysis. At that point the application is likely to revert to the standard process.
The overall target turnaround time for Preferential Track applications is one month. This depends on the quality of documentation and how long an applicant takes to return any further information requested. If a Preferential Track application reverts to the Standard Track, the target turnaround time will be three months.

Home

Page updated: 07 August 2007