New Zealand Qualifications Authority
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For Education Organisations

What are course approval, course accreditation and NQF accreditation?

This section answers these questions:

  • What are course approval, course accreditation and NQF accreditation?
  • Do I need to apply for course approval and accreditation?
  • What are the criteria for course approval and accreditation?
  • What are the criteria for exemption from course approval and accreditation?
  • What is the course approval and accreditation process ?
  • What documents do I need for course approval and accreditation?
  • How does NZQA analyse my application for course approval and accreditation?
  • Can I apply for Preferential Track?
  • What if I want to make changes to an approved course?
  • How much does course approval and accreditation cost?
  • What are the guidelines for providers of teacher education courses?

 

Course approval

confirms that a course is based on clear and consistent aims, content, outcomes and assessment practices which meet the necessary criteria and requirements.

Course accreditation

confirms that a provider is deemed capable of delivering an approved course. Providers who wish to deliver another organisation's approved course must seek accreditation to deliver that course.

Course approval and accreditation

are often linked and can be applied for as one application. Providers usually apply for course approval together with accreditation.

National Qualifications Framework (NQF) accreditation

confirms that a provider is capable of assessing against standards on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). A provider must have NQF accreditation for all unit standards assessed in a course before obtaining course accreditation. NQF accreditation should be applied for separately from course accreditation.

Note:

  • Approved courses can only be delivered by accredited providers
  • A course must be approved if a provider wishes to be accredited by NZQA to deliver it.

If you need both course approval and accreditation, and NQF accreditation, you will need to complete two separate applications:

Course Approval and Accreditation Application Form

NQF Accreditation Application Form

 


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