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IT qualifications review

We have revised a suite of the professionally aligned IT qualifications. Included below are a summary of changes, draft qualification documents (clean and tracked versions), and a programme guidance sample. 

These draft versions reflect the work of an advisory group and writing groups composed of subject matter experts. These groups met regularly to review and recommend changes to the suite. The drafts also incorporate feedback from tertiary providers delivering IT programmes. 

The review process was guided by insights from the Toi Whanui Workforce Development Plan (WDP), published by Toi Mai in May 2024. This plan captured extensive engagement across the digital technologies sector and highlighted key workforce trends, skills needs and future directions. 

To ensure alignment with global standards, the revised qualifications and, more specifically, the programme guidance reference the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA), supporting consistent, industry-recognised language and outcomes. 

 

Keep reading for a summary of changes to this suite of qualifications. Please refer to the resources section further below for the documentation (both clean and with tracked changes).

Across all qualifications – Updates to Qualification Specifications 

  • Detailed programme conditions removed.  These will instead be included in programme guidance documents that will accompany the qualifications – an example has been included for the proposed new stranded Level 5 Diploma. 
  • Qualification award and evidence statements updated to the current wording. 
  • Version and Transition information included. 

 

Level 4

2594 NZ Certificate in Information Technology Essentials   

  • Qualification outcome statements simplified including the GPOs and Strategic Purpose.  No change to GPO credit distribution. 

 

Level 5

(NEW) NZ Diploma in Information Technology with strands in Infrastructure and Technical Support, Software Development, and Applied Digital Technologies
to replace: 2596 NZ Diploma in Information Technology Technical Support; 2597 NZ Diploma in Information Systems; and 2598 NZ Diploma in Web Development and Design 

  • The three listed qualifications above to be expired and replaced with the new stranded Diploma. 
  • An example Programme Guidance document has also been development to guide programme developers in shaping and articulating learning outcomes and assessment strategies in line with SFIA skills and levels. 

2595 NZ Certificate in Information Technology   

  • Updated to align with the core of the new 120 credit Diploma above.  

 

Level 6

4129 NZ Diploma in IT Infrastructure with strands  

  • Updated to more explicitly reflect cloud content including the “Systems Administration” strand renamed “Cloud-Based Systems Administration”. 

2604 NZ Diploma in Software Development  

  • Reduced from 240 to 120 credits with updates to the outcome statements to reflect this change.  Aligned to the Level 5 Software Development Strand in the new 120 credit Diploma. 

2599 NZ Certificate in Information Technology Practitioner with strands  

  • Replaced with the 60 credit “NZ Certificate in Applied Digital Technology” to support industry placements, mostly recent graduates who wish to enhance their employment prospects. 

3837 NZ Diploma in Cybersecurity   

  • Qualification remains fit for purpose with no updates to Outcome Statements.   

4663 NZ Certificate in Applied Software Development   

  • Qualification remains fit for purpose with no updates to Outcome Statements.   

2603 NZ Diploma in Information Systems with strands   

3849 NZ Diploma in Software Testing   

  • To be expired given there has been little to no usage and following stakeholder feedback.   

Review Update – Level 2, 3 and 4 User Qualifications

4132 NZ Certificate in Computing (Foundation User) Level 2 

2592 NZ Certificate in Computing (Intermediate User) Level 3 

2593 NZ Certificate in Computing (Advanced User) Level 4 

The review of these qualifications continues with another working group hui to be held next month.  For more information, contact [email protected] 

Please download the draft documents below, including draft qualification documents (clean and with tracked changes) and Programme Guidance.

 Qualification document

Clean Copy 

Tracked Changes 

Programme Guidance 
Level 4 
2594 NZ Cert in Information Technology Essentials  2594 clean 2594 tracked  
Level 5 
2595 NZ Cert in Information Technology  2595 clean 2595 tracked  
NZ Dip in Information Technology with strands  Proposed L5 Diploma   Proposed L5 Diploma Programme Guidance
Level 6 
2599 NZ Cert in Applied Digital Tech  2599 clean 2599 tracked  
2604 NZ Dip in Software Dev   2604 clean 2604 tracked  
3837 NZ Dip in Cybersecurity    3837 clean 3837 tracked  
4129 NZ Dip in IT Infrastructure with strands   4129 clean 4129 tracked  
4663 NZ Cert in Applied Software Dev    4663 clean 4663 tracked  

 

Contact us

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]