Applications for programme approval and provider accreditation

Organisations can apply for programme approval and provider accreditation separately or at the same time, and can submit documentation online.

The following table sets out the programmes that require NZQA approval and/or accreditation

For degree and related programmes at levels 7 - 10, see Degree approval, accreditation and monitoring.

Courses running for less than three months and done for recreation, with no educational outcome, are exempt from NZQA approval and accreditation requirements. These include:

• Hobby - an activity undertaken regularly for pleasure.
• Leisure activity - an action taken in pursuit of recreation. The participant aims to gain skills in the field of a leisure activity.
• Experiential activities - involving or based on experience or observation. The participant seeks, through experience or observation, to gain skills associated with a field or personal interest.

Submitting applications online

To submit an application:

1. Ensure all information, evidence and documentation as outlined in the Guidelines (PDF, 393KB) has been collated and is ready to be attached with the application. To assist with efficient processing and analysis of the application, include in the documentation an index with page numbers.
2. Submit an online application.

Applications must be made on the appropriate NZQA templates. Submit the completed template, along with associated documents, using the TEO application web page (see below) on the NZQA secure site.

Applicants must be a legal entity and recognised by NZQA as a programme owner. Those organisations automatically recognised by NZQA include: industry training organisations, institutes of technology and polytechnics, private training establishments, wānanga, government training enterprises, universities and current course owners.

Any organisation may apply for recognition as a programme owner.  Programme owner recognition allows an organisation, which does not intend to deliver training, to apply for programme approval from NZQA, but not accreditation to deliver the course.

NZQA will assign recognised programme owners a Ministry of Education (MoE)  number. This number can be used to complete a Request for User Setup and Access (PDF, 53KB) form to send to MoE, which will then assign a log-in.

To use TEO applications:

NZQA will acknowledge receipt of the application via email and provide updates of progress in the assessment of the application.

1. Log in using the log-in supplied by MoE.
2. Choose "TEO Applications".
3. Create an application.
4. Select "other". This takes you to an application overview.
5. Click on contact details.
6. The contact details page will be pre-populated with your organisation’s contact details. You should make any changes necessary to ensure the details are appropriate for the programme.
7. On the Supporting documents page, attach the completed application form, as a Word document, along with all required documentation and evidence in PDF format.
8. Submit.

Apply for consent to assess

If your programme contains unit or achievement standards you must have consent to assess against these. Consent to assess requires a separate application to course accreditation. Any consent to assess application must be approved before approval of an accreditation application - the applications can be made at the same time. See consent to assess.

Apply for programme approval and provider accreditation together

Providers developing a new programme for their own delivery may apply for both approval and accreditation together.

To submit an application:

1. Ensure all information, evidence and documentation as outlined in the Guidelines (PDF, 393KB) has been collated and is ready to be attached with the application. To assist with efficient processing and analysis of the application, include in the documentation an index with page numbers.
2. Submit an online application.

Apply for programme approval only

Programme owners who have developed a programme but will not deliver it, need only apply for programme approval. Programme owners seeking NZQA approval for their programmes must be recognised by NZQA.

To submit the application:

1. Ensure all information, evidence and documentation as outlined in the Guidelines (PDF, 393KB) has been collated and is ready to be attached with the application. To assist with efficient processing and analysis of the application, include in the documentation an index with page numbers.
2. Submit an online application.

Apply for tertiary education provider accreditation only

Providers who wish to deliver someone else's approved programme, need apply for accreditation only.

To submit the application:

1. Ensure all information, evidence and documentation as outlined in the Guidelines (PDF, 393KB) has been collated and is ready to be attached with the application. To assist with efficient processing and analysis of the application, include in the documentation an index with page numbers.
2. Submit an online application.

Apply for approval of changes to approved programmes and provider accreditations

Any changes may need NZQA approval. See Changes to approvals and accreditations for more information.

Submit an online application.

Costs

Regardless of the type of application, NZQA charges $150/hour (GST exclusive) for time spent on an application.

Additional costs for an external specialist may be incurred if NZQA is required to contract industry or sector experts to review an application.

The charge for an external specialist is $500/day (GST exclusive).

Assessment of applications

Section 5 of the Guidelines sets out the evaluative methods NZQA will use in deciding whether or not to approve programmes leading to qualifications listed on the NZQF and to accredit education providers to deliver approved programmes. An evaluative approach ensures decisions are made in a robust, transparent and defensible way.

Regardless of the type of application you are submitting, if there are any issues in the application, or if further information is required, NZQA will send you a report outlining the issues and/or requesting more information. The requested information must be supplied within three weeks.

Target processing times for applications

NZQA target turnaround times for processing programme approval and accreditation applications vary according to the Provider Category ascribed to a Tertiary Education Organisation. Where NZQA has high levels of confidence in the provider’s educational outcomes and ability to self-assess, the turnaround of applications is faster. 

Provider Category 1 - Highly Confident organisations:

30 working days, as long as the applicant has a demonstrated history of successful delivery in the subject area, at that level. 

Provider Category 2 - Confident organisations:

55 working days.        

Further information

For further information or answers to questions, contact the Service Delivery unit at NZQA.