NCEA is Aotearoa's main qualification for school leavers
NCEA stands for National Certificate of Educational Achievement.
It's the main qualification for school leavers in Aotearoa New Zealand
NCEA is:
- sat at Levels 1, 2 and 3
- part of the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF)
- open to everyone
- recognised in New Zealand and overseas
- the qualification that leads to employment, training or further education.
NCEA prepares Pacific learners for success
NCEA is an important qualification.
Students with NCEA Level 3 and University Entrance (UE):
- have further education options, including university
- earn more on average than people who leave school with NCEA Level 2.
On this page
More than 160,000
students in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas sat NCEA in 2022.
Learn more about NCEA
Understanding secondary school qualifications and awards
New NCEA standards and information about changes - Ministry of Education website
NCEA ma le Pasifika
Does your church, sports team or extended family want to learn more about NCEA?
NCEA ma le Pasifika workshops are fun and help Pacific parents and communities understand NCEA.
Students in New Zealand and overseas take NCEA
NCEA is awarded in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.
Pacific language resources
Learners can study lots of things for NCEA
There are lots of interesting subjects available at NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3.
These include core subjects such as English, maths and sciences.
Students can also take subjects such as:
- art
- dance
- health
- journalism
- languages (including Samoan, Tongan and Cook Islands Māori)
- religious studies
- technology
- and many others.
Did you know?
STEM subjects can lead to well-paid and future-proof careers.
NCEA and STEM
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and maths.
These subject areas are very important for New Zealand’s future.
Did you know?
September 2021 data shows that around 45% of jobs filled in Aotearoa were in STEM fields. This number will continue to rise.
There are many reasons to study STEM subjects at secondary school:
- they can lead to better paid, more secure jobs
- STEM is an important part of New Zealand's key industries, including agriculture and tourism
- there are skill shortages in related sectors such as IT, engineering and health
- starting tertiary study in STEM areas will be much easier.
Learn more
Gain NCEA credits for your Polyfest performance
If you perform at Polyfest, your efforts and performance can become NCEA credits.
To turn your performance into credits, your school will assess you against NCEA achievement standards in the arts.
For example, you might be assessed on choreography in dance, or technique in music.
Ask your school for more information on turning your Polyfest performance into NCEA credits.
Learn more
Polyfest NCEA credits (external link) - Tāhūrangi