The legislation we operate under
NZQA operates under the following legislation:
The Education and Training Act 2020 (external link) - legislation.govt.nz
The Crown Entities Act 2004 (external link) - legislation.govt.nz
NZQA's Secondary Legislation
Secondary Legislation is rules and notices published under the Legislation Act 2019.
All of NZQA's rules are made under section 452 of the Education and Training Act 2020 and have been approved by the NZQA Board and the Minister of Education, except for the Assessment rules for the secondary sector which are approved only by the Board.
On this page
Assessment and examinations rules
The following rules relate to NCEA, NZ Scholarship, certification and the record of achievement at secondary school level:
NZQA Assessment Rules for Schools, TEOs assessing against Achievement Standards and NCEA Co-requisite Standards, and Candidates 2024
The assessment rules for providers assessing against achievement standards and NCEA co-requisites, and candidates
Amendment No. 1 came into force on 11 May 2024
NZQA will process requests for reviews and reconsiderations under the rules that applied when the request was made.
Private training establishment rules
The following rules relate to the establishment and operation of private training establishments (PTEs):
Private Training Establishment Registration Rules 2022
The rules relating to PTE registration
Go to the rules pagePTE Enrolment and Academic Records Rules 2022
The rules about PTE enrolment and academic records
Go to the rules pageStudent Fee Protection Rules 2022
The rules about how PTEs protect their student's fees
Go to the rules pageStudent Funds Trust Deposit Exemption Rules 2022
PTEs are exempt from having to have a trust arrangement for student fees of $500 or less (GST incl).
Go to the rules pageCriteria for exemptions, refunds and withdrawals
Parts of the Gazette notice 2003 relating to exempt courses have been replaced by the Education (Exempt Training Schemes) Notice 2012.
Criteria for the exemption of courses of less than three months delivered to foreign students and associated withdrawal and refund criteria (external link) - gazette.govt.nz
Education refund requirements for international students notice 2012 (for courses of 3 months or more) (external link) - legislation.govt.nz
Quality Assurance rules
The following rules relate to quality assurance of tertiary education organisations:
Quality Assurance (including EER) Rules 2022
The rules about quality assurance (including External Evaluation and Review (EER))
Go to the rules pageNew Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) rules
The following rules relate to the NZQCF:
Qualification and Micro-credential Listing and Operational Rules 2022
The rules about qualification and micro-credential listing and operational matters
Go to the rules pageProgramme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2022
The rules about programme approval, recognition and accreditation
Go to the rules pageMicro-credential Approval and Accreditation Rules 2022
The rules about approval and accreditation of micro-credentials
Go to the rules pageOffshore Programme Delivery Rules 2022
The rules about the delivery of offshore programmes
Go to the rules pageGazette notices
Secondary School Qualification for which accreditation not required (external link) - gazette.govt.nz
Education (Exempt Training Schemes) Notice 2012 (external link) - gazette.govt.nz
Standards-related rules
The following rules relate to standards listed on the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards:
Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards Listing and Operational Rules 2022
The rules about listing standards on the DASS and operational matters
Go to the rules pageConsent to Assess Against Standards on the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards Rules 2022
Rules about consent to assess against assessment and skill standards
Go to the rules pageExpired or revoked rules
Policies, criteria and rules that have expired or are no longer in force, and revocation rules: