NZOIA Assessors

The NZOIA Technical Subcommittee oversees the selection of assessors and the Operations Manager manages the advertising and selection process, which includes consideration of NZOIA’s needs, e.g. the geographic spread of assessors and demand for assessments. Retaining a relatively small assessor pool is an important factor in maintaining quality control and moderation.

The Process:

• In February NZOIA advertises for expressions of interest in NZOIA 4YA for NZOIA 1 or 2 Assessor positions
• Eligible expressions of interest will be sent application documents
• Completed applications due 31 March
• Applications are collated by NZOIA administration and sent to a selection panel of three experienced NZOIA Assessors for assessing against set criteria
• The selection panel recommend to the NZOIA TSC the most suitable applicants at the time for the places available
• The TSC approve or request further information on the recommendations
• NZOIA administration sends out result letters by 30 April

Prerequisite Criteria:

• Registered NZOIA qualification, one level above what they are applying to assess (if available) in the relevant discipline (held for a minimum of two years)
• Logged evidence of personal and instructional experience over the last four years

Selection Criteria:

• Strength of reference (the quality of the referee and their endorsement)
• NZOIA ambassador & role model
• Instructional experience, breadth and depth
• Personal experience & technical ability
• Assessing, facilitation & feedback experience
• Industry engagement & commitment
• Location and availability

For Leader and Climbing Wall qualifications a workplace or area may have a demand to have an assessor in their workplace or community. Contact the Operations Manager for application documents, which are welcome at any time and are considered on the basis of:

• Providing evidence of sufficient demand for your services (4 candidates per every two years for each discipline you assess in). 
• Meeting all selection process requirements. 

If your assessor application is accepted a training and development pathway follows:

1. Attend a NZOIA new Assessor Training Workshop and Moderation session this covers generic principles of assessment, risk management, NZOIA ethos and systems and assessing to the benchmark. It is run annually just prior to the NZOIA Symposium. 
2. Be mentored through by experienced NZOIA Assessors. 

For Leader qualifications, the new assessor runs the entire assessment under the guidance of a coach who is an experienced NZOIA Assessor.
For NZOIA 1 Assessors this involves observing and contributing to an assessment run by experienced assessors, including discussions on the benchmark and delivering parts of the assessment whilst being coached by the Course Director.                                                        

3. NZOIA 1 Course Director

To progress towards becoming a Course Director the NZOIA 1 Assessor must complete one assessment as an observer and another as a second Assessor and be recommended by the Course Director. 

4. NZOIA 2 Assessor

To progress towards becoming a NZOIA 2 Assessor NZOIA will advertise a need in a certain discipline. The Assessor will need to have completed three NZOIA 1 assessments as Course Director.

5. NZOIA 2 Course Director

To progress towards a Course Director the NZOIA 2 Assessor must have been a second Assessor on a NZOIA 2 assessment in the same discipline.

Every three-year cycle an Assessor must:

• Attend an annual Assessor Conference
• Work a minimum of 1 assessment with another Assessor for moderation purposes in any discipline (this could be a volunteer role if needed)
• Run a NZOIA event i.e. training, refresher workshop, assessment in each discipline that they assess or attend discipline specific moderation workshop at the Assessor Conference
• Be operating at or above the level of their qualification required for assessing
• Have worked in industry within the scope of their qualification (this excludes working for NZOIA)