NZQA has updated a series of Rules to align with the new integrated Quality Assurance Framework and the changes to vocational education and training. The updated Rules will come into force on 19 January 2026, and be available in full on the Rules page from that date.
Here is a summary of the main changes to rules:
Consent to Assess Against Standards on the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards Rules 2026
- Includes a requirement for applicants to show how they will meet the Quality Assurance of Tertiary Education Providers Rules, and to comply with those rules to maintain consent
- Removes the requirements for sub-contracting by tertiary education providers, which is now in the new Quality Assurance of Tertiary Education Providers Rules
- Updates the Schedule to refer to any strategic priorities of the government that are in force rather than refer to specific documents
Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards Listing and Operational Rules 2026
- Updates terminology to reflect the changes to vocational education (from WDCs to ISBs, polytechnics, etc)
- Removes the 5-year maximum period for reviews
ISB Prescribed Quality Assurance and Annual Fee Rules 2026
- A new rule set that prescribes the quality assurance requirements for ISBs and the method of determining the annual fee payable by ISBs to NZQA
Micro-credential Approval and Accreditation Rules 2026
- Updates terminology to reflect the changes to vocational education (from WDCs to ISBs, polytechnics, etc)
- Removes references to external evaluation and review
- Removes the sub-contracting rule, which is now in the new Quality Assurance of Tertiary Education Providers Rules
Offshore Programme Delivery Rules 2026
- Updates wording to reflect the removal of external evaluation and review
Private Training Establishment Rules 2026
- Updates wording to reflect the removal of external evaluation and review
- Changes the requirement for the annual financial return a PTE from annually to biennial, unless NZQA gives notice to a particular PTE that it is required annually
- Includes the enrolment and academic records rules in these rules and consequentially revokes the PTE Enrolment and Academic Records Rules 2022
- Updates wording to reflect the revocation of the Annual Fee Rules 2022
Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2026
- Updates terminology to reflect the changes to vocational education (from WDCs to ISBs, polytechnics, etc)
- Removes references to external evaluation and review and consistency
- Reduces requirements where a programme approval application relates to a qualification consisting entirely of skill standards
- Removes the sub-contracting rule, which is now in the new Quality Assurance of Tertiary Education Providers Rules
- Removes the need for ISB endorsement for Type 2 changes to programmes
- Simplifies language in the English proficiency rule (now Rule 21) and the Table
Qualification and Micro-credential Listing and Operational Rules 2026
- Updates terminology to reflect the changes to vocational education (from WDCs to ISBs, polytechnics, etc)
- Removes the maximum review periods for qualifications and micro-credentials
- Provides a process for assigning expiring status to qualifications and micro-credentials that have not been awarded or reviewed for a specified period of time
- Removes references to consistency reviews
- Includes rules for credit reporting
Quality Assurance of Tertiary Education Providers Rules 2026
- Replaces (and revokes) the Quality Assurance (including External Evaluation and Review (EER)) Rules 2022
- Sets out the quality assurance requirements for tertiary education providers which includes:
- having an up-to-date quality management system
- carrying out annual self-reviews
- reporting on the self-review to NZQA and discussions about it with NZQA
- monitoring
- sub-contracting requirements
- assessment records retention
Student Funds Trust Deposit Exemption Rules 2026
- Raises the amount of funds exempt from the requirement for student funds to be deposited with an independent trustee to $1000 (including GST)
Once the updated Rules have been published, if you have any questions about what they mean for you, please contact us at rules@nzqa.govt.nz