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Accreditation FAQs

1.)  Where do I find out what Hospitality units our school is accredited for?

  • Check with your HOD, Principal or Principal's nominee
  • Check your schools scope via NZQA and follow the links
  • Talk to your HSI Regional Advisor and they will be able to offer advice on hospitality unit accreditation.


2.)  We would like to offer Level 2 hospitality units next year, where do I start?

  • Discuss  options with your principal, HOD or Principal's nominee
  • Check www.hsi.co.nz/schools/accreditation for accreditation guidelines
  • Arrange an ‘Accreditation’ chat with your HSI Regional Advisor


3.)  We want to offer Level 2 units next term/year.

How long will it take to gain a letter of support from HSI?

Every application is different and may be submitted with more information than others 

  • Allow at least 3 months from HSI receiving your application to gain a letter of support. Please note: This would be a minimum time frame for a ‘perfect’ application document – there may be requests from our Quality Assurance team for more information to be submitted
  • Once HSI is satisfied with your application and have offered a letter of support,  your school will then need to submit the application with the Letter of Support through to NZQA for approval.


4.)  Who should be involved with compiling the application documentation?

  • Hospitality teacher
  • HOD/ HOF (Head of Faculty)
  • Principals Nominee
  • Principal
  • HSI Regional Advisor


5.)  Do I need extra/commercial equipment to offer Level 2 Units? How much will it cost?

  • Some domestic equipment can be used (e.g stoves, small appliances etc). However, applicant schools must demonstrate that it has access to the necessary facilities to reflect an appropriate training environment.   Your HSI Regional Advisor will be able to advise in more depth.
  • Check the “How to” Guide Accreditation – Schools, appendix A - Guide for Approval of Practical Assessment Environment for the equipment required.
  • To fit out kitchens, prices may vary depending on region/trade suppliers/auctions/pre-loved

6.)  Do we need to have a commercial kitchen or get new equipment before we apply for accreditation, or can we buy it once we get approval? 

  • Your documentation will require an equipment and assessment environment check list signed by your HSI Regional Advisor.
  • If your organisation doesn’t currently have the correct equipment, a copy of the invoice of the intention to purchase or a supplier quote (on supplier letterhead) for the required equipment will need to be submitted with your application documentation.   This equipment will also be checked after purchase.
  • Domestic equipment is sometimes allowed and suitable. 

7.)  Is there a fee to pay to apply for accreditation?

Yes there are administration fees.  Please refer to NZQA’s Schedule of Fees

www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/amaps/feeschedule

8.)  Should I apply for the full domain or just the units we want to offer?

It is recommended that you apply for the units that you feel staff and the premises are capable of offering  Please also talk to your regional HSI adviser to discuss options.

9.)  How many different domains can I apply for? 

Any number of domains and units can be applied for.  For more queries, please contact your Regional Advisor 

 

10.)  I am a teacher, what industry qualifications do I need to offer Level 2 or 3 Hospitality units?

  • All assessing staff must hold Unit 4098 - Use standards to assess candidate performance, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills

Staff teaching and/or assessing against unit standards must:

  • Hold a qualification relevant to the domain that they teach or assess against, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills at NQF Level 3 and above
  • Have a minimum of 2 years experience in any specialisation that they are teaching and assessing
  • The applicant's organisation must have policies and procedures to ensure that if no person meeting the above criteria is available, teaching and assessment will not proceed.

 
11.)  I am the only hospitality teacher involved in our application for L2 accreditation.  If I leave the school, can I take the accreditation with me or will it stay with the school?

  • No, the accreditation will remain with the school
  • The school must ensure via its policies and procedures submitted in its accreditation documentation, that it will find a compatible replacement teacher or will no longer offer the programme until a suitable replacement is found.

12.)  What are some reasons why you wouldn’t support applications for accreditation?

  • Inadequate evidence/documentation of policies and procedures in place within the school's Quality Management System
  • Inadequate evidence/documentation of physical resources, equipment and assessment criteria
  • Inadequate food, hospitality or industry experience from the school and/or teacher applying to teach the units
  • Lack of evidence that the school can meet the necessary assessment requirement or assessment environment

13.)  Do we need to submit the application with a full copy of our school’s Quality Management System (QMS)?

  • You must supply extracts from your QMS.  However it is recommended that you supply a full copy of your QMS Document. 
  • Please reference the associated QMS excerpt/page number to the criterion documentation


14.)  Are there any pre-requisites for students who wish to study Level 2 Hospitality?

Cookery

Yes.  If you are intending to offer Cookery units, your students are required to have first obtained Unit 167 – Practice food safety methods in a food business.

Food & Beverage

No.  There are no pre-requisites for Food and Beverage units.

 
15.)  I have been teaching food technology / home economics/ food nutrition for years but I don’t have any hospitality industry experience/qualifications.  How will this affect our application?

  • Contact your HSI Regional Advisor to discuss your experience. Recommendations for up-skilling in a particular domain may be required
  • A copy of the your curriculum vitae will need to be submitted with the application.

16.)  Can the school add additional units to our scope after we have had our application for accreditation approved?

  • Yes, you need to submit a new application to HSI and NZQA to extend your schools scope.  Please talk to your HSI Regional Advisor.

Contact a Regional Advisor 

 

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