How do New Zealand qualifications work?

To appear on New Zealand's Register of Quality Assured Qualifications, qualifications must be approved and quality assured, and delivered by an accredited education or training organisation.

There are two types of qualifications in New Zealand:

• National qualifications provide nationally recognised, consistent standards and qualifications. They give recognition and credit for standards-based knowledge and skills.
  
  
• Provider-developed (local) qualifications are those which have been developed by an education provider.

The primary responsibility for the quality of education delivered rests with the organisation that provides those services. However, quality assurance processes are in place to ensure government and individuals are investing time and money in quality education and training.

National qualifications are approved and quality assured by NZQA. Provider-developed qualifications are approved by NZQA and other
quality assurance bodies. Quality assurance for polytechnics is done by the Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Quality (under delegation from NZQA) and for universities by the Vice-Chancellors' Committee.

National Certificates and National Diplomas

On the National Qualifications Framework there are more than 18,000 national standards and 800 National Certificates and National Diplomas covering almost every area of work and learning.

The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) is the main national qualification for secondary students.

Providers of National Qualifications Framework (NQF) qualifications are awarded "accreditation" to offer the components that make up a National Certificate/National Diploma.

Our site shows what components a training organisation can offer: they will not have accreditation to offer a specific National Certificate/National Diploma, but they will have accreditation for the Fields, Subfields, domains and unit standards that make up those qualifications.

The terms National Certificate and National Diploma can only be used to refer to national qualifications registered on the NQF.

Trade and business qualifications

NZQA also administers the following trade and business qualifications.

• Advanced Vocational Awards (AVA) qualifications - New Zealand Certificate in Engineering and Technicians' Certificates)
• New Zealand Diploma in Business
• Trade qualifications
• Industry examinations

Degrees

NZQA approves all degrees offered outside the university sector.This website lists information on degrees approved by NZQA only. Each university maintains a website listing degrees offered. See KiwiQuals for all approved qualifications offered in New Zealand.

Levels

To attract government funding most courses now indicate a level between 1-10. These numbers equate to the levels of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications. However, these qualifications need not be registered on the National Qualifications Framework.

Government funding

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) is responsible for funding the government's contribution to tertiary education and training offered by universities, polytechnics, wānanga, private training establishments, industry training organisations and adult and community education providers

Page updated: 18 July 2009