Reviews of micro-credentials and former training schemes (approved before 2023 rule changes)
From January 2025, NZQA will begin the review of the following types of micro-credentials and former training schemes:
- former training schemes delivered to domestic learners, except those that are basic first aid-related
- former training schemes of less than 12 weeks’ duration delivered to international learners (e.g. people studying or training under student or working visas), except those that are English language tuition-related
- micro-credentials that were not listed under the current rules.
We will request review of former training schemes excluded from this initial review process at a later date.
If your organisation has NZQA approval for a micro-credential, but you are unsure if it was listed under the current NZQA rules, please email us at micro-credentials@nzqa.govt.nz.
Why this review is being conducted
Training schemes and micro-credentials approved under previous rules need to be reviewed to meet current rules. NZQA rule changes came into effect in January 2023 following amendments in August 2022 to the Education and Training Act.
How will this work?
Training schemes
From January 2025, we will email providers who deliver the training schemes described above. Following notification, we expect you to begin review of your training scheme.
Your review will be due on the date the training scheme was first approved. For example, if your training scheme was first approved on 10 June 2013, the due date for review is 10 June 2025, and you will receive an email from us in early March 2025.
The email will include a review form that will set out what you need to do.
Download the review form [DOCX, 83 KB]
Micro-credential review dates
Micro-credential review dates remain the same as those on the:
Register of NZQA Listed and Approved Micro-credentials (external link)
Regardless of whether your micro-credential is listed and approved under the current rules, or approved under the previous rules, there is no change to your review date.
Review form
The same review form will be used for the review of training schemes and micro-credentials. The form will ask you to indicate whether your training scheme or micro-credential is being delivered or may be retired.
The review form is also available at:
Timeframes
If the training scheme or micro-credential approved under previous rules is still being delivered, you will have three months from the date of the review to apply to NZQA for a micro-credential change.
If your organisation delivers several training schemes or micro-credentials, and may need more time to prepare your applications, you can request a longer timeframe by emailing micro-credentials@nzqa.govt.nz.
The decision to grant more time will be made on a case-by-case basis.
The application forms for a micro-credential change can be found at:
Applications for micro-credential changes are made via the NZQA secure portal:
If you have any questions or concerns about this process, email micro-credentials@nzqa.govt.nz.
On this page
Shared site for consistency review documents
From September 2024, the assuring consistency team will be asking tertiary organisations who are participating in a consistency review to upload their self-assessment and supporting documents to a shared, secure site.
Access to the site will be via a link we will supply. Look for notice of this in an invitation to your upcoming consistency review.
Assuring consistency workshops
We are also continuing to offer workshops on assuring the national consistency of graduate outcomes for the remainder of 2024.
The links and dates are available at:
2024 Assuring consistency workshops
You will receive the confirmation email once you have successfully registered.
If your preferred workshop is fully booked, you can register on the waitlist. Due to high demand, we ask that you only register for one workshop or waitlist.
Good practice in tertiary education
Two insights papers on real-world examples of good practice in tertiary education are now available on the NZQA website.
Real-world examples of good practice
The first paper details stories of provider success when measured against NZQA’s tertiary evaluation indicators. The paper focuses on performance against the 'programmes match needs' indicator.
Good practice in action
EER evaluators are witness to lots of good practice in action. This paper covers more success stories from non-university tertiary education.
To access the papers, see:
Monitoring report on student accommodation/Code attestations, workshops dates
NZQA undertook monitoring of student accommodation between 2021 and 2023 and has found no significant issues.
The findings are contained in a report that explores the range of student accommodation in New Zealand, and how providers are approaching their student accommodation obligations under the Code of Practice.
The report is available at:
Summary report on student accommodation monitoring
Code attestation dates
- For PTEs and wānanga - 1 November 2024
- For signatory schools - 1 December 2024
To prepare for attestation, you can attend one of our upcoming Code workshops and information sessions, free of charge.
We are also hosting focus groups as part of our review of homestay. This is an opportunity for you to share your experiences in homestay with us.
Code information sessions
- Self-review and attestation – Tertiary Providers - 10 September 2024, 10am
- Homestay focus group - 11 September 2024, 2pm
- Self-review and attestation – Tertiary Providers - 12 September 2024, 10am
- Homestay focus group - 18 September 2024, 2pm
- Agent webinar (hosted by ENZ) - 19 September 2024, 8am
- Self-review and attestation – Tertiary Providers - 19 September 2024, 10am
Self-review and attestation sessions for school signatories are scheduled for late October.
NZQA workshops and information sessions are listed on:
Submitting applications to NZQA for delivery in 2025
To help with your planning and processes for internal quality assurance, below are the cut-off dates for submitting applications for programmes of study you want to deliver in 2025.
Programmes of study at levels 1 to 6
You can submit applications at any time. If you want to be ready for Semester One 2025, please submit your application before 4 October 2024 for:
- new approvals or accreditations for programmes of study at levels 1 to 6
- Type 2 changes to existing level 1 to 6 programmes.
Call or email your A&A contact if you need more information.
International call for quality assurance articles
The Thailand Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA) is calling for student and academic content contributors for its recently launched international e-journal.
ONESQA is the primary agency responsible for quality assurance in Thailand's education system. If you would like to contribute content suitable for ONESQA’s e-journal in the area of education quality assurance, please contact inter@onesqa.or.th directly with any queries.
Please note that NZQA is unable to answer questions related to this matter.
Reminders
New guide to student complaints
Most learners in Aotearoa New Zealand have a good study experience, but sometimes issues can arise.
Raising issues early with the education provider gives students the best chance of working them out together. If the issue cannot be resolved, students can get help from a range of organisations.
The Learner guide to complaints provides guidance about how and where to raise complaints.
Learner guide to complaints (external link)
Paying on time
Failure to pay NZQA invoices on time could lead to an automatic lapse of registration and course closure for your students.
The lapse is not a discretionary decision and cannot be reversed later. You would need to re-apply for registration and accreditation before you could start delivering again.
If you have any questions about an NZQA invoice, please contact the issuer as soon as possible.
Change of ownership
PTEs preparing for a change of ownership need to make an application to NZQA at least 30 working days before a proposed settlement or transaction takes place.
The application form also advises PTEs to inform the Tertiary Education Commission, StudyLink, Immigration NZ and Public Trust, where relevant. This should also be done no less than 30 working days before the sale date.
For more information, see:
Unfunded international providers data submission
PTEs that enrol international students need to submit their international student enrolment and provider data to the Ministry of Education. This data is used to calculate payments for the Export Education Levy.
PTEs make the payments three times a year.
If you are an unfunded PTE enrolling international students, visit the Ministry’s website for more information:
Paying the export education levy (external link)
Student Fee Protection arrangements
If you are a PTE, we recommend that you review your student fee protection arrangements to make sure they still fit your needs and the requirements in the Student Fee Protection Rules.
Things to check include:
- Are your courses (still) exempt (i.e. under $500)?
- Have you got approval for the mechanism you are using?
- Do you want to change your mechanism?
- Do you want to change your trustee?
If you want to change your arrangement, read through our student fee protection pages: Student fee protection information for PTEs, and email us at risk@nzqa.govt.nz to discuss further.
NZQA processes
TEO issue of New Zealand qualification and micro-credentials achievement certificates
Specifications for the format of certificates for qualifications and micro-credentials can be found at
Issuing New Zealand qualification and micro-credential achievement certificates
If you need copies of the NZQCF logos referred to, contact our Client Services team at qaadmin@nzqa.govt.nz.
Lapse of programme or micro-credential accreditation
If a programme or micro-credential has not been delivered for 12 months or more, the provider’s programme accreditation will lapse.
You can apply for an extension to programme accreditation or micro-credential approval before the date of any lapse by emailing qaadmin@nzqa.govt.nz.
If your organisation already has approved micro-credentials, you will continue to hold approval for these. Existing micro-credentials are being aligned with the new rules.
Guidelines for micro-credentials
Keeping your PTE registration status current
Where your organisation has accreditation for only one programme or approved micro-credential, and it is not delivered for 12 months of more, the organisation’s registration will lapse.
To avoid this, you can apply for an extension of time to stop your programme or micro-credential from lapsing. This also prevents your registration from lapsing. Apply for this extension before the 12 months of non-usage ends by emailing qaadmin@nzqa.govt.nz.
For more information about PTE registration see:
Guidelines for applying for registration as a private training establishment
Guidelines for maintaining registration as a private training establishment
Coming up this quarter
| Send NZQA your... | Who? | By when? |
|
Different forms for PTEs and TEIs |
TEOs with a financial year-end of 30 June 2024 | 30 November 2024 |
| Independent Assurance Practitioner's Review Report or Auditor's Report Audit of Student Fee Protection arrangements |
PTEs with a financial year-end of 30 June 2024 | 30 November 2024 |
| Audit of Student Fee Protection arrangements | PTEs with a financial year-end of 30 June 2024 Find out who is exempt |
30 November 2024 |
|
Quarterly student fee protection attestation Quarter ending 30 November 2024 |
Providers not exempt: - static trusts - bank bond trusts Not required for standard trusts |
To trustee by 7 December 2024 To NZQA by 14 December 2024 |
|
Fit and Proper Person and Conflict of Interest declarations Submit a new or amended declaration: For the definition of governing member, see: Section 10 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (external link) |
PTEs only: - applying for registration - registered PTEs |
As needed |
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Forwarding information and queries
Forward the above documents and any queries to: