Jumping through hoops!

I'm finally beginning to actually do stuff about moving to New Zealand. It's quite scary and not a little bit complicated. The particular hoop that I am currently wrestling with is that of the NZQA and having my qualifications assessed.

Now of course I understand and appreciate the need to assess qualifications from other countries to make sure they are up to scratch, but they don't make it easy. Or cheap!

So when I first looked into the process, I found that I needed to have my qualifications assessed before I can begin the immigration process - fair enough. So how do I do that? Type 'NZQA' (New Zealand Qualifications Authority) into Google of course. A search of the NZQA website revealed a list of qualifications that apparently do not need to be assessed to be included in an immigration application. I then trawled through various pages and links and eventually found out that both my initial degree and my PGCE are on the pre-approved list of qualifications. I think 'Yes, that should save me a few quid!'. This feeling lasted only a few minutes before The Pessimist inside me said 'hang on, this is too good to be true'.

And it was. More research on a great forum revealed that (although my qualifications are on the pre-approved list) for me to register for the New Zealand Teachers Council (NZTC) I am still required to have my qualifications assessed by the NZQA! For $750! Grr!

So now I have to find all of my qualification certificates (do you know where yours are?!) and then send them off to New Zealand for them to say they are all approved! And pay £350 for the pleasure! Awesome!!