Train while you work

Continue to broaden your skills while working. You can become better at your job, increase your chance for a promotion or change your career entirely.

Train to make progress in your current job

Think about what training would benefit you and your employer, then discuss it with them.

Here are some options you could try:

  • ask your boss if some study time can be included in your work hours
  • cut back your work hours while you study
  • attend evening or weekend courses
  • find a course that’s offered online or by distance education.

Talk to your employer to find a solution that works well for you both.

The Careers.govt.nz website has information about training to help you advance in your career. It includes advice about how:

  • your current employer can support your training
  • to plan for combining study with work and your other responsibilities.

Train to progress in your existing career — Careers.govt.nz

Train for a new career

It’s possible to train for a new career while you’re working in a different field.

Train to change career — Careers.govt.nz

Get credit for your skills and knowledge

You may be able to get credit for the skills and knowledge you already have. Find out if you can put this credit towards your next qualification.

Credit work or learning towards a qualification — Careers.govt.nz

Find a course

You can search for courses at Careers.govt.nz by:

  • location
  • qualification type
  • study field (industry).

Search for a course or training provider — Careers.govt.nz

Study while you work

Studying while you work can be difficult, so know your options and make the right decisions for your situation.

Study and training options — Careers.govt.nz

Job-specific (vocational) education and training

You can learn the skills to do a specific job by taking vocational education and training.

Learners get practical experience and their training is based on real-world work situations.

Te Pūkenga, wānanga and private training establishments provide vocational training.

Delivering vocational education — Tertiary Education Commission

Learn on the job

Talk to Te Pūkenga or private training establishments that cover the type of work you do (or want to do), to see if any on-the-job learning opportunities are available.

Learning with purpose — Te Pūkenga

Education sector training options

The TeachNZ website has information about:

  • studying to become a teacher
  • finding a teaching job
  • teaching if you’re a trained teacher.

TeachNZ — Ministry of Education

Health sector training options

Careerforce industry training is on-the-job training. Trainees need to be working or volunteering within the health and wellbeing or social and community sectors.

Careerforce is a business division of Te Pūkenga.

Te Pūkenga — Careerforce

MySkill offers free online healthcare training and job placements.

Career opportunities — MySkill

The Health Workforce Directorate and Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health work together to support and fund training. They give funding to the organisation you work for to help with your career development.

Education and training options — Te Whatu Ora

Search Kiwi Health Jobs for vacancies at:

  • Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
  • the New Zealand Blood Service
  • health-related jobs from other public, not-for-profit and private employers.

Kiwi Health Jobs

Funding and payment

Training or study outside of normal work hours needs to be negotiated with your boss. They might help pay for some of your fees or give you study leave — ask your boss if this is an option.

Could your current employer support your training? — Careers.govt.nz

Fees Free

If you’re planning to start tertiary study or training for the first time, you may be eligible for Fees Free — administered by the Tertiary Education Commission.

Check your Fees Free eligibility — feesfree.govt.nz

Fees Free changes from 2025

The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. It’s being replaced by a final-year Fees Free scheme.

Starting from 1 January 2025, final-year Fees Free may be available to you if you meet the eligibility criteria and you’re:

  • in your final year of study or training and you have not received first-year Fees Free 
  • doing provider-based study, work-based learning or training at levels 3 and above on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework.

Once you complete your qualification, you’ll get a refund of your final-year fees. The refunds start from 2026.

Scholarships, grants and awards

Find out what scholarships, grants and awards are available and how to get more information about them.

Education scholarships, grants and awards

Student loan

A student loan can help cover course fees, course-related and living costs, but you need to pay it back.

Student Loan — StudyLink

Student allowance

The Student Allowance is a weekly payment to help with living expenses while you’re studying. You don’t have to pay it back.

Student Allowance — StudyLink

Work and Income

Depending on where you’re located and which industry you work in, Work and Income may be able to help you pay for some training or retraining.

Skills for industry — Work and Income

More information

Money to help when you’re studying

For employers

Who to contact for more help

If you need more help or have questions about the information or services on this page, contact one of the following agencies.

Utility links and page information

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