This is one of three National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEAs) designed to recognise the general achievement of 16 to 19 year old learners. The NCEAs are qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework and are intended to be accessible to all sectors of the target market.

The NCEA (Level 3) is designed to:
. acknowledge achievement across a range of learning fields, particularly those identified in the New Zealand Curriculum;
. act as a learning goal; and
. attest to the ability to participate in, and benefit from, further study thereby promoting lifelong learning.

The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (Level 3) is designed to enable access to the skills required for employment. People certificated at level 3 have typically shown themselves able to integrate knowledge and skills to solve unfamiliar problems; access, analyse and use available sources of information; and work independently in undirected activity. The qualification also provides a more advanced foundation for further study and knowledge.

The NCEA (Level 3) may lead to other specialised qualifications at higher levels.

Both achievement standards and unit standards can contribute credit toward NCEAs. Achievement standards have been written in most conventional school subject areas by expert panels. They differ from unit standards in that they recognise three grades of award within the one standard - achievement, achievement with merit, and achievement with excellence. This allows for flexible assessment practices, and recognises a wide range of individual learning experiences, styles, and levels of attainment.

The NCEA qualifications and achievement standards are designed to:
. motivate learners to achieve to their potential and help them market their achievements;
. assist institutions to guide students and monitor achievement; and
. provide data to assist government and providers to monitor progress in relation to qualification-related education policies.

A range of national certificates exists on the National Qualifications Framework to certify achievement in specialist areas and credit towards those qualifications may also be used to meet NCEA requirements. Credit gained towards other qualifications may also be used to meet the requirements of the NCEAs, provided they are both quality assured and on the NZQA Approved List for NCEA Credit Inclusion.

The NCEAs at levels 1, 2, and 3 are government initiatives that replaced School Certificate, Sixth Form Certificate, Higher School Certificate, and University Entrance, Bursaries and Scholarship examinations.