Assessment and Certification Rules and Procedures for Secondary Schools - 2008

7.4.2 Application for a qualification to appear on the approved list

1. Qualification owners who wish to have their qualification placed on the Approved List for NCEA Credit Inclusion must have approval by the relevant New Zealand quality assurance body (the New Zealand Vice Chancellors' Committee or New Zealand Qualifications Authority or its delegations operated by Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Quality or Colleges of Education Accreditation Committee).
   
   
2. Credit inclusion will generally be granted for three years.
   
   
3. For the purpose of credit inclusion there needs to be identification of credit values, levels and outcome components. Credit inclusion should also meet the requirement of the NCEA that a learner can only be awarded credits and credit equivalents from common learning outcomes once.
   
   
4. Applicants for credit inclusion are required to search the Framework for unit standards and achievement standards that may be considered mutually exclusive within the qualification for which application is being made. It is only necessary to search the Framework at the level for which the qualification has been granted approval.
   
   
5. If mutually exclusive standards, qualifications or qualification components are found, the learner may count the credits from only one of them towards their NCEA. The student database is set up so that the qualification or qualification component that has the higher number of credits is the one that is counted.
   
   
6. Once the qualification has been quality assured, qualification owners (or their authorised agents in New Zealand) must complete the application form, and submit it with relevant documentation to:
   
   The Manager
   Secondary Assessment
   New Zealand Qualifications Authority
   PO Box 160
   WELLINGTON 6011
   
   
7. In the case of an authorised agent for a qualification owner, proof of authorisation must be attached to the application for credit inclusion. An original document or certified copy is required. It may be in any format, but must make it clear who the owner of the qualification is, who is authorised, when authorisation commences, for how long, and if any conditions are attached to the authorisation that may have a bearing on the delivery, assessment or reporting of the qualification.
   
   
8. Credit inclusion applications can be made for whole or part qualifications.
   
   
   1. If a qualification is made up of several discrete learning components, application must be made for each component separately.
   2. If a qualification does not split into separate components, application is made for the qualification as a whole.
   3. If inclusion is granted for part of the qualification only, the number of credits will be adjusted appropriately.
      
      
9. Once The New Zealand Qualifications Authority has received an application, it will acknowledge receipt, and provide an estimate of how long the approval process will take.
   
   
10. The approval process will involve:
    
    
    1. mapping the qualification onto the National Qualifications Framework to verify exclusions
    2. checking appended documentation
    3. writing a recommendation
    4. convening a Credit Inclusion Panel meeting to peer review the recommendation, and make a decision.
       
    
    
11. Once a decision has been made, The New Zealand Qualifications Authority will provide written notification outlining:
    
    
    1. which part or parts of the qualification have been granted credit inclusion
    2. which exclusions have been determined
    3. the date inclusion has been granted from
    4. the date inclusion expires, and reapplication will need to be made.
       
       
12. There is a charge of $300 plus GST per application plus an hourly rate of $150 plus GST for each hour or part thereof for Secondary Assessment staff involved in the processing of the application.
    
    
13. If a qualification is made up of several discrete learning components only one charge will apply if application for all the components is made at the same time.
    
    
14. Payment of $300 is to be included with the application; the applicant will be invoiced for the remaining charges at the completion of processing.
    
    
15. Only providers accredited by The New Zealand Qualifications Authority may carry out delivery, assessment and result reporting of qualifications or qualification components that are on the Approved List for NCEA Credit Inclusion.
    
    
16. Where the qualification owner or authorised agent is not an accredited provider, an accredited school will generally undertake delivery, assessment and reporting, under a written agreement with the owner.
    

Last updated: 01 February 2008