[Billy]

Finally received my assessment report today, thankfully it came out at level 6, as per the pre-assessment.

For those planning a full assessment, here is how my events unfolded:

Application arrived with NZQA 29 December.
Payment taken 9 January.
Assessment commenced 25 January.
Verification from awarding body received by NZQA 17 February.
Assessment report posted 7 March.
Assessment received 22 March.

I'm slightly annoyed by 2 things. Firstly they took my money 16 days before commencing their work. Secondly, my case officer would not tell me the result by email in advance of receiving the paper report; maybe she is off sick/on holiday, but all my requests were ignored.

Never mind, it's all over now. Just thought I'd make you guys aware of the time it might take (bearing in mind that my awarding body replied to NZQA quickly - others might take considerably longer).

Cheers
Billy

[Dave & Sandra]

Thanks Billy - that info is useful. Just waiting for my transcript from the awarding body before I can submit to NZQA.

Level 6 is good - well done.

[Billy]

I had terrible trouble getting hold of a transcript. My college (now Glasgow Caledonian University) told me they had absolutely no records, and I should go to the Scottish Qualifications Authority, under whose auspices my course was run, and examined. They told me no, your college will have all your records. Back to the college - no, SQA.

That went on for a while. Eventually got a very helpful lady at the SQA, who had the required info all along!

Could have had my ITA submitted in December !

Still, many more things to worry about now.......

Cheers
Billy

[Wannaway]

Took over 6 months for my assessment to come through and the NZQA were really unhelpful and uncommunicative during that time (and we paid a fast track fee :eek ). When I started the process I needed a positive assessment to get the necessary points to come out here, by the time it did come through I was already here, started a job and was biding my time to get PR without restrictions, making the whole NZQA process ultimately redundant :? . Anyway, when it did come back it came back as a level 6, so I actually had 155 points under the SMC.

I would say the NZQA thing was the only really bad thing about the whole PR process for us, really amateurish and I think you should expect better when it is such a major "life event" for people.

[SharpBlade]

As far as I have experienced it, the policy of NZQA is to only send the final assessment report by post. I rang them a few days ago and even though the assessment is completed and posted, they would not give me the final outcome (same as for Billy) except saying it is a very positive result.... which does not tell much.
I can understand the frustation shared by other people who asked to have their qualifications assessed by NZQA. But on the other hand I also understand that if NZQA was to communicate the results over the phone, this could result in some serious arguments if the person being assessed is not happy with the final outcome. As far as the delay taken by NZQA is concerned, I must say they were ok (application sent on 04-Jan-05 from Ireland, official receipt sent by NZQA on 27-Jan-05); you have to take into account some extra delays due to postal services (that was my case) and the promptness of the organism that delivered your qualifications to reply to NZQA.