[Danlondono]

Hello,

The point calculator system to submit an EOI is a bit unclear to me in some areas...

I have 2 years experience in the travel industry (at senior travel consultant / team leader level) and also have 4 years experience in IT helpdesk support and computer sales. When I go through the points calculator I can get a big variance in points (from 50pnts to 150) so i'd like to make sure what my score really is.

My confusion is with the qualifications.

The points calculator has two sections:

Do you have a recognized basic qualification?
-and-
Do you have a basic New Zealand qualification?

Clicking on either link it comes up with the table:

Level Description Points

10 Doctorates 55
9 Masters 55
8 Postgraduate 50
7 Bachelors 50
6 Graduate certificates 50
5 Diplomas 50
4 Certificates (Specified 50
acceptable trades only –
no points will be confirmed
for other qualifications at
this level)

3 Certificates (same disclaimer 50
as above)

2 Certificates 0

1 Certificates 0

As I am from the US I am not exactly sure what levels 1 through 6 are in US equivalent.

At a glance is seems to me that:

level 1 & 2 = minor certifications (Computer A+)
level 4 seems like industry certifications (not granted by universities) like the MCSE.
level 5 looks like High School diploma (maybe im wrong but if im going upwards in the educational ladder a high school diploma comes above industry certs.)
level 6 to be the equivalent of an AS degree (2 yr university degree).

I am one semester from completing my Associate in Arts degree (2yr degree) which is really just completing all the university pre-reqs courses to jump onto a 4 year degree or finish an AS degree within the same year. I have no industry certifications but I could get my A+ degree and several travel industry certifications within 3 months.

So.. what exactly is the level 1-6 equivalent in the US? If you're not from the US I think that knowing how long it takes to complete a course to achieve that level would be a good indicator as well (aka the A+ exam you just take a test..you can get it in a week, whereas an AS degree takes 2 years in college).

[ourquest]

Hi Danlondono,
Well, you haven't got a New Zealand qualification, which would be from an NZ institution. Qualifications alone are not going to make a 100 point difference in your points score, as they are at most worth 55; so you must be making another error in your calculation.
You are right in thinking that it has to do with the length of study, but the only assessment that matters is from the NZQA, or New Zealand Qualifications Authority. For the purpose of submitting an EOI they can do a pre-assessment of your quals and then you will have a better idea. To give you some indication level 5 and 6 are diplomas that would usually take 2 or 3 years to complete at a tertiary institution. University degrees are level 7 and up. It does get complicated because your qualification must match your work experience, and must also be in a desirable field (in terms of the skills NZ needs).
All the information is on the NZIS website and I suggest studying it much as you would for college exams, and at a point it all begins to make sense.

[Danlondono]

50 points is the minimum education can give you..and that makes up half of the minimum requirement so I'd say its quite important to have it :)

What would be a level 4 basic qualification then? Im hoping my AA degree qualifies as level 4.

My situation is a bit hard since there are almost no diplomas or degrees that are specifically geared to tourism in the US (there are hospitality and tourism but when you look at the courses you must take for the degree, 9 out of 10 are hotel-operation related) whereas the NZ degrees for travel industry are fully dedicated to travel agent related stuff. This has also got me thinking maybe I could try and enter as a student, work part time in a travel agency there and when the degree is completed apply for residence (if thats possible) since i'd literally fulfill all qualifications (job in NZ, NZ degree, etc).

[Danlondono]

Here's a list of courses that I am currently looking into on a NZ college... maybe I could spend 6 months to a year as a student getting these certificates (which I hope would count as NZ qualifications to add points for immigration) and work part-time (20hrs/week) as a travel consultant so I would have access to a job offer when I put the immigration papers in..and be in NZ already so as to not have to pay for the air ticket twice (well.. i hope you can go from international student to a work visa/work-to-residence without having to leave NZ to do the paperwork and then come back).

My only concern is the certificate 'level' listed below.. would they count as as a basic NZ qualification to get me the 50 pnts in the point system?


Certificate in International Travel, Tourism & IT (24 week course
Pre-req's:
National Certificate in Travel & Tourism Core Skills
National Certificate in Travel Level 3
Granted at completion of course:
National Certificate in Travel Level 4
National Certificate in Computing Level 3
Microsoft or University of Cambridge elective qualifications


Since it does say 'level 3' and 'level 4' my guess is these would count.. but the verbage of the immigration site is iffy with the disclaimer:

(Specified acceptable trades only –no points will be confirmed
for other qualifications at this level)

Travel industry jobs is listed only under the immediate shortage list as 'senior' travel consultant (for which I do qualify due to my work experience).