Skip to content.
Return to Department of Building and Housing home page.

Supporting evidence

Supporting evidence is optional. It includes any relevant:

  • qualifications
  • membership of industry organisations
  • recent learning activities.

Provide this information on the Supporting evidence form.

Note: Even if you do not have any supporting evidence, you must return the form with your application, with the not applicable boxes ticked.

Qualifications

You do not have to have a relevant qualification to become licensed, but if you do it will be good supporting evidence of your knowledge of building design.

New Zealand qualifications
You must have received your qualification from a recognised education provider such as a registered New Zealand industry training organisation (ITO), polytechnic, university or private training establishment.

Some examples of relevant qualifications for the Design licence classes include the

  • National Diploma in Architectural Technology
  • New Zealand Certificate in Architectural Draughting
  • New Zealand Certificate in Engineering
  • Bachelor of Architectural Studies
  • Bachelor of Architecture.

There is no time limit for when you gained your qualification.

You must attach a certified copy of each qualification with your application. The Department of Building and Housing will only accept certified copies of qualifications.

Please do not send original documents with your application.

Getting your qualifications certified
A certified copy is a photocopy of an original document that has been endorsed by an official of the issuing authority (such as the relevant training organisation, polytechnic or university) or a person authorised by law to certify documents. These include Justices of the Peace (JP), lawyers and court officials. A signature is required on each page of the copy, with the name and title of the official shown legibly below their signature.

Overseas qualifications
If you want to list qualifications earned overseas to support your application, you will first need to have them evaluated by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). NZQA's Qualification Recognition Service will send you a report telling you whether your international qualification is comparable to a New Zealand qualification. You must attach a certified copy of this report to your application.

For more information, please go to the NZQA website at www.nzqa.govt.nz New Zealand Qualifications Authority website. and follow the links to the International section, or phone NZQA on (04) 463 3000.

Industry organisation membership

You do not have to be a member of any industry organisation to be licensed. However, if you are, provide the relevant details on the supporting evidence form.

Some examples of relevant organisations include the Architectural Designers (NZ) Inc (ADNZ), Design Association of New Zealand Inc (DANZ), Designers Institute of New Zealand Inc (DINZ), Earth Building Association of New Zealand (EBANZ), New Zealand Green Building Council or New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIOB).

Recent relevant learning activities

You do not have to have undertaken any of the types of activities mentioned below but, if you have, they will be good evidence to demonstrate how you have kept up with industry developments.

Relevant learning activities may include:

  • attending seminars, conferences, trade events and/or supplier training days
  • reading an industry publication on a regular basis
  • mentoring a graduate.

List any activities like this that you have done during the past 3 years.

For any seminars, conferences, etc attended, please show each activity, who it was run by and when it occurred. Otherwise, provide some information about mentoring you have provided yourself, or industry publications you read regularly.