This article is part of a series covering off some key questions and areas of interest for employers. For more information, see the NZQA and Employers section.
Employers can often encounter job applicants who have overseas qualifications that look unfamiliar. To ensure these qualifications are comparable to New Zealand standards, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) offers an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) service.
What is an IQA?
An IQA is a service provided by NZQA to individuals, comparing their overseas qualifications to the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF). The result of an IQA is an electronic recognition statement that compares the applicant’s overseas qualification to a level and qualification type on the NZQCF.
When NZQA evaluates an overseas qualification, it considers the following:
- The position of the qualification in the country of award’s education system or national qualifications framework
- The national recognition of the qualification in the country of award and delivery
- The approval and accreditation of the awarding institution and programme
- The authenticity of the qualification presented.
NZQA does not consider an individual’s work experience or competency in its evaluation. This is for the relevant professional registration or licensing body, or employer to consider.
The recognition of a qualification is always individual. A recognition outcome for one person cannot be compared to another because there are many variables to consider when evaluating a qualification. A recognition outcome is not a judgement of quality. It is a comparison between countries’ qualification systems and frameworks.
What does an IQA show you?
- A Comparable NZQCF qualification level and type: An IQA provides an indication of the NZQCF level and qualification type the overseas qualification compares to. This helps employers understand where the overseas qualification sits on the NZQCF and how it compares to qualification types in New Zealand e.g. Bachelor’s degree. This is particularly useful when determining an appropriate salary range.
- Authenticity: The IQA evaluation includes verification that the qualification documents have been genuinely awarded. This assures employers of the legitimacy of the qualification.
- Skill level: By comparing the overseas qualification to an NZQCF level, an IQA recognition statement helps employers understand the relevance of the candidate’s skills and knowledge to their job requirements. This is particularly important for roles that require specific technical or professional expertise.
When might an employee need an IQA?
The main reason people get an IQA is to meet immigration requirements, so they can live, work or study in New Zealand.
An IQA is used to demonstrate the applicant meets the required qualification for the occupation.
If a role is in a regulated profession such as teaching, an IQA provides further assurance that the candidate’s qualifications meet the professional standards required by the relevant registration body in New Zealand.
The process of obtaining a recognition statement involves three steps.
The IQA application process
Application
The candidate must submit an application to NZQA, with all the relevant documents, including evidence that the qualification documents submitted are genuine.
Evaluation
NZQA considers the status of the overseas qualification in the country it was awarded in, the underpinning quality assurance, and confirms that it has been genuinely awarded before it compares the qualification to a level and qualification type on the NZQCF.
Outcome
Once the evaluation is complete, NZQA issues an electronic recognition statement. This statement can be used by employers to understand the candidate’s educational background.
Understanding candidates’ overseas qualifications can be crucial when recruiting staff and determining the appropriate salary level. An IQA recognition statement provides a reliable and standardised evaluation of overseas qualifications.
The IQA process provides assurance that your candidate’s qualification is genuine, and they have the knowledge and skills required to contribute effectively to your organisation.
More information
For more information, please take a look at:
Getting overseas qualifications recognised by NZQA
Qualification evaluation fees
Or contact us on qrsenquiries@nzqa.govt.nz