Consent to Assess

Overview

Consent to assess is a process that allows education organisations to assess unit or achievement standards listed on the Directory of Assessment Standards (DAS) and award credit for them. Consent to assess is granted by New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA).

• Providers need to apply for consent to assess if they want to assess against standards listed on the DAS.
• Providers need to apply for consent to assess when they want to extend their consent to assess against standards, for example adding or changing a standard in a programme or curriculum.

Consent to assess process

As part of the NZQA application process, providers will need to supply a letter of support from the relevant WDC. This letter attests that the provider meets the specific industry requirements, including having the resources to effectively deliver and assess the unit standard(s).

Submit consent to assess applications to WDCs

Consent to assess involves the provider, the WDC, and NZQA. WDCs will accept consent to assess applications from 4 October 2021. Please see the ‘how to apply’ section above for more information.

• Find the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) documents you’re looking for by searching for the reference number here(external link)on the NZQA website.
• Please apply for consent to assess at the individual unit standard level, for unit standards that the applicant intends to use.

If the WDC has concerns with your consent to assess application, the WDC will write to the Provider setting out the grounds for their concerns. The letter will cover how the concerns can be constructively addressed and the timeline for review.

WDC refuses to provide a letter of support for the consent to assess application

• A WDC will only withhold a letter of support as a last resort. This is where all attempts to address outstanding issues with the applications have been exhausted. A WDC will aim to work collaboratively with providers in these cases.
• Providers have an obligation to maintain their consent to assess on an ongoing basis and are subject to the national external moderation system.
• WDCs do not charge for our role in consent to assess applications. However, NZQA does chargefor their role in consent to assess applications. Please see the relevant NZQA fees here(external link).

Timeframe for consent to assess approval

• We will aim to provider letters of support for consent to assess applications within 20 working days. However, we recommend that you allow at least three months for the total consent to assess process, including NZQA approval.
• We will complete any consent to assess applications that were initially submitted to a TITO. TITO letters of support are still valid for the time period specified on the letter. You can use this letter to progress your application with NZQA

More information on the NZQA part of consent to assess can be found in the following documents

• Guidelines for applying for consent to assess standards listed on the Directory of Assessment Standards(external link)
• NZQA website(external link)