Micro-credential roles and responsibilites

Information about the responsibilities of developers, providers and quality assurers of micro-credentials listed on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework

This page explains the role of standard-setting bodies (SSBs), tertiary education organisations (TEOs), universities, schools and NZQA in relation to micro-credential:

  • development and listing
  • content development and approval
  • accreditation and delivery approach, and
  • review.

Use the right-hand menu to jump to information specific to your organisation.

Standard-setting bodies including NZQA

Development and listing 

  • Develop micro-credentials with community, iwi, hapu, industry and providers to meet identified needs, and to express provider kaupapa and ngā kaupapa o Te Hono o Kahurangi where applicable. 
  • Meet the NZQA rules and requirements relevant to listing micro-credentials. 
  • Include skills standards (where available). 
  • Apply to NZQA for listing (typically with approval of content in the same application at the same time). 

Te Hono o Kahurangi 

NZQA qualification and micro-credential listing rules 

Content development and approval 

  • Develop micro-credential content with community, iwi, hapu, industry and providers to meet identified needs, and to express ngā kaupapa o Te Hono o Kahurangi where applicable. 
  • Meet the NZQA rules and requirements for micro-credential approval. 
  • Provide a self-reflective summary of meeting ngā kaupapa o Te Hono o Te Kahurangi, where required.
  • Include skills standards (where available). 
  • Apply to NZQA for content approval (typically with listing). 
  • Update content if changes are made to the listed micro-credential 
  • Apply to NZQA for approval of changes to content. 
  • Inform accredited providers when a change is made to content. 

NZQA micro-credential approval and accreditation rules 

Accreditation and delivery approach 

SSBs can’t deliver micro-credentials. 

Review 

  • Review listed micro-credentials, within in the NZQA review period, with input from community, iwi, hapu, industry and accredited providers. Report the outcome to NZQA when prompted. 
  • Review micro-credential content to make sure it’s current. 

Tertiary education organisations

Development and listing 

  • Develop micro-credentials with community, iwi, hapu, industry, the relevant SSB and providers to meet identified needs, and to express provider kaupapa and ngā kaupapa o Te Hono o Kahurangi where applicable. 
  • Meet the NZQA rules and requirements relevant to listing micro-credentials. 
  • Include skill standards (where available). 
  • Apply to NZQA for listing (typically with approval of content in the same application at the same time). 

Content development and approval 

  • Develop micro-credential content with community, iwi, hapu, industry, the relevant SSB and providers to meet identified needs, and to express ngā kaupapa o Te Hono o Kahurangi where applicable. 
  • Meet the approval rules and requirements. 
  • Provide, where required, a self-reflective summary of meeting ngā kaupapa o Te Hono o Te Kahurangi. 
  • Include skill standards (where appropriate). 
  • Apply to NZQA for content approval. 
  • Update content when you make changes to the listed micro-credential, or as required. 
  • Apply to NZQA for approval of changes to content. 
  • Inform accredited providers when you change the content. 

Accreditation and delivery approach 

  • Request detailed content, delivery, and assessment details from the Approval Holder, such as: 
    • course and module descriptors 
    • indicative timetable or learning plans 
    • credit recognition and transfer and recognition of prior learning 
    • completion requirements 
    • learning and assessment materials. 
  • Develop your delivery approach based on the detailed content, delivery and assessment details received from the Approval Holder. 
  • Meet the NZQA rules and requirements for accreditation. 
  • Provide, where required, a self-reflective summary of meeting ngā kaupapa o Te Hono o Te Kahurangi. 
  • Apply to NZQA for accreditation to deliver. 
  • Update your delivery approach if changes are made to the content, or in response to reviews or feedback. 
  • Apply to NZQA for approval of changes to delivery. 
  • Notify NZQA of the delivery sites you use. 
  • Apply to NZQA for subcontracting arrangement approval (if applicable). 

NZQA micro-credential approval and accreditation rules 

Review 

  • Review listed micro-credential in consultation with community, iwi, hapu, industry, accredited providers and the appropriate SSB. Report the outcome to NZQA when prompted. 
  • Review micro-credential content and delivery regularly. 

Universities

Development and listing  

  • Develop micro-credentials in consultation with relevant stakeholders. 
  • Meet the NZQA rules and requirements relevant to listing micro-credentials. 
  • Apply to the Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP) for listing. 

About CUAP (external link) - Universities New Zealand 

Content development and approval 

  • Develop micro-credential content in consultation with relevant stakeholders 
  • Meet the NZQA approval rules and requirements 
  • Update content if changes are made to the listed micro-credential 
  • Apply to CUAP for listing. 

Accreditation and delivery approach 

  • Develop your delivery approach based on micro-credential content.  
  • Meet the accreditation rules and requirements. 
  • Update your delivery approach as required (if changes are made to the content or in response to review or feedback). 
  • Apply to CUAP for accreditation to deliver. 

Review 

  • Review the listed micro-credential in consultation with relevant stakeholders. 
  • Review micro-credential content and delivery regularly. 

Schools

Development and listing 

  • State schools are not expected to develop their own micro-credentials. 
  • The Ministry of Education is considering the role of charter schools. 

Accreditation and delivery approach 

  • Request detailed content, delivery and assessment details from the Approval Holder. 
  • Develop delivery approach based on the detailed content, delivery and assessment details received from the Approval Holder. 
  • Meet the NZQA rules and requirements for accreditation. 
  • Apply to NZQA for accreditation to deliver. 
  • Update your delivery approach if changes are made to the content or in response to review or feedback. 
  • Apply to NZQA for changes to delivery when required. 

Review 

  • Review micro-credential delivery regularly. 

NZQA

Development and listing 

  • Evaluate micro-credential listing and approval applications from SSBs and TEOs, including from a kaupapa lens to ensure links to Te Hono o Te Kahurangi whare ako, where applicable. 
  • List micro-credentials including their approved content on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) via the micro-credential register. 
  • Evaluate applications from SSBs and TEOs for approval of changes to listed micro-credential or their approved content. 
  • List micro-credentials recommended by CUAP. 

Register of NZQA listed and approved micro-credentials (external link) 

Accreditation and delivery approach 

  • Evaluate provider applications for accreditation to deliver micro-credentials, including from a kaupapa lens to ensure links to Te Hono o Te Kahurangi whare ako, where applicable. 
  • Evaluate applications for approval of changes to delivery. 
  • Identify providers who are accredited to deliver micro-credentials via the micro-credential register. 
  • Validate TEOs’ self-reflective summaries of meeting ngā kaupapa o Te Hono o Te Kahurangi, where required. 
  • Quality assure delivery through external evaluation and review (EER), targeted monitoring and other activities. 
  • Accept delivery site notifications from providers. 
  • Evaluate provider applications for approval of sub-contracting arrangements. 

Review 

  • Review each listed micro-credential every 1, 2 or 3 years. 
  • Targeted monitoring (if required). 

Find more information on the micro-credential listing, approval and accreditation page