You can gain points for qualifications such as trade certificates, diplomas, bachelor degrees and postgraduate qualifications.
The points you can earn will depend on what level your qualification occupies on the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications.
See the recognised qualifications section on our website for more information on how many points you may be able to claim.
What if my qualification is not relevant to my job offer?
Where ANZSCO indicates that the requirements for an occupation can be met with relevant work experience and/or on the job training then, as long as you can meet this requirement, you may claim points for the qualification which is not relevant to your offer of skilled employment. The qualification, however, would still need to be recognised as per our list of qualifications exempt from assessment.
Example: The occupation of Brick Layer in ANZSCO indicates that at least three years of relevant work experience may substitute for a formal qualification. The bricklayer may also have a recognised bachelor degree in English Literature (not relevant to his offer of employment as a bricklayer).
As long as the bricklayer can show satisfactory evidence of three years of work experience, then he or she can claim for the recognised Bachelor Degree. NOTE: You can claim points for one qualification only. So if the bricklayer has a relevant recognised trade qualification and a recognised (but irrelevant) Bachelor Degree then the bricklayer can only claim points for the relevant trade qualification.
This answer was last updated on 17 April, 2013.
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