The Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards (DASS) has a 3-tier classification system comprising fields, subfields and domains. All standards are classified in a domain.
Qualifications may include requirements relating to all 3 tiers. Consent to assess against standards may also relate to tiers of the classification system.
Changes to subfields and domains in the classification system are sometimes needed when a new area of learning is identified during the development or review of qualifications, micro-credentials or standards.
A change to existing classification names may also be needed to reflect changes to industry terminology.
A standard-setting body (SSB) may request changes to classifications. Our approvals and accreditation team manages all changes to the DASS classification system.
On this page
Approval criteria
A panel of members of the Approvals and Accreditation team quality assure and approve requests for changes to the classification system.
We consider the following criteria when reviewing requests:
- the proposal must fall within the SSB's standard-setting scope
- subfields must relate to the field in which they are classified
- domains must relate to the subfield in which they are classifed and provide an indication of the standards that they will be used to classify
- a subfield must contain more than 1 domain
- a domain must contain more than 1 standard (usually 10 to 30)
- the classification name must be unique
- the classification name must be meaningful as a descriptor for the cluster of learning outcomes
- the classification name must not exceed 60 characters (including punctuation)
- the classification name can be used as a meaningful qualification name, where required.
Classification system management
Adding new classifications is relatively straightforward. But existing classifications that contain registered standards cannot be simply moved, renamed, or deleted.
This is because versions of standards, qualifications, and consents to assess are linked to the classification with the original name.
To preserve the integrity of historical data, changes to the classification system are managed through three statuses:
Current
Current classifications contain registered standards and define the scope of consent to assess.
Lapsing
Lapsing classifications may contain registered standards and still be used to define scope of consent to assess. However, no new standards will be registered within them.
Lapsed
A lapsed classification does not contain any current registered standards and does not appear on the NZQA website.
If an SSB wants to move, rename or delete a classification, the old classification name is designated as 'lapsing'. A new (replacement) classification name is registered.
Standards in the lapsing classification are reclassified, or will be replaced or expired when they are reviewed. We publish new versions of the standards to show their new classification.
The lapsing classification is designated as 'lapsed' when it no longer contains any registered standards.
Apply to make changes to classifications
To make changes to the classification system, complete the application form:
Application for change to the classification system [PDF, 135 KB]
Include a change report that includes:
- a rationale for the proposal
- an indication of the consultation and endorsement process
- a list of the draft titles of proposed standards that will be classified in new domains
- an indication of the impact of the change on existing standards, consent to assess and qualifications.