[thejoz]

I've just had my pre assessment result back but they have said that I'm level 0! :( I can't understand why.

I think if I had a full assessment I would score differently but am a little worried as it costs alot of money, I will need it though to score enough points for my EOI.

Question 1:
I understand that they take your relevant work experience into account, indeed I think that it can sometimes count as a qualification in itself if over 3years full time, am I right about this?

Question 2:
I have a (good) job offer in NZ already and my profession is on the ANZSCO list, does that help to get a good score with the assessment?

Question 3:
Roughly how long might it take? (not fast tracked, I've already been ripped off with the pre assessment!)

[JandM]

Level 0 for what exactly? What qualification is it you asked them to assess?

(Sorry to hear - this must have been a real downer.)

[thejoz]

It was for an "NCFE Provision of Activities Within A Care Setting". Possibly not worth the 50 points on it's own merit but if they do consider my experience then I'd have thought it would suffice. Whats annoying is that I have many certificates obtianed through various training courses that are all relevant to my profession but none are significant qualifications on their own.

[thejoz]

To clarify my profession is Diversional Therapy (on the ANZSCO list).

[thejoz]

Anyone?..... 66 views but only one reply.

Please help, desperate for information on this before I throw more hard earnt cash at it.

[KatieBen]

I can't really help as I don't know anything about the NZQA procedure yet (all that still to come, fun) but if you already have a job offer over there, is it worth going out on a work visa and then applying for residency once there? Or can you get a WTR visa? From memory I think you score more points for already having a job in NZ or having worked in NZ, so you may make up points for working there that you lose from qualification reassessment.

Very sorry I can't be of any more use to you, but I wanted to leave a reply so it wasn't just one more view!

(PS What's Diversional Therapy?)

[JandM]

I'm another who knows nothing about this side of things. When I go to NZ, it'll be by the family route, so I haven't looked into EOIs etc.. Hope this will bump the thread so one of the knowledgeable people sees it.

[JandM]

You could try PMing IanW99 - he seems to be very clued up with all the regulations.

[sasvanb]

Would probably need to know a little more about the exact nature of your qualification... Just googled it and it came up as an NVQ level 2? Is that right? How long did it take you to complete?

Generally speaking the levels that NZQA assess are roughly comparable to our own national frameworks in the UK. For example my OH postgrad in IT is a level 8 on our framework and also a level 8 came back from full NZQA assessment.

If yours is only a level 2 I can see why it came back as not being eligible for points... sorry. :uhoh Do you have any other qualifications that may count for the 'recognised basic qualification' criteria?

Saskia

[sasvanb]

Question 1:
I understand that they take your relevant work experience into account, indeed I think that it can sometimes count as a qualification in itself if over 3years full time, am I right about this?

Question 2:
I have a (good) job offer in NZ already and my profession is on the ANZSCO list, does that help to get a good score with the assessment?

Question 3:
Roughly how long might it take? (not fast tracked, I've already been ripped off with the pre assessment!)


I've had my manual out again! ha ha :yes

In answer to question 1: you should be able to claim points for relevant work experience so long as you can show that your experience is relevant to your offer of employment in NZ

Can't really answer Q2... sorry.

As for Q3: My OH submitted his qualifications for full NZQA assessment (not fast track) and it did take quite a long time, at least two months, with some quite persistant but polite badgering along the way. However this was helped by his post grad qualification coming from an institution on the registered list. If your qualification is more unusual I would factor in lots of extra time... there are horror stories on here about the length of time it can take for full assessments to come back ( 6months +)

Are you sure you need a full assessment? Do you not have enough points with job offer and work experience?? I have my fingers crossed for you! :yes

[IanW99]

You could try PMing IanW99 - he seems to be very clued up with all the regulations.

Thanks for the recommendation :) but sorry, you may have noticed that there is one section of the forum I never answer and that is NZQA.

We never needed to use it, and I have no knowledge of it at all :confused:

Ian

[JandM]

Oh, sorry about that, Ian. You'd made an impression on me as the fount of knowledge on so many issues, you see.

[Susan&Dennis]

Just a note on the "fast" track: We opted for that and were kicking ourselves because while it may have been on a track, it was anything but fast. In our case, not worth paying for because it was still six weeks to two months. However, if we hadn't opted for it, and it had taken the same amount of time, we'd have been kicking ourselves for NOT fast-tracking.

Two more cents' worth: If your qualification nets you no points, it seems to me that a job offer first is the way to go. Have you done a points-count figuring in a theoretical job offer?

Good luck with everything!

[thejoz]

Just a note on the "fast" track: We opted for that and were kicking ourselves because while it may have been on a track, it was anything but fast. In our case, not worth paying for because it was still six weeks to two months. However, if we hadn't opted for it, and it had taken the same amount of time, we'd have been kicking ourselves for NOT fast-tracking.

Two more cents' worth: If your qualification nets you no points, it seems to me that a job offer first is the way to go. Have you done a points-count figuring in a theoretical job offer?

Good luck with everything!

I have a job offer (skilled but not on a shortage list) and have included my work experience on the EOI indicator but still don't have enough points.

My question though is only about NZQA. Will they include my work experience/knowledge when assessing my (inadequate on it's own) qualification? I wouldn't have thought so but I'm sure that I read something like that somewhere.

[Beachcombers]

My question though is only about NZQA. Will they include my work experience/knowledge when assessing my (inadequate on it's own) qualification? I wouldn't have thought so but I'm sure that I read something like that somewhere.

Sorry, but no. Experience counts for nought, as far as the NZQA is concerned, its all about your paper qualifications.

Just to let you know (not that its going to make you feel any better), my wife had a 9 month merry go round with NZQA regarding her social working qualifications, cost us hundreds, all for nothing. :(

[thejoz]

Thanks Beachcombers,

Sorry to hear about your hassles and expense.

Yep, I did suspect that was the case. I'm not quite ready to give up on the chance yet though, my employers (NZ) seem to think that I will get the points for my quals!?

Am I right in thinking that my quals need to be (at least) equivalent to a NZ national certificate/diploma?

My qual (NCFE Level 2 In Provision Of Activities Within A Care Setting) is supposedly equal to an NVQ level 2 (not good enough for NZQA) but when you read through the modules and see what is in the course content it seems very equivalent to a NZ diploma in Diversional Therapy and therefore might afford me the points. It's a very new course that can only be done when in the job.

I guess I should just gamble the $450 NZQA Fee and find out what the situation is, but I'm a quite hesitant to throw good money away, especially as if I don't get the points I'll be going out on a work visa and will need all the money I can get!

Anymore advice anyone?

[sasvanb]

You're right, it is a lot of money to gamble when you've a need for it elsewhere! If you do have the option of going out on a work visa it may be worth your while doing that first? You can always apply for PR once you're out there and have started the job and have some NZ work experience behind you... You can also claim additional points for that can't you??? So may even avoid needing points for quals if you do it that way?? Also if you are on the ground out there it may be easier to get in touch with NZQA and chase up this side of things. I would take all the documentation and research you've done about modules etc and provide them with that too, it will probably help.

Very best of luck and let us know what you decide! :nice1

[thejoz]

Yes I've pretty much decided to send off the NZQA assessment and come out (now) on a work visa.

Thanks for your advise.

[thejoz]

Apparently I need to have recognised quals in my job aswell to be able to apply for residency!

Might I be able to get my qualification converted? Has anyone done this?