New senior secondary qualifications#

From 2028, new senior secondary qualifications will start to replace NCEA.

The new qualifications are based on school subjects and are designed to be:

• easier to understand  
• trusted by universities and employers
• similar to those used in other countries.

They will align with an updated senior secondary curriculum that is being finalised this year and will be introduced gradually in schools and kura from 2028.

What is replacing NCEA#

NCEA will be replaced by 2 new national qualifications:

• New Zealand Certificate of Education (NZCE) for students in Year 12
• New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE) for students in Year 13.

A new foundational qualification will also be introduced for Year 11 in 2028. It will focus on reading, writing and maths.

Timeline of changes#

The new qualifications will be introduced in stages:

• the foundational award will start in 2028
• NZCE (Year 12) will begin in 2029
• NZACE (Year 13) will begin in 2030.

This gradual roll out gives teachers and schools time to prepare and become familiar with the new curriculum and assessment system before everything is fully in place.

How the new qualifications were developed#

The new qualifications have been designed with input from teachers, school leaders and assessment experts. Public feedback gathered during consultations in 2025 has also helped shape the final design.