Te Kawarangi


Workplace Assessment (WA) is a process through which administrative professionals are assessed for their current competencies against unit standards or learning outcomes, in order to achieve a nationally recognised qualification listed on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF).

What will Workplace Assessment do for me?

Workplace Assessment can assist you to attain a formal qualification at Levels 3, 4, 5 or 6.

Why should I go through the WA process?

Workplace Assessment will enable you to gain recognition of the skills you hold in the workplace instead of completing training courses either in a classroom or online. The process compares what you do every day, every week, every month, every year with unit standards or learning outcomes, which may in turn lead to a formal qualification.

All administrative professionals will have acquired many additional skills in their work, and most will have had training over the years. Your skills and training likely equate to unit standards or learning outcomes and therefore may help align in part or in total, to a formal qualification.

If you would like to apply for AAPNZ Certification, the Formal Learning requirement is a Level 5 qualification.  If you have a Level 4 qualification then you can apply for Provisional Certification and give yourself time to acquire a Level 5 qualification for full Certification.

How does the process work?

You will work with an Independent Workplace Assessor (IWA) who will take you through a Skills Analysis process to determine what level of qualification you can attain based on your competencies. Your role might limit you from attaining a higher-level qualification, but the focus is to get you started and registered on the NZQF with your own Record of Achievement (ROA) with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

Once a qualification has been determined for you from the Skills Analysis process, you will develop case studies documenting the work you do. Your IWA will guide you through this process and ensure your case studies are aligned to unit standards within that qualification from the NZQF. 

The process will also identify areas in which additional learning is required. Areas that require additional learning may be addressed by using assessment resources or undertaking formal learning through a tertiary education organisation (TEO).  TEOs include Polytechnics, Institutes of Technology or Private Training Establishments (PTEs).

What are examples of work that I can use for case studies?

  1. Organising a conference—you may have been involved in organising a conference or event for your organisation, or even AAPNZ, and will have used many skills and competencies developed over your work life to date.
  2. Organising board meetings—planning a meeting for attendees located in different regions who need to come together for the meeting that might include travel and accommodation requirements.
  3. Managing or implementing a new administration process.
  4. Participating in or leading a team at your workplace, or for AAPNZ.

By developing a case study of your involvement in these or similar tasks, you are providing the evidence required for Workplace Assessment. This evidence aligns to unit standards or learning outcome statements within the formal business administration qualification.

How does workplace assessment relate to NZQA?

Once you have completed the Skills Analysis process and a level of qualification is determined, you will be advised of the TEO that will provide the formal reporting process to NZQA. Currently AAPNZ has a close working relationship with the Skills Organisation, which is the industry training organisation (ITO) for the public sector and local government. The IWA reports the completed credit value of the unit standards through to the TEO which in turn reports them through to NZQA. These results are then registered on your ROA for life.

How do I get started?

You will need to contact a member of the Professional Development Team (PDT) to arrange for an IWA to guide you through the process. The IWA will analyse your skills, assess your level of formal education, determine the level of qualification you can attain and advise you about developing your case studies.

For more information contact professional.development@aapnz.org.nz

PO Box 5431 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6145

E-mail: membership@aapnz.org.nz

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