Work-based learning provision in 2026

Work-based learning provision in 2026

Last updated 11 March 2026
Last updated 11 March 2026

This page explains how we currently manage requests from providers who want to start or expand the range of programmes they deliver under work-based learning provision in 2026. This is an interim process only.

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Our focus is on ensuring that the network of work-based learning provision is sustainable, has appropriate coverage, and delivers good outcomes for trainees and apprentices, employers and industry, while operating in a tight fiscal environment. How many providers can receive TEC funding for work-based learning will relate to the required network of provision for work-based learning.

Additional providers for 2026 delivery will only be considered in exceptional circumstances

In the upcoming months, Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) will engage with industry and employers to understand what they want the network of work-based learning provision to look like in the future. This engagement will take place before the range of providers is expanded. The outcomes of this engagement will inform any decisions about providers who wish to start or expand their provision.

Until the engagement is complete, we will only consider changes to the work-based learning network in exceptional circumstances.

If a provider wishes to start or expand their provision before the engagement with the sector is complete, they must engage with industry stakeholders across the whole of their industry. They will need to supply us with detailed evidence that they have worked with stakeholders that are, or represent, the majority of the industry. The stakeholders must support them as an additional provider. Also, providers must meet other criteria that demonstrate they will offer high-quality provision and are experienced in delivering work-based learning. 

Even if a provider meets this high threshold, funding is not guaranteed. In a fiscally constrained environment, work-based learning provision must be allocated from currently available funding. All funding decisions consider a wide range of factors, including the total funding available.

Opportunities may emerge if the engagement with industry confirms they want to see an expanded network of work-based learning provision in their sector. However, we do not expect to make changes until 2027.

We will advise the tertiary education sector about the process to apply for any opportunities that emerge for the 2027 funding year and beyond, in due course.

Providers new to or wanting to expand work-based learning provision in 2026

If you wish to start or expand your provision in 2026 before the engagement with the sector is complete:

  • Check your request fits the criteria for this process.
  • Assess if you meet our requirements for the delivery of work-based learning.

Access to an initial plan application will be uploaded to this page in April 2026. Completing the initial plan application does not guarantee that you will be able to progress to the full application stage. We will review your initial plan application and determine whether you will be invited to submit a full application.

Check your request fits the criteria for this process

This process is for providers that want to be considered for new work-based learning delivery in 2026 that are in one of the following categories:

  • currently funded by TEC, but not for work-based learning 
  • currently funded by TEC for work-based learning, but want to expand work-based learning provision into new programmes or credentials that they are not currently funded for
  • not currently funded by TEC but want to receive TEC funding for work-based learning.

This process is not for providers wanting to increase their volume of work-based learning for programmes and/or credentials that we already fund. Instead, those providers should refer to our Supplementary Plan Guidance for information on our approach to additional funding:

Supplementary Plan Guidance for providers submitting Investment Plans for funding from 1 January 2026 (PDF 1.3 MB)

Similarly, this process is not for providers wanting to secure provision that was managed by the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (formerly Te Pūkenga) work-based learning divisions and is now under the ISBs. The transition of these students/trainees and provision is being managed separately – see Work-based learning information for tertiary education providers. 

Assess if you meet our requirements for the delivery of work-based learning

Industry-endorsed provision

Industry will inform the number and type of providers needed to meet their work-based training needs. Therefore, if you want to proceed before the engagement is complete you will need to analyse your industry in depth, on a national basis, and develop a full list of the key stakeholders. Determine if you are sufficiently connected to the majority of the stakeholders and if you will be able to secure their support. 

As New Zealand is a nation of small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), it may be difficult to identify all the stakeholders and secure sufficient support if:

  • your industry is dominated by large numbers of SMEs, and when a reasonable percentage of the businesses do not belong to an industry association or are not able to be easily identified or contacted
  • an industry association is not transparent about its membership or does not represent the majority of relevant businesses
  • a qualification/programme is applied across a number of industries or subsectors – in which case, we need to understand the support for another provider across each industry or subsector
  • the barrier to entry is low, ie, there are a number of businesses regularly moving in and out of the industry.

If your industry is in one or more of these categories, we recommend you wait until the ISB has conducted its engagement and your industry has confirmed that it wants to expand the network of provision.

Likewise, if you wish to deliver in a particular region or to a specific portion of the industry, our decisions need to be informed by an understanding of the work-based training needs across the whole of the industry. We also need to be confident that the network of provision will be viable.

As industry engagement will take time, consider if you have the resources to complete this.

NZQA and ISB approvals and endorsements

The initial plan application form will require you to detail the programmes and credentials that you would like to deliver as work-based learning. 

If you progress to the full application, you will need to seek or confirm the necessary accreditation for the programmes and credentials you wish to deliver. 

If you already deliver a programme through a provider-based approach, and you now wish to deliver it as work-based learning, you will need to complete the necessary programme changes with NZQA which may require ISB endorsement. This endorsement ensures that the programme you deliver is aligned with industry needs. 

Pastoral care and trainee support

We expect all providers to have systems in place to support trainees and apprentices. For further information, see The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 – NZQA

TEC also has trainee and apprentice support expectations in line with our Learner Success Framework. 

Expectations and requirements of work-based learning providers to deliver high-quality learning with employers

Work-based learning requires providers to support employers to deliver training on the job. This function requires different skills, relationships and resources to provider-based learning, where the learning is delivered directly by the provider.

The 2023 guidelines issued by NZQA provide detailed information on how to ensure the quality of your work-based learning. See Work-based training guidelines – NZQA (PDF 150 KB).

The following points provide guidance on key considerations for work-based learning delivery. We will expect you to be able to:

  • support employers to deliver high-quality training and education, which may mean capability building that develops subject matter experts into effective educators, assessors or workplace mentors
  • ensure the trainee support and pastoral care every trainee gets is of a high standard, including in environments where the learning is primarily delivered by the employer, not the provider
  • provide learning and assessment materials that are appropriate to the learning environment, and support best-practice delivery 
  • implement and manage the relationship between the provider and the employer to ensure all the conditions and expectations set by TEC are understood and met in the workplace
  • plan to have regular and constructive contact with the trainers, assessors and supervisors working with your trainees
  • ensure you have staff with specialist technical skills to support the learning in the different contexts in which it will be delivered
  • provide specialist support for trainees, especially trainees with the most need who may struggle to complete their training
  • understand the reporting requirements and practicalities of assessment and moderation in non-campus-based settings
  • provide periodic engagement directly with the trainees (preferably face-to-face) that supports them in their training and sufficient pastoral care
  • adhere to specific requirements when delivering apprenticeships, including sections 381 to 383 of the Education and Training Act 2020 and the Code of Good Practice for New Zealand Apprenticeships.

Funding conditions

All work-based learning is funded from the Delivery at Levels 3–7 (non-degree) on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework and all industry training (DQ3-7) Fund. You will need to understand and meet all the funding requirements of DQ3-7. For details of our funding conditions, see Funding conditions by year.

Work-based learning data specifications and requirements

The information you collect from trainees and apprentices will need to meet our requirements. The data and technical requirements differ from those for provider-based provision. You may need to obtain or update your student management software to meet these requirements. Please explore this fully as it may change the date from which you will be able to offer provision. To fully understand these requirements, see our data specifications and the TEC API portal at Work-based data collection.

Providers not currently receiving TEC funding

Any provider that is new to TEC funding (or has not been funded in over 12 months) will have to go through the new provider process as well as an application to deliver funded work-based learning. If you are in this category and are invited to proceed to the full application stage, we will discuss our requirements with you.

Considerations to guide provider readiness for work-based learning for 2026 delivery

Below is a list of requirements that you should review when considering applying for funding for work-based delivery. This is not an exhaustive list but provides guidance on the aspects you will need to consider and address to be capable of delivering work-based learning in the 2026 year. 

We will use the information from the initial plan application form to assess:

  • the complexity of an industry, the list of stakeholders, and how well connected a provider is to them
  • provider readiness and experience in delivering work-based learning, including technical capability for delivery in 2026.

Detailed evidence and letters of support from industry will only be required at the full application stage. We will verify any evidence providers give us at that stage. Additional TEC funding expectations and requirements will also need to be evidenced in line with our investment processes. 

Initial TEC and NZQA requirements

  • Has your organisation been registered by NZQA as a private training establishment, or is it an institute of technology and polytechnic or wānanga? 
  • Do you meet our financial standards? To be considered for funding, you must meet our standards. Please read Financial viability requirements for TEC-funded PTEs.
  • Do you have NZQA approval and/or accreditation for the work-based learning credentials and programmes you wish to deliver? 
  • Do you understand and will you meet all the funding requirements of the DQ3-7 (non-degree) Fund? For details of our funding conditions, see Funding conditions by year.

Support from industry

  • Have you worked with a WDC or the new ISB to connect with and understand industry needs and preferences?
  • Have you worked with the relevant industry associations? Are they transparent about who their members are? Do they represent the majority of employers? Has the industry association canvassed members or does it intend to canvas members about its preferences for work-based learning? Does the industry association support your request?
  • Who are the major employers in your industry? Have you worked with them? Do they support your request?
  • If your industry comprises many small employers, are they represented by an industry association? What action have you taken to ensure small employers are aware of your application to deliver work-based training. Do they support your request?
  • We need to understand the size and nature of your industry, which organisations employ staff that need the training you wish to offer, and other stakeholders, so we can establish if you have achieved majority support. Are you sufficiently connected within your industry that you can explain this to us?
  • Overall, can you substantiate from industry stakeholders that there are enough trainees and employers to support another provider of work-based learning? 

Quality provision

Technology

  • Have you read through the information on our data specifications and the TEC API portal at Work-based data collection?  
  • Do you have access to DXP Ngā Kete?   
  • Have you arranged/are you arranging access to DXP Ngā Kete?
  • Do you have or will you have staff with experience in the data requirements for work-based training? 
  • Do you have or will you have staff with the technical experience using DXP Ngā Kete? 

Engage with us before submitting an application

If you wish to apply for the next initial plan application round in April 2026, please contact your Relationship Manager or the Customer Contact Team by emailing customerservice@tec.govt.nz or calling 0800 601 301 to discuss your application.

More information