South Africa Trade Qualifications Exempt from NZQA Assessment

At a glance

Certain South African trade qualifications listed in Tables A and B of the INZ Operational Manual are pre-assessed and can be used to claim points under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) without requiring an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications]. All listed qualifications are assessed at NZQF Level 4 or 5 and attract 40 points under SMC, provided the applicant meets the specific award date, awarding body, and apprenticeship requirements [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications]. Qualifications awarded after 2014, completed outside South Africa, or containing cross-credited courses must be referred to NZQA [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].

Definition

This rule identifies South African trade qualifications that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) accepts as equivalent to NZQF Level 4 or 5 for the purpose of claiming SMC qualification points, without the need for an NZQA IQA [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications]. The exemption is limited to the qualifications, awarding bodies, and date ranges specified in the tables below [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].

The qualifications fall into two groups:

• Trade Qualifications (Table A): Certificate of Achievement N4, National Certificate N4, and National Technical Certificate Part Four (NTC4). These require evidence of a completed apprenticeship contract awarded or endorsed by the relevant South African apprenticeship authority [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].
• Trade Related Qualifications (Table B): National Certificate for Technicians (NCT), National Higher Certificate (NHC), National Higher Certificate for Technicians (NHCT), and National Technical Certificate Part Six (NTC6). These are assessed based on the awarding Government Department or Technikon, within the stipulated date ranges [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].

Application in decisions

Immigration officers assessing an SMC application must verify the following for a South African trade qualification to be accepted without NZQA assessment [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications]:

• The qualification is relevant to an occupation at ANZSCO skill level 3, 4, or 5 [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].
• For Table A qualifications:
  • Awarded within the date range by a Government Department listed in Table C [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].
  • Evidence of a completed apprenticeship contract, either between 1979–1983 awarded or endorsed by the Registrar of Apprenticeship, or from 1984 by the Register of Manpower Training [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].
• For Table B qualifications:
  • Awarded within the date range by either a Government Department in Table C or a Technikon in Table D [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].

If any condition is not met, or the applicant claims a higher NZQF level than stated in the tables, the qualification must be referred to NZQA for an IQA [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].

Tables

Table A: Trade Qualifications

Qualification	Abbreviation	Level in NZQF terms	Points under SMC
Certificate of Achievement N4 (Speciality of Engineering Studies)	C4	4	40
National Certificate / Nasionale Sertifikaat N4 (may state speciality of Engineering Studies / Ingenieurstudies, or Engineering field of study / Ingenieurstudierigting)	N4	4	40
National Technical Certificate (Part four) / Nasionale Tegniese Sertifikaat (Deel Vier)	NTC4	4	40

Table B: Trade Related Qualifications

Qualification	Abbreviation	Level in NZQF terms	Points under SMC
National Certificate for Technicians / Nasionale Sertifikate Vir Tegnici	NCT	4	40
National Higher Certificate / Nasionale Hoër Sertifikate	NHC	4	40
National Higher Certificate for Technicians / Nasionale Hoër Sertifikate Vir Tegnici	NHCT	5	40
National Technical Certificate (Part Six) / Nasionale Tegniese Sertifikaat (Deel Ses)	NTC6	5	40

Table C: Government Departments

Government Department (previous names)	Qualification awarded from or between dates
Administration of Coloured Affairs / Administrasie van kleurlingsake	NCT: 1979–1984
Department: Education / Department: Onderwys (Department of Education / Department van Onderwys 1995–2000)	N4: 1995–2009
Department: Higher Education and Training (Certificate will state Issued: under delegated authority from the Quality Council for Trade and Occupations)	C4: 2010
Department of Education and Culture / Department van Onderwys en kultuur	N4: 1984–1994
Department of National Education / Department van Nasionale Opvoeding	NCT, NTC4, NHCT, NTC6: 1979–1984

Table D: Technikons

Technikon	Qualification awarded from or between dates
ML Sultan Technikon	NHC: 1988–1995
Peninsula Technikon / Technikon Skiereiland	NHC: 1988–1995
Port Elizabeth Technikon	NHC: 1988–1995
Technikon Natal	NHC: 1988–1995
Technikon Pretoria	NHC: 1988–1995
Technikon SA	NHC: 1993–1995
Technikon Witwatersrand	NHC: 1988–1995

Interpretation & edge cases

• Higher NZQF level claimed: If an applicant believes their qualification may be higher than the level stated in the tables, they must apply to NZQA for an IQA [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].
• Post-2014 qualifications: All listed qualifications awarded after 2014 must be referred to NZQA for an IQA [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].
• Overseas study and cross-credits: Qualifications completed at any institution outside South Africa (including overseas campuses of a listed awarding institution) or containing cross-credited courses must be assessed by NZQA [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].
• Non-SMC purposes: For any purpose other than claiming the SMC points stated, additional evidence of at least a qualifying trade test in a relevant occupation is likely to also be required [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].
• Original language requirement: Award certificates must be provided in their original language [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].
• Effective date: This rule is effective from 27/08/2018 [S-south-africa-trade-qualifications].

Citations

• S-south-africa-trade-qualifications — South Africa - Trade Qualifications