Consent to assess

Consent to assess certifies education organisations to assess unit or achievement standards and award credit for them.

Applications for Consent to Assess must comply with Consent to Assess against Standards on the Directory of Assessment Standards Rules 2011.

Consent to assess is granted to organisations that meet:

• the requirements of provider registration
• the moderation requirements of the standard-setting body responsible for the unit standards
• all the general and industry specific requirements of the relevant CMRs.

Application decline

A consent to assess application may be declined if two or more of the criteria are not met after NZQA analysis. An application may also be declined if support is not forthcoming from the appropriate standard-setting body.

When can you apply for consent to assess?

If your organisation is already registered as a private training establishment (PTE) then you can apply for consent to assess. Others apply for consent to assess simultaneously with their application for PTE registration and course approval and accreditation.

If consent to assess is sought at the same time as PTE registration or course approval and accreditation, the consent to assess application must be submitted as a separate application. NZQA endeavours to process concurrent applications at the same time. However, PTE registration must be approved before finalising any other application approvals.

Applying for consent to assess requires planning and research to ensure that the final application is realistically targeted and supported by appropriate evidence.

NZQA makes the final decision to approve the application and grant consent for some or all of the scope of accreditation sought. The decision is based on all available information, the requirements of the relevant CMR (Consent and moderation requirements), and the support of the standard-setting body and whether the provider meets all requirements of Guidelines for Registration of PTEs  (PDF, 128KB)and Criteria for Ongoing Registration of PTEs (PDF, 453KB).

How much does consent to assess cost?

NZQA analysis of a consent to assess application costs $150/ per hour (GST exclusive).

The hourly charge rate for consent to assess applications includes the cost of travel and accommodation by NZQA staff.

The full cost of an consent to assess application depends on several factors. These include the extent of standard-setting body involvement, the scope of accreditation applied for and whether the application is an initial application or an extension to an existing accreditation.

Standard-setting body (SSB) costs are separate from the NZQA hourly rate.

Application process

The process to apply for consent to assess is outlined below:

1. The applicant plans the application and becomes informed
2. The applicant establishes the desired scope for accreditation
3. The applicant checks the CMR requirements
4. The applicant checks the level of Standard-Setting Body involvement
5. The applicant confirms ITO support (if applicable)
6. The applicant submits the application
7. NZQA receives documentation and starts the evaluation process
8. NZQA conducts site visit (if required)
9. NZQA decides and notifies the applicant of the outcome
10. NZQA publishes the outcome

Guidelines for the applicant

Establish the scope of consent to assess required

The scope should align with the organisation's overall strategic direction and delivery intentions. The scope can cover individual unit or achievement standards, domains, sub-fields or fields.

The scope has a direct bearing on the cost of the application and the time it will take NZQA to process it. Rationalising and prioritising the organisation's goals to establish the necessary scope may reduce costs and speed up the process.

Check the requirements of the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR)

The CMR (link page) sets out specific requirements for the involvement of industry training organisations (ITOs) and/or NZQA, and details of external moderation. Ensure that all requirements are met before applying.

Check the level of standard-setting body involvement

Generally, applications for level 1 and 2 standards require evaluation of documentation by either NZQA or NZQA and the relevant industry. Level 3 standards and above usually require evaluation of documentation and visits by NZQA and industry representatives. Some applications also require evaluation and visits by teaching specialists.

Contact the relevant ITO

Contact the ITO that acts as the relevant standard-setting body and obtain its support for the application. This support must be in writing. If the ITO supports the waiver of an industry visit, the waiver must be included in the letter. NZQA will not consider any application that does not include the required ITO support.

Compile the application and submit it

Complete all details for the online application and check that the required documentation is uploaded. Ensure the application is well organised, logical and supported by evidence. This speeds up the process.

See Apply for consent to assess.