Free Range Courses

Free Range Assessments are available for the following NZOIA assessments:

• All Leader qualifications
• All Endorsements; Sport Climbing Endorsement, Multisport Kayak Endorsement
• Climbing Wall Supervisor and Monitor Lead Endorsement

Fees:

$150 Free Range Assessment fee plus any Assessor fees and expenses.

The Free Range Assessment fee is a contribution towards the NZOIA qualification system.  It goes towards qualification development and reviews, Assessor training and moderation, resources, certificates and administration.

You are required to be a Registered Member to attend a Free Range Assessment (or be listed under a NZOIA Affiliated or NZOIA Climbing Wall Membership).

*Affiliated Members receive a discounted Free Range Assessment fee of $50 per person.

The Assessor may include the Free Range Assessment fee as part of their fees (they then pay this to NZOIA on your behalf), or you can pay the fee separately – this is up to you and the Assessor to decide how you wish to do this.

A list of NZOIA Assessors can be found on our website under Find Assessor. Click on their name for further details.

Process

• Review the Scope and Syllabus for the qualification.
• Decide on a range of dates and a location.
• Contact an Assessor to negotiate date, location and fee. Ascertain if they or you will pay the NZOIA Free Range Assessment fee.
• If required, contact NZOIA to request an invoice for the Free Range Assessment fee.
• Join NZOIA as a Registered Member through the website if you are not already a member.
• Sit the assessment.

Free Range Refreshers are offered for all NZOIA qualifications where revalidation is required.

The Technical Sub Committee sees the benefit of Assessors being able to run Free Range Refresher Workshops as well as Assessor sign-offs.  This provides more opportunity for members to complete their revalidation requirements and can bring the cost down if there are enough attendees. 

To make it a Refresher Workshop there needs to be a minimum of 3 people attending, and they must be from at least two different workplaces.

Free Range Refresher Workshops come with a NZOIA fee of $50 per person to contribute towards the qualification system (qualification reviews, Assessor training and moderation and administration).

The Process

• Get some people together - There needs to be a minimum of three people attending, and they must be from at least two different workplaces for Refresher Workshop.
• Decide on dates and location - Have a couple of back-up options in case that doesn’t work for the Assessor. Keep in mind that NZOIA needs at least one month notice that a Refresher Workshop is taking place.
• Contact an Assessor to negotiate date, location and fee.
• Inform NZOIA - Get the Assessor to send in a Course Request letting NZOIA know the Assessor, workshop attendees, date and location. Send us a quick email to confirm.
• Prerequisites - The Assessor will need to view your logbook.
• Attend the workshop
• Reporting - The Assessor will complete the reporting requirements and then NZOIA will process the results.

Assessor Search

A list of our Assessors’ can be found on our website under Find Assessor. Click on their name for further details.

What is the difference between a Refresher Workshop and an Assessor Sign-Off?

The purpose of a Refresher Workshop is to get a group of people together from a variety of work environments to exchange knowledge and ideas, learn new skills and techniques and be updated in terms of current good practice under the scope of the qualification. Refresher Workshops must be attended every second revalidation cycle (i.e. every eight years for most qualifications).

An Assessor sign-off can be on a one to one basis and can occur in the workplace or during a shared recreational event.  It is an informal check by an Assessor that the qualification holder is working at the current standard.  There may or may not be a payment negotiated with the Assessor.