New Zealand Certificate in Education Support (Level 4)

Your workload

You'll be expected to spend about 30 hours a week studying and part-time learners about 15 hours. The programme will be delivered flexibly and a proportion of your learning will be work-based. 

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

• For those under 20: NCEA Level 2 with passes in English/Te Reo Māori, or equivalent.
• For those 20 and over: No minimum academic requirements.
• In exceptional circumstances, an applicant under the age of 20 who does not meet the academic entry requirements may be granted entry to the programme where you supply evidence of your ability to succeed on the programme. 

English Language requirements 

If English is not your first language, you must provide:

• New Zealand University Entrance OR
• Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 with no individual band score lower than 5.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
• Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.

Other requirements 

• You must provide evidence that you have access to an education setting to complete 72 hours of paid or voluntary work under the supervision of a registered teacher. Please note: applicants may be supported to locate a suitable setting but Otago Polytechnic does not undertake to provide placements for learners.
• For all applicants, we'll need to assess your suitability for working with children in the community and to ensure Otago Polytechnic meets the legislative requirements of the Children's Act 2014. In accordance with this Act, you'll be required to:
  • provide two character references. These should be from people who are over 16 and in positions of trust or responsibility such as an employer, teacher, pastor, kaumatua or kuia. References from family, friends or work colleagues will not be accepted.
  • provide a signed consent form which allows Otago Polytechnic to check your record of convictions on entry, during and prior to completing the programme.
  • attend an informal interview to discuss your suitability for working with children in the community.  

Please note: All applicants with any convictions may be declined entry depending on the severity, recency, age at offending and pattern of offending. 

Selection process

Where there are more applicants than places available, learners will be selected based on the order of their applications being received. 

Want your existing skills recognised?

If you have extensive knowledge and skills due to practical experience in this area, please ask us about our recognition of prior learning process. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification and could achieve it in a shorter timeframe. Please email info@op.ac.nz or call 0800 762 786.

Fees Free 

If you’re a domestic student and this is your first time doing tertiary study in New Zealand (over 60 credits at Level 3 or higher), you may be able to get free tuition fees for this programme. 

All the details and criteria are on the Fees Free website and you can check whether you’re going to be able to access funding by entering your National Student Number. 

If you can access it, we’ll organise your fees with the Tertiary Education Commission when you’re enrolled to study with us. This funding doesn’t include additional costs or living costs.   

Check whether you can access funding here. 

Tuition fees

The tuition fees shown above are approximate only. There may be a slight fee increase per year once Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) rules and guidelines are applied. These fees also don’t include additional costs or living costs.

Student Services Fee

For most students, your tuition fee shown above includes a Student Services Fee – also known as the Student Levy. This compulsory fee covers your access to the student services we offer. This cost is tailored depending on how you're studying.