Significant Plan Amendments and Replacement Plans application process

This page explains how to apply for approval for a Significant Plan Amendment or Replacement Plan.

On this page:

Overview

From 1 January 2026, tertiary education organisations (TEOs) are required to submit a Significant Plan Amendment (SPA) or Replacement Plan (RP) application if changes (or proposed changes) to their provision meet the threshold criteria published in the Gazette notice.

The SPA and RP gazetted criteria are referred to here as threshold criteria. The threshold criteria may be met as the result of a single change, or multiple smaller changes to provision throughout the year, and once met will trigger the need for TEC approval.

You can find tables with the threshold criteria in plain language at the link below and the templates you need to use for your application. In some cases, the extent of the changes (or proposed changes) will trigger the need for a Replacement Plan. The thresholds for a RP are in the bottom table on that page.

SPA and RP threshold criteria

When can I apply?

If your changes (or proposed changes) are cost-neutral or would result in a decrease to your funding allocation, you can apply throughout 2026. For additional funding requests, we will publish guidance closer to the April Single Data Return (SDR) about whether funding is available.

Please note that TEC is only considering new work-based learning providers, or expansion of current work-based learning in exceptional circumstances during 2026. We encourage you to contact us directly before beginning an SPA for work-based learning.

Work-based learning

The SPA threshold criteria for work-based learning applies to all TEOs. If you are not currently delivering work-based learning or are proposing to expand into new programmes, you will need to follow the work-based learning application process alongside submitting an SPA.

Work-based learning provision funding

Talk to us early

If you are unsure whether a proposed change will meet the SPA or RP threshold criteria for TEC approval, please speak to your Relationship Manager or Advisor. We may also contact you if we consider the threshold has been met for an SPA or RP.

How do I apply?

Review the threshold criteria tables to determine which template is required for the type of SPA or RP application. Follow the template instructions and use the guidance below to complete your application.

Email your application to customerservice@tec.govt.nz with the subject line “[EDUMIS #] – 2026 Significant Plan Amendment – [type of request]” and copy in your Relationship Manager, if you have one.

SPA and RP threshold criteria

Assessment Criteria

When writing your application remember we take a holistic approach to Plan assessment, including changes to Plans. When assessing your application, we will use the criteria outlined in:

You must consult on the proposed changes with any stakeholders you think are necessary (eg any that are likely to be impacted by your proposal) and any that we require. Please summarise your engagement activity in your SPA or RP application.

When the SPA threshold criteria refer to private training establishments (PTEs), this is a broad definition from the Education and Training Act 2020 and includes community education providers (CEPs) and rural education activity programme providers (REAPs).

Next steps

We will contact you about whether we have approved or declined your application. If we approve (in full or part), and depending on the type of change, we will either set your mix of provision (MoP) to 'revise' or 're-provision', for you to update with the approved changes.

Frequently asked questions

How do we track small changes throughout the year to know when we meet the cumulative equivalent full-time students (EFTS) or hours totals?

We recommend that you use the MoP change template to record all changes throughout the year; you can then use this if you meet the cumulative total.

Do we need to update our MoPs for changes that do not meet the SPA or RP threshold criteria?

No, we do not expect you to update your MoPs for small changes. However, you will need to track these changes as they count towards the cumulative total.

If we submit an SPA application that is approved and a second change occurs, do we include the EFTS or hours from the first approval in the cumulative total along with the EFTS or hours in the second change?

No, after the first application is approved it starts the cumulative total at 0 again.

Example: TEO X is funded for 80 EFTS. In April, TEO X applies to move 8 EFTS from qual A in Auckland to qual A in Whangarei, which is a new delivery region. TEC approves this change. In June, TEO X moves 2 EFTS from qual B to qual C. TEO X does not need to submit a new SPA application because TEC already approved the 8 EFTS change. Therefore, only 2 EFTS counts towards the cumulative total when thinking about the 10 or more EFTS threshold criteria. In August, TEO X moves 9 EFTS from qual D to qual E. This would bring the cumulative total to 11 EFTS and would require TEO X to submit an SPA application due to this criterion:

Change a qualification or credential, region (if currently provided for in its Plan), and/or the mode of delivery of its approved EFTS by more than 10 EFTS where a PTE has 100 or fewer EFTS in a fund.

We are a PTE funded for 80 EFTS and want to change 20 EFTS, will this require an SPA or RP application?

This would require a Significant Plan Amendment application, because the change is greater than 10 EFTS.

A Replacement Plan application would be required if you proposed to change 50 EFTS or more as it would be a change to 50% or more of your approved mix of provision and greater than 50 EFTS.

If you have a question relating to the process, please contact us at customerservice@tec.govt.nz with the subject line “Significant Plan Amendments FAQs”. We will answer your question and add it to this web page if it is relevant to other TEOs.