Education (Exempt Micro-credentials for Enrolling International Students) Notice 2026
This notice is made under section 528(1)(b) of the Education and Training Act 2020 by the Chief Executive of NZQA under delegation from the Board of NZQA.
This is the Education (Exempt Micro-credentials for Enrolling International Students) Notice 2026.
This notice comes into force on 30 June 2026.
In this notice, unless the context otherwise requires—
Act means the Education and Training Act 2020.
corporate training means study or training arranged for personnel of one or more organisations, where the study or training is paid for by the organisations, and it is not open for participation by the general public.
credit value means the measurement of time spent on study or training, where each credit represents ten notional learning hours.
international student has the same meaning as in section 10(1) of the Act.
recreational in nature means the training scheme is for the pursuit of recreation, pleasure or leisure (including in the nature of a hobby), and the skills gained are not designed to lead to further or higher study, or entry into employment.
(1) The following classes of micro-credentials of under 3 months duration are exempt for the purposes of sections 525(2)(b) and 527(2)(b)(ii) of the Act:
(a) micro-credentials that are recreational in nature:
(b) corporate training of a kind that is not excluded under sub-clause (2):
(c) micro-credentials that have a credit value of less than 10 credits and are not excluded under sub-clause (2).
(2) Micro-credentials that are designed for the purpose of meeting regulatory requirements for occupational registration, occupational licensing, or health and safety in the workplace are excluded from the exemptions in paragraphs (b) and (c) of sub-clause (1).
(1) The following notice is revoked:
(a) the notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 8 November 2012, No. 134, page 3866 entitled Education (Exempt Training Schemes) Notice 2012.
Made at Napier on this 29th day of May 2026.
Dr GRANT KLINKUM, Chief Executive of NZQA under delegation from the Board of NZQA.
This note is not part of this notice but is intended to indicate its general effect.
This notice, which comes into force on 30 June 2026, sets out the micro-credentials of under three months for which universities, polytechnics, wānanga, and private training establishments may enrol international students and do not need to obtain NZQA approval for the micro-credential under section 441, or accreditation under section 446A, of the Act.
A micro-credential is study or training that leads to an award, such as a certificate or document granted in recognition of a student’s achievement and completion of study or training, but does not of itself lead to a qualification on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework.
Section 528(1)(b) of the Act provides for this exemption for the purposes of enrolment of international students under sections 525(1)(b) and 527(2)(b)(ii).
The exempt micro-credentials are those for recreational activities (e.g., leisure or hobby activities like rope climbing or origami), those for corporate training provided exclusively for personnel of employers, and those of less than a credit value of ten credits (i.e., being less than 100 notional learning hours). However, where a micro-credential of less than ten credits is for the purpose of a regulatory requirement for occupational registration, occupational licensing, or health and safety in the workplace, it is not exempt. An example of training for a regulatory requirement is first aid training.
Although a micro-credential may be exempt, the provider is not prevented from applying for approval and accreditation of the micro-credential.