Sanctions for category 3 providers

What you can expect as a category 3 provider after external evaluation and review

Frequency of EERs

Category 3 tertiary education organisations (TEOs) will have a new external evaluation and review (EER) within 12 to 24 months of the previous EER report being published.

Enrolling new students

Category 3 TEOs can enrol domestic students and international students (if they are a signatory to the Code of Practice.

Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021

Making new applications

NZQA can apply restrictions to a category 3 TEO if we have current concerns about their quality, that is:

  • a specific area of study or training where NZQA has detected lower quality
  • applications for study at a higher level then the TEO currently delivers
  • evidence that the TEO is not complying with the Education Act 1989 or NZQA rules.

The TEO also cannot apply for offshore programme delivery.

Turnaround times for applications

If NZQA allows the TEO to make an application, NZQA processes it in the standard 45 working days.

Assessment and moderation of student work

Category 3 TEOs may have restrictions on assessing and moderating their students’ work.

NZQA may decide that the TEO needs the help of a Category 1 or 2 provider to pre-assess assessment material and verify assessment results. NZQA decides this on a case-by-case basis.

Frequency of financial attestations for PTEs

Category 3 TEOs need to submit an Independent Assurance Practitioner’s Review Report or Auditor’s Report every year.

Independent Assurance Practitioner’s Review Reports and Auditor’s Reports

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