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.
NZQA changed some rules in 2026
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 2025
The assessment rules for providers assessing against achievement standards and NCEA co-requisites, and candidates
The NZQA Assessment Rules for Schools, TEOs assessing against Achievement Standards and NCEA Co-requisite Standards, and Candidates 2025 came into force on 1 February 2025.
Assessment and Examination for NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship Rules 2026
These rules do not come into force until 1 February 2026.
View rulesNZQA will process requests for reviews and reconsiderations under the rules that applied when the request was made.
Private Training Establishment and Industry Skills Boards rules
The following rules relate to the establishment and operation of Private Training Establishments (PTEs), as well as quality assurance requirements and annual fees for Industry Skills Boards (ISBs).
Private Training Establishment Rules 2026
These rules came into force on 19 January 2026.
Go to the rules pageStudent Fee Protection Rules 2025
The rules about how PTEs protect their student's fees
The Student Fee Protection Rules 2025 came into effect from 1 July 2025
Student Funds Trust Deposit Exemption Rules 2026
These rules came into force on 19 January 2026.
Go to the rules pageISB Prescribed Quality Assurance and Annual Fee Rules 2026
These rules came into force on 19 January 2026.
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Parts of the Gazette notice 2003 relating to exempt courses have been replaced by the Education (Exempt Training Schemes) Notice 2012.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 of Tertiary Education Providers Rules 2026
These rules came into force on 19 January 2026.
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 2026
These rules came into force on 19 January 2026.
Go to the rules pageProgramme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2026
These rules came into force on 19 January 2026.
Go to the rules pageMicro-credential Approval and Accreditation Rules 2026
These rules came into force on 19 January 2026.
Go to the rules pageOffshore Programme Delivery Rules 2026
These rules came into force on 19 January 2026
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 2026
These rules came into force on 19 January 2026.
Go to the rules pageConsent to Assess Against Standards on the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards Rules 2026
These rules came into force on 19 January 2026.
Go to the rules pageExpired or revoked rules
Policies, criteria and rules that have expired or are no longer in force, and revocation rules: