How the qualification system works

Industry training is based on unit standards and qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The size of these unit standards is measured in credits, and the number of credits you need to gain a qualification may vary. Each credit means about 10 hours of learning, which includes formal tutoring, self-directed learning and work experience.

A unit standard describes the skills and knowledge required for a specific task or job. Each National Qualification will have a specific list of unit standards required to complete that qualification.

National Qualifications are built up of unit standards. Almost all qualifications have compulsory unit standards that must be completed. Qualifications may also have elective sections where you are required to complete a minimum number of unit standards or credits from a list.

A particular qualification will also describe the “level” that it sits on the qualifications framework with 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest. As an example, Levels 1-3 are the equivalent of secondary school education and Levels 7 to 10 are the equivalent of university, post graduate and doctorate degrees.

You can find more information on New Zealand’s qualification system on NZQA’s website.