SAC information for registered professionals

Who can provide evidence to support an application for Special Assessment Conditions

About SAC

Submissions for SAC are made by schools to NZQA on behalf of students. SAC support is available for both internal and external assessments (exams).

Some examples of SAC:

  • special papers for vision-impaired students
  • writers or readers for students with learning disorders, such as dyslexia
  • rest breaks for students with diabetes
  • separate accommodation for students with anxiety disorders.

NZQA's SAC rules

Our rules about the provision of Special Assessment Conditions are published annually.

Read the SAC Rules in Schedule 3 of the Assessment Rules for Schools, TEOs assessing against Achievement Standards, and Candidates 2023:

Go to Schedule 3: Candidate Special Assessment Conditions Processes

Who is eligible?

Special assessment conditions (SAC) can provide extra help for otherwise capable students in addressing various barriers to achievement in assessments for NCEA or New Zealand Scholarship.

Students with a permanent or long-term sensory, physical, medical or learning difficulty that directly affects their access to fair assessment for national qualifications may be eligible for SAC.

Who approves or declines applications?

All submissions are assessed by NZQA. The final decision to grant or decline SAC entitlements rests with NZQA.

What SAC is available for students

SAC is available for both internal and external assessments, such as exams.

List of SAC available

How to find the right type of SAC support:

Potential barriers to assessment and possible SAC support

SAC categories for registered professionals

There are 4 categories under which applications may be submitted for SAC:

  • sensory (vision, hearing)
  • physical
  • medical
  • learning.

For the Learning category only, registered psychologists and New Zealand Council of Educational Research (NZCER) approved Level C assessors may assess students for SAC.

For all 4 categories, registered professionals are those who are registered with the regulatory authority appointed under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 in respect of their professions.

The principal purpose of the Act is to protect the health and safety of members of the public by providing for mechanisms to ensure that health practitioners are competent and fit to practise their profession.

Ministry of Health: Responsible authorities under the Act. (external link)

Professions regulated under the HPCA Act 2003 Profession Responsible authority

Type of profession Website or contact details
Chiropractic Chiropractic Board (external link)
Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, Clinical Dental Technology, Dental Technology and Dental Therapy Dental Council (external link)
Dietetics Call on 04 918 4740
Medical Laboratory Science, Anaesthetic Technology Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand (external link)
Medical Radiation Technology Medical Radiation Technologists Board (external link)
Medicine Medical Council (external link)
Midwifery Midwifery Council (external link)
Nursing Nursing Council (external link)
Occupational Therapy Occupational Therapy Board (external link)
Optometry and Optical Dispensing Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board (external link)
Osteopathy Osteopathic Council (external link)
Pharmacy Pharmacy Council (external link)
Physiotherapy Physiotherapy Board (external link)
Podiatry Podiatrists Board (external link)
Psychology Psychologists Board (external link)
Psychotherapy Psychotherapists Board (external link)

Who can provide evidence for SACs

Two types of submission are accepted:

  1. A submission based on school evidence
    • SENCOs, RTLB and other learning support staff collect appropriate evidence from school-based testing and teacher observations or comments for the use of Special Assessment Conditions from the student’s time at secondary school.
    • School applications may be based upon the historical findings of a registered professional, with the school requesting continuation of assistance by showing current need.
  2. A submission supported by a report from an appropriately qualified independent registered professional that recommends Special Assessment Conditions to address the student’s specified assessment needs
    • A report for a specific learning disorder (SLD) that predates the student’s time at secondary school may need to be supplemented with additional current evidence.
    • A report for sensory, physical and medical conditions should date from the most recent specialist visit.

Types of evidence required

Evidence for sensory, medical or physical submissions

Reports by appropriate health professionals should be as recent as possible, specify the disability and, if possible, state which SAC would be appropriate.

Evidence for learning submissions

Reports must result from standardised cognitive and academic testing and clearly state which SAC is recommended.

Tests must be run and scored following the relevant examiner’s manual.

As well as the assessment report, completion of the SAC Declaration Form is recommended. This will quicken the application process for schools.

SAC forms and guides (external link)

Contact the SAC team

If you have a question or feedback, contact the SAC team at sac@nzqa.govt.nz

Find more information about SAC