If you’re thinking about establishing or registering a Private Training Establishment (PTE) in New Zealand, NZQA provides guidance to support you in making an informed decision.
If you plan to deliver qualifications listed on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF), enrol international students, assess against unit or achievement standards, or apply for TEC funding, registration as a PTE is required.
If you don’t intend to do any of these things then you may not need to register as a PTE.
The process of registering as a PTE is significant and requires detailed planning and evidence and NZQA recommends treating your application as a comprehensive business case. You will need to provide your organisational structure, statutory declarations for directors and senior managers, financial accounts, details of delivery sites, your quality management system (QMS), and a list of the programmes, micro-credentials, or training you intend to deliver.
Up-to-date guidelines on registration can be found at NZQA: Guidelines for PTE Registration. NZQA encourages applicants to review this page thoroughly before beginning the process.
To deliver an NZQA-approved qualification or micro-credential, newly registered PTEs must also apply for accreditation to teach it.
TEC funding is available only to PTEs that are registered and delivering NZQA-approved programmes. However, TEC requires assurance that a provider is financially viable without TEC support before funding is considered.
Funding is not guaranteed and TEC provides information on the Application to receive TEC funding.
The cost of evaluation of your application is $190 per hour (plus GST), with the total usually falling between $8,000 and $15,000. (Note that as at the date of this article fees are under review and are likely to change). The final cost depends on the completeness and quality of your initial submission.
Once registered, providers must meet ongoing quality assurance requirements, including monitoring and validation visits.
In addition, there are likely to be significant organisational and development costs required to meet the registration standards.
NZQA recommends potential applicants consider their long-term goals, capability, and financial readiness before applying. If your vision aligns with regulated education and you are prepared for ongoing compliance, PTE registration may be the right pathway.
We would recommend that you talk to NZQA before starting your application
For full details, visit NZQA’s Registration of a New PTE page.
For support from within the sector, contact ITENZ at admin@itenz.ac.nz.