United Kingdom Trade Qualifications (Exempt Assessment)

At a glance

Certain UK trade qualifications are treated as recognised qualifications for the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) without requiring a full NZQA International Qualification Assessment (IQA). This exemption applies to City and Guilds of London Institute craft qualifications (awarded from 1981 onwards, effective 27/08/2018) and to trade apprenticeships issued from 2003 by approved bodies, as well as to later apprenticeship qualifications from 2012. Both routes require the qualification to be in an occupation at ANZSCO skill level 3, 4 or 5. [U-united-kingdom-other-trade-qualifications][U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications]

Definition

The Immigration Operational Manual recognises two principal groups of UK trade qualifications for SMC points, with provisions updated effective 27 August 2018:

1. City and Guilds of London Institute Craft Qualifications (Table A) awarded in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, within specified date ranges, and with evidence of a time‑based apprenticeship where study was completed after certain dates[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications]. An earlier provision recognised only Part Two qualifications from 1990–2004[U-united-kingdom-other-trade-qualifications].
2. Trade apprenticeships awarded by approved bodies: from 2003 onwards, Advanced Apprenticeships, Level 3 Apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships and Scottish SVQ3s (Table B and C) qualify for points[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications]. From 2012, additional Foundation and Intermediate Apprenticeships also qualify (Table D)[U-united-kingdom-other-trade-qualifications].

All qualifications are assigned a nominal NZQF level and corresponding SMC points. If an applicant believes the qualification should receive a higher level, they may obtain an IQA from NZQA[U-united-kingdom-other-trade-qualifications][U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].

Application in decisions

City and Guilds craft qualifications (1990–2004 provision)

Qualification	Award period	NZQF Level	SMC points
The Part Two Certificate in (speciality) Craft Studies	1990 – 2004	3	40
(Speciality) Craft Studies Part 2	1990 – 2004	3	40

Conditions for points: the qualification must be relevant to an occupation at ANZSCO skill level 3, 4 or 5, and the applicant must provide evidence of completing a time‑based apprenticeship (see Table B) awarded by an appropriate awarding body in a relevant occupation[U-united-kingdom-other-trade-qualifications].

Time‑based apprenticeship evidence (Table B):

• Apprenticeship Completion Diploma
• Certificate of Apprenticeship
• Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship
• Completion of Apprenticeship Agreement
• Completion of Craft Apprenticeship
• Contract of Apprenticeship
• Craftsman's (Craftsman) Certificate
• Deed of Apprenticeship
• Indenture of Apprenticeship
• National Craftsman's Certificate [U-united-kingdom-other-trade-qualifications]

City and Guilds craft qualifications (effective 27 August 2018)

Qualification	Awarded from or between dates	Level in NZQF terms	Points under SMC
The Craft Certificate in (speciality will be named)	1981 – 1992	4	40
The Part Two Certificate in (speciality will be named) Craft Studies	1981 – 1989	4	40
(Name of speciality) Craft Studies Part 2	1981 – 1989	4	40
The Part Three Certificate in (speciality will be named) Craft Studies	1990 – 2004	4	40
(Name of speciality) Craft Studies Part 3	1990 – 2004	4	40

If an applicant believes their qualification may be higher than the level stated they should apply to NZQA for an International Qualification Assessment[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].

Notes:

• Award certificates must be provided in their original language[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].
• Mandatory referral to NZQA for an IQA applies to:
  • Any listed qualification where study was completed at an institution outside the country, including any overseas campus of the listed awarding institution[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].
  • Any listed qualification that contains cross‑credited courses or papers[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].
  • For any purpose other than claiming SMC points, evidence of completing a time‑based apprenticeship from an appropriate awarding body, in a relevant occupation, is also likely to be required[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].

Apprenticeships from 2012

Qualification	Abbreviation	Country	NZQF Level	SMC points
Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship	FA	Wales	3	40
Intermediate Apprenticeship	IA	England	3	40
Intermediate Level Apprenticeship	ILA	England	3	40

Abbreviations are used only for the purposes of this provision. All three qualifications attract 40 points, provided they are relevant to an ANZSCO skill level 3, 4 or 5 occupation and are awarded by an approved body from the year shown in Table D[U-united-kingdom-other-trade-qualifications].

Awarding bodies (Table D):

Awarding body	Qualification awarded from
CITB (Construction Skills 2012‑2013)	FA and ILA: 2012
Energy and Utility Skills	FA and ILA: 2012
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board / ECITB	FA: 2014, ILA: 2012
SEMTA	FA and ILA: 2014
Summit Skills	FA: 2013, IA: 2013‑2014, ILA: 2014
[U-united-kingdom-other-trade-qualifications]

Apprenticeships from 2003 (effective 27 August 2018)

Qualification	Abbreviation*	Country	Level in NZQF terms	Points under SMC
Advanced Apprenticeship	AA	England	4	40
Advanced Level Apprenticeship	ALA	England	4	40
Level 3 Apprenticeship	AP	Wales	4	40
Apprenticeship NI (Level 3 Apprenticeship)	ANI	Northern Ireland	4	40
Modern Apprenticeship	MA	Wales	4	40
Vocational qualification (trade qualification title) at Level 3 / SVQ 3: (trade qualification title)	SVQ3	Scotland	4	40

*Abbreviations are used for the purposes of this list only.

If an applicant believes their qualification may be higher than the level stated they should apply to NZQA for an International Qualification Assessment[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].

Notes:

• Award certificates must be provided in their original language[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].
• The following must be referred to NZQA for an IQA:
  • All listed qualifications where study was completed at an institution outside the country, including any overseas campus of the listed awarding institution[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].
  • All listed qualifications that contain cross‑credited courses or papers[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].
  • All qualifications awarded after 2017[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].

Awarding bodies (Table C):

Awarding body (previous names and dates of change in brackets)	Qualification awarded from or between dates
Automotive Skills	MA: 2003 – 2008; AA: 2005 – 2008
CITB (Construction Skills 2003‑2013)	MA: 2003–2011; AA: 2005–2011; ALA and AP: 2012
Cogent	AA and MA: 2007 – 2011; ALA and AP: 2012
Creative and Cultural Skills	ALA and AP: 2013
Creative Skill Set (Skillset 2004 – 2012)	MA: 2004 – 2011; ALA: 2014; AA: 2005; AP: 2012
Department for the Economy (Department for Employment and Learning 2004‑2016)	ANI: 2004
Energy and Utility Skills	AA and MA: 2005 – 2011; ALA and AP: 2012
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board / ECITB	MA: 2003 – 2011; AA: 2005 – 2011; ALA and AP: 2012
Financial Skills Partnership	ALA and AP: 2013
Improve	MA: 2005 – 2011; ALA: 2014; AA: 2005 – 2013; AP: 2012 – 2014
IMI / The Institute of the Motor Industry	AA: 2008 – 2014; ALA: 2014; MA: 2008 – 2011; AP: 2012
Lantra	MA: 2005 – 2012; ALA: 2013; AA: 2005 – 2012; AP: 2013
Learning and Skills Improvement Service	ALA and AP: 2013
People 1st	AA and MA: 2005 – 2011; ALA and AP: 2012
People 1st for GoSkills (GoSkills 2004 – 2011)	MA: 2004 – 2011; AA: 2005 – 2011
ProSkills	AA: 2005 – 2012; MA: 2005 – 2014; AP: 2014; ALA: 2012
Scottish Qualifications Authority / SQA	SVQ3: 2000
SEMTA	AA and MA: 2005 – 2011; ALA and AP: 2012
Skills CFA	ALA and AP: 2013
Skills for Care & Development	ALA and AP: 2013
Skills for Health	ALA and AP: 2013
Skills for Justice (Justice, Community Safety and Legal Services)	ALA and AP: 2013
Skills for Logistics	ALA and AP: 2013
Skills for Security	ALA and AP: 2013
SkillsActive	ALA and AP: 2013
Summit Skills	AA and MA: 2005 – 2011; ALA and AP: 2012
The Building Futures Group	ALA and AP: 2013
The Tech Partnership	ALA and AP: 2015
[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications]

Interpretation & edge cases

• Higher‑level claims: If the applicant believes the qualification merits a higher NZQF level than the default, they may apply to NZQA for an International Qualification Assessment[U-united-kingdom-other-trade-qualifications][U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].
• Language requirement: All award certificates must be provided in the original language[U-united-kingdom-other-trade-qualifications][U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].
• Mandatory NZQA referral:
  • Any listed qualification (City and Guilds or Apprenticeship) where study was completed at an institution outside the awarding country, including any overseas campus of the listed awarding body[U-united-kingdom-other-trade-qualifications][U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].
  • Any listed qualification that contains cross‑credited courses or papers[U-united-kingdom-other-trade-qualifications][U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].
  • For the apprenticeship route from 2003 (Table B/C), all qualifications awarded after 2017 must be referred[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].
  • For any purpose other than claiming the SMC points stated, evidence of completing a time‑based apprenticeship from an appropriate awarding body is also likely to be required[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications].
• Effective date: The amended provisions for craft qualifications and apprenticeships under the 27 August 2018 update come from section U‑united‑kingdom‑trade‑and‑craft‑qualifications[U-united-kingdom-trade-and-craft-qualifications]; earlier provisions remain applicable where relevant[U-united-kingdom-other-trade-qualifications].

Citations

• U — United Kingdom – Other Trade Qualifications
• U — United Kingdom – Trade and Craft Qualifications