Training Beyond the Standard

Commonly Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about our courses and trainings.

What academic ability is required?

For professional courses and qualifications applicants are required to have:

Domestic students

NCEA Level 3 Certificate, or equivalent, with a least 14 level 3 credits in an English-rich subject (English, Physics, History, Art, Geography, Biology, Classics, Art History, Journalism, Media Studies, Religious Studies, Physical Education), and at least 14 Level 3 credits in a numbers-orientated subject (Math, Calculus, Statistics, Chemistry, Accounting, Economics, or

A Trade Qualification at Level 4, or above, or

A pass in all PPL subjects gained over a period of not more than 42 days


International Students

NCEA Level 3 Certificate (completed in the final year of High School, Year 13 in New Zealand), or equivalent.
For overseas equivalency please see the attached
Academic Entry Requirement Guidelines under Undergraduate Degree, or,

A pass in all CAANZ PPL subjects

What are the Medical requirements?

A CAANZ Class 1 Medical Certificate is required for all professional licences and ratings. New Zealand medicals can be completed overseas by CAANZ approved doctors.

Does my licence expire?

If you hold a New Zealand licence it is yours for life. You need a current New Zealand medical to be able to use it.

Is a New Zealand licence recognised overseas?

The CAANZ issued licence is recognised by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).  This means that the CAANZ licence can be converted to other National Aviation Authority licences who are also ICAO accredited.  We recommend that you ask your National Aviation Authority for their conversion requirements.

How good does my English have to be?

Domestic Students

Four years; secondary schooling where instruction and all learning activities have taken place in English, and at least 14 Level 3 credits in an English-rich subject (English, History, Art, Geography, Biology, Classics, Art History, Journalism, Media Studies, Religious Studies, Physical Education).

International Students

Achieved NCEA level 3 and has met New Zealand university entrance requirements; or

Been awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma; or

Cambridge A-level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Been awarded the Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) or the Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL); or

Achieved, within the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment, one of the internationally recognised proficiency test outcomes specified in the attached
table, for the level of the programme in which the student is enrolling.

International Students

Prior schooling completed in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States, taught using English as the language of instruction, may be used as alternative equivalence, provided the completion of one of the following:

All primary education (equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13); or

A minimum of five years of secondary education (equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13); or

A Bachelor’s degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours Degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s Degree or Doctoral Degree.

Pacific students who have been granted a New Zealand Short Term Training Scholarship funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, may use prior schooling taught using English as the language of instruction, as equivalence, provided completion of one of the following:

All primary education (equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13); or

A minimum of five years of secondary education (equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13).

What is Fit and Proper Status and how could it affect me?

CAANZ requires you to hold fit and proper status at the time of your Licence issue and to continuously comply with this status. Click here to read more.

Domestic students must provide an up-to-date Criminal Conviction Report showing a conviction free period of at least three years prior to the date on which training will commence and no more than one conviction for drunk driving. Students must also provide an up-to-date Demerit Points and Suspension History Report (Traffic Offence History) showing a maximum of 75 demerit points within the three years immediately prior to the date on which training will commence.

International students are required to provide a police clearance from their country and any country they have lived in for more than six months within the last five years.  

Do students at NAC wear a uniform?

Yes, all full-time students studying towards a professional licence at NAC are required to wear the NAC uniform while they are representing the college.

Is there accommodation available?

We offer onsite accommodation subject to availability.  Priority is given to international students with domestic students prioritised by age. Accommodation is single room occupancy with shared bathroom and student kitchen facilities.  Breakfast and evening meals are included Monday to Friday.  While international students can stay onsite for their whole course duration, domestic students are asked to vacate after six months to allow room for the next intake.

We have a community of providers in Motueka who offer various types of accommodation – from rooms in their homes, to full board, or self-contained units.

Students who opt to go flatting can fill vacant rooms of departing students, or group together to seek houses for rent.

Can I receive a student allowance while I am here?

An allowance is available through StudyLink for domestic students enrolled on student loan funded qualifications (NZ Diploma in Aviation).  As the PPL is self-funded, the student allowance is not available for the course.