The reviewed IT and computing qualifications were approved on 4 June 2020. This includes ten reviewed qualifications, two new replacement qualifications, with four current qualifications proposed for expiry in December 2023.

The major changes include:

• Increasing the Level 2 NZ Certificate in Computing qualification from 40 to 60 credits (a new replacement qualification 4132, with 2591 expiring)

• Merging the NZ Diploma in Networking and NZ Diploma in Systems Administration qualifications [Ref: 2600 & 2601] into a new NZ Diploma in IT Infrastructure (Level 6) with strands in Networking and Systems Administration (a new replacement qualification 4129, with 2600 & 2601 expiring)

• The expiry of the NZ Diploma in Database Administration (Level 6) [Ref: 2602], with no direct replacement. 

• The addition of a Data Analysis strand in the NZ Diploma in Information Systems (Level 6) qualification [Ref: 2603].

• Updating the qualifications to better match current industry practice and needs, and current listing requirements.

Further detail is available from the Change report for the review of New Zealand IT and Computing qualifications, and the Background on the review section below.

Providers will need programme approval and provider accreditation, and may need to consider submitting changes to programme approvals before they can offer the new and reviewed qualifications.

There will be a transition phase, and people currently enrolled in programmes leading to version 1 of the qualifications may either complete the requirements by 31 December 2022 (2023 for Ref: 2604) or transfer to version 2 (Ref: 2599 version 3) of the qualification.

The current published versions of the qualifications are available from the Find a NZ computing or IT qualification drop down menu above, or by searching for the qualification reference number or title.

Background on the review

IT Professionals New Zealand (ITPNZ) and NZQA National Qualifications Services (NQS) are co-developers of sub-degree computing and IT qualifications on the NZ Qualifications Framework and undertook the 2019 review - see review plan (PDF, 784KB).

A Steering Group was convened to provide the strategic oversight of the review, to consider issues that are relevant to the entire suite, and to provide guidance to the expert working groups. The terms of reference are available (PDF, 435KB).

To ensure the suite of qualifications is still relevant and fit for purpose, between May and July 2019 feedback was sought to inform the review on any aspect of the qualifications, including the pathways map (PDF, 509KB) for the currently published qualifications.

Four expert working groups were convened in August 2019 to review the 14 qualifications.

Research has informed the strategic guidance from the Steering Group to the working groups (see working group brief (PDF, 765KB)), and indicated that the needs analysis which informed the initial development of these qualifications remains relevant with minor changes required to the suite to reflect the changing IT environment. Stakeholders were kept informed and their comments and feedback to the September consultation on the draft reviewed qualifications have been actively considered.

The reviewed IT and computing qualifications were submitted for quality assurance on 22 October 2019, and they were further refined by the Steering and working groups in response to the quality assurance evaluation between December and May 2020.

Quick links to review documents

• Consultation document – September 2019 (PDF, 460KB)
• Review plan (PDF, 784KB)
• Steering group Terms of Reference (PDF, 435KB)
• Working Group brief (PDF, 765KB)

• Summary of the key changes proposed September 2019 (PDF, 206KB) - includes the general changes across the suite and the main changes to each of the reviewed qualifications.

• Pathways map (PDF, 284KB) for the proposed and current IT and Computing qualifications suite.

New Security and Testing qualifications were approved 1 November 2018.

The new qualifications are:

• New Zealand Diploma in Cybersecurity (Level 6) (120 credits) [Ref: 3837]
• New Zealand Diploma in Software Testing (Level 6) (120 credits) [Ref: 3849]

and the additional strand in Software testing for the following qualification:

• New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology Practitioner (with strands in Server Administration, Network Administration, Information Technology Security, and Software Testing) (Level 6) (40 credits) [Ref: 2599]

Now the qualifications are listed, providers will need to obtain programme approval and provider accreditation to deliver a programme before they can offer the new qualifications.

Background on development of security and testing qualifications

IT Professionals New Zealand (ITP) and NQS are co-leads for the development of all IT and computing related qualifications at levels 1-6 on the NZ Qualifications Framework. Sector workshops were held in Auckland and Wellington in early March 2017 to ascertain industry demand and need, and to get an idea of the scope of qualifications in Security and Software testing if they were developed. Summaries of notes from the sector workshop meetings of March 2017 are available above and include issues raised and sector perceptions of need for qualifications to equip graduates for junior analyst roles (Security and Testing).

Consultation to determine sector views on the need for new qualifications closed 23 June 2017. This consultation survey was primarily aimed at experts, employers or educators in testing and/or security areas, and was intended to help steer the decision about whether to proceed, and the general design, size and position of these potential qualifications.

A summary of key themes resulting from the June consultation feedback was included in the September 2017 consultation document on the proposed addition of Cybersecurity and Software testing qualifications.

Full consultation on the draft qualifications was undertaken in September 2017, and results supported the draft qualifications proceeding to 'approval to develop'. Minor changes were made to the draft qualifications prior to submitting for 'approval to develop'.

The proposed two new Level 6 qualifications in Cybersecurity and Software Testing, and one new Software Testing strand in the existing IT practitioner qualification [Ref: 2599] were submitted to NZQA Quality Assurance Division for 'approval to develop' a qualification on 23 November 2017, and approval was granted on 11 December 2017.

The April 2018 consultation feedback supported and endorsed the draft qualifications for submission to NZQA Quality Assurance Division for listing. Some minor changes were made to the qualifications by the expert working groups before submission, and in August 2018 in response to feedback from the quality assurance evaluator. New Security and Testing qualifications were approved 1 November 2018.

Quick links to review documents

• Consultation document – March/April 2018 (PDF, 1020KB)
• Consultation document – September 2017 (DOCX, 162KB)
• Needs analysis – November 2017 (PDF, 579KB)
• Sector workshop meetings March 2017 notes –

Security (PDF, 604KB) and Testing (PDF, 653KB)

Consistency reviews

All providers with programmes leading to New Zealand qualifications will need to take part in consistency reviews.

Many of the IT and Computing qualifications are scheduled for a consistency review between September 2018 to July 2019, with details of dates in the schedule for assuring consistency.

Following the consistency review for each qualification, the consistency review reports are published.

Qualifications in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) were scheduled for review in quarter one of 2013 as part of the nation-wide mandatory review of qualifications. There were a wide range of ICT qualifications (223) with many apparently similar qualifications at the same level.

The mandatory review was to reduce the duplication and proliferation of qualifications on a national scale, and to ensure that qualifications are useful, relevant and valuable to current and future learners, employers and other stakeholders.

The review was jointly led by the Institute of Information Technology Professionals (IITP) (now IT Professionals NZ) and NQS. IITP and NQS worked together to establish the terms of reference for the working relationship for the review. In summary, it was proposed that the IITP manage the Steering Group to provide Governance including the strategic leadership and direction, and an effective decision-making structure for the review, and NQS manage the project and the operation of the working groups. The steering group met nine times between April 2013 and the listing of the new qualifications in May 2015.

Stakeholders and interested parties were encouraged to be involved in the review and share their thoughts on the future of ICT qualifications in New Zealand. There were opportunities to be on the Steering Group, members of working groups, and/or respond to the four stages of consultations. Consultation documents are available from the links below.

NZQF2 and NZQF4 stakeholder attestation forms provided evidence that the co-leads consulted with a wide range of stakeholders during the review and development process. Completion of these forms helped meet review obligations.

In April 2015 the proposed suite of fourteen new IT and computing qualifications were approved for listing.

Key Documents

• Terms of Reference (PDF, 196KB) for ICT qualifications review steering group
• IT Qualifications review project plan 2013 (PDF, 967KB)
• Review scope schedule: List of ICT quals in review 2013 (XLSX, 31KB)
• ICT qualifications review Needs analysis November 2013 (PDF, 3.5MB)
• Working Group Brief - IT qualifications review (2013) (PDF, 880KB)
• Working Group Brief - IT qualifications review - Phase 2 (2014) (PDF, 1.3MB)

Consultation documents

• Draft ICT qualifications consultation document – approval to list (PDF, 1008KB) (closed 21 August 2014)
• Draft ICT qualifications consultation – approval to develop (closed 16 October 2013) -

• consultation document (PDF, 563KB)
• draft qualifications (PDF, 940KB)
• summary of feedback (PDF, 168KB)

• Proposed ICT qualifications landscape (closed 12 July 2013)
• Industry survey - job roles
• Providers survey - summary of feedback (closed May 2013) (PDF, 568KB).

NZQA Qualifications Services developed and reviewed Computing unit standards, to ensure there is a suite of unit standard suitable for those who wish to use standards as assessment tools in programmes towards version 1 of the following four qualifications:

• NZ Certificate in Computing (User Fundamentals) (Level 2) (40 credits)[Ref: 2591] (expiring 2023 – replaced by Ref: 4132)
• NZ Certificate in Computing (Intermediate User) (Level 3) (60 credits) [Ref: 2592]
• NZ Certificate in Computing (Advanced User) (Level 4) (60 credits) [Ref: 2593]
• NZ Certificate in Information Technology Essentials (Level 4) (60 credits) [Ref: 2594]

The landscape of computing unit standards mapped to NZ qualifications at levels 2-4 (DOCX, 41KB) provides details of the standards titles and credits by level. This information may help inform programme development.

Further information is available from the Computing standards and review development webpage, and details are available in the January 2017 review of computing unit standards change report.

The computing unit standards will be reviewed during 2020-2021 following the publishing of the reviewed IT and computing qualifications to check they remain suitably aligned to the reviewed qualifications.