[BaldyBeardyBloke]

I had my qualification pre-assessed, as it didn't appear on the list, it was valued at 50 points, which got me to 130 in total - enough to submit EOI.

I have now been selected, but was wondering whether for the full ITA I need to get the qualification fully assessed. It costs $450 plus $36 for doc return fee. This is a lot of cash.

I will pay it if that is what is required, but will the ITA assessors accept the 50 points from the pre-assessment alone (i.e. without having to fork out the additional cost of a full NZQA assessment) ?

The qualification is only to prove my 'basic' education element. I am not using it to back up any work experience.

Anyone know ?

[thomas family]

Hi

My OH had a similar problem, we had a preliminary assestment, so sent off our EOI and applied to the NZQA for the full works, sent the hughe amount of money, only to find out that our case officer was happy to let us go without the document from the NZQA, so a complete waste of money. :wah

It also takes a long time to receive your document back from the NZQA, we were already to go and were still awaiting the NZQA. I would speak to your case officer because it may not be required, hope this helps.

Best of luck
:)

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

OK, that's great, sounds like good advice. I'm hoping that my work experience in a skills shortage area is the primary driving factor for being awarded PR so the qualification should (?) be irrelevant. Just worried that it might end up holding the process up.

Anyone know whether, should it come to it, it's wotrth paying the extra $150 for a fast track processing option ?

[pinkpiggy]

Just thought i'd give you an update on this thread. OH (BaldyBeardyBloke) sent his qualification off to NZQA to be assessed and we chose the fast track option (costing $636 in total) - £210 approx. It was well worth it - we got the full assessment back last week and it was assessed even higher (Level 6) than the pre-assessment (Level 5).

For information, it's a HNC in Building which is only Level 4 in the UK.

[Angie and Mick]

Well done with the qualification assessment.

On the matter of Work experience, I still am unsure on this matter. I got 30 points for work experience which would be relevant for the area of my work which is social work and as such in the absolute skills shortage. On my EOI this is not clear. Can I change my eoi to say relevant to skills shortage or does it also have to be linked to my qualification. At the moment I do not get the additional points for skills shortage area as they require a degree in Social Work. My qualification is the DIPSW. (Diploma)

Sorry if this is confused, but I am when in comes to trying to get the bonus points for Skills shortage area.

[pinkpiggy]

Angie

Sam's qualification is only being used for the 'recognised basic qualification' and not for his work.

We have claimed 10 years for work experience and also claimed 6 years or more work experience in 'an identified future growth area' and the same in 'an area of absolute skills shortage'.

We have also claimed bonus points for my 'recognised basic qualification'. I have a Degree.

We came out with 130 points. We haven't claimed any points for a qualification relevant to his work experience or said that he has a qualification in any of the absolute skills shortage areas.

I think if this is the same for you, you should be able to change your EOI to say you have work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage.

I hope this makes sense and I think I've answered your question, but if you have any other questions please PM me. I promise to get back to you quicker than the last time ;)

Paula

[Lisa&Andy]

Just thought I would say 'hi' considering we are in the same country at the moment and on the same time zone! Can't help with your query - although you seem to have it all sorted. I'm at the early stages of having my qualifications assessed by the NZQA before submitting the EOI, hoping to be in NZ late 2007? Where and when are you headed to in NZ Pinkpiggy??

Lisa x