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External provider

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Updated 22 Sep 2025

NESA has made changes to Rules 13.4.1, 13.4.2, and 13.4.3.

About external providers

Changes to this section:

  • categorise external providers into Group A and Group B providers, allowing schools to easily identify providers whose suitability to deliver courses to students they must determine (see paragraphs 5-7)
  • identify RTOs that qualify as Group A external providers (see paragraph 6.d and 6.e).

Rule 13.4.1 Approving study with an external provider

Limitations on study with an external provider for courses that contribute to the RoSA and/or HSC

Changes to this section:

  • recognise that government schools may outsource more than a minority of courses to external providers and indicate the rules and requirements schools must comply with when doing so (see paragraph 10)
  • clarify that the minority of courses limitation is applicable for the Preliminary and HSC year respectively, and not across the entirety of Stage 6 (see paragraph 9).

Roles and responsibilities of schools outsourcing courses to external providers

Changes to this section clarify that the 24-month period for retaining student records commences at the end of course delivery (see paragraphs 12 and 13).

Using Group B external providers

Changes to this section:

  • include a change of title (section was previously titled ‘Determining the suitability of external providers’) to make clear that the requirements outlined thereafter are applicable only to schools engaging Group B external providers
  • clarify that the 24-month period for retaining student records commences at the end of course delivery (see paragraph 15).

Rule 13.4.2 Studying Stage 4 and Stage 5 courses with an external provider

Roles and responsibilities of principals in approving Stage 4 and Stage 5 courses with an external provider

Changes to this section:

  • include a new footnote noting the exception for non-government schools to outsource more than a minority of courses to external providers where prior approval has been sought from NESA (see paragraph 16.a, footnote 1)
  • clarify that the minority of courses limitation is applicable for Stage 4 and Stage 5 respectively (see paragraph 16.a).

Roles and responsibilities of external providers

Changes to this section:

  • include a change to title (section was previously titled ‘Roles and responsibilities of external providers delivering non-VET courses’) as NESA has now consolidated requirements for external providers delivering VET courses into the External provider rules
  • include a new requirement for external providers to ensure schools are aware of courses being delivered to their students (see paragraph 18.a).

Rule 13.4.3 Studying Stage 6 courses with an external provider

Roles and responsibilities of principals approving study of Stage 6 courses with an external provider

Changes to this section:

  • include a new footnote noting the exception for non-government schools to outsource more than a minority of courses to external providers where prior approval has been sought from NESA (see paragraph 21.a, footnote 1)
  • clarify that the minority of courses limitation is applicable for the Preliminary and HSC year respectively, and not across the entirety of Stage 6 (see paragraph 21.a).

Roles and responsibilities of external providers

  • include a change to title (section was previously titled ‘Roles and responsibilities of external providers delivering non-VET courses’) as NESA has now consolidated requirements for external providers delivering VET courses into the External provider rules
  • include a new requirement for external providers to ensure schools are aware of courses being delivered to their students (see paragraph 20.a).
View all changes

NESA is authorised under sections 20A(2), 94 and 95 of the Education Act 1990 (NSW) to exercise functions in connection with the school curriculum and the RoSA and the HSC:

  • determining whether students have satisfactorily participated in and satisfactorily completed courses of study, developed or endorsed by the NESA Board
  • entering students into courses of study
  • making decisions in relation to student eligibility to undertake courses of study approved by the Minister.

About external providers

  1. Schools are primarily responsible for the delivery of curriculum for their students.
  2. However, NESA allows principals to approve the delivery of NESA courses by external providers to students enrolled at the school. 
  3. An external provider is a separate entity to the school and delivers an entire course to student(s).
  4. These courses may be delivered on school premises or elsewhere.
  5. There are different responsibilities for schools using Group A and Group B external providers.
  6. Group A external providers include:
    1. NSW government schools, including:
      1. NSW School of Languages
      2. Secondary College of Languages, and
      3. distance education providers
    2. NSW registered and accredited non-government schools
    3. TAFE NSW
    4. NSW school system/sector registered training organisations (RTOs)
    5. RTOs approved in the Externally Delivered VET program
      1. RTOs are only considered Group A external providers when delivering qualifications and courses approved under the Externally Delivered VET (EVET) program. RTOs delivering qualifications and courses to students outside the program are considered Group B external providers, and
    6. Loading  providers.
  7. Group B external providers include any providers not captured in Group A with the appropriate scope of registration, qualifications and expertise.
  8. Students must seek approval from their principal to study courses with an external provider.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC credentialHSC (curriculum)K–10Life SkillsPreliminaryRoSAVET

Limitations on study with an external provider for courses that contribute to the RoSA and/or HSC

  1. For schools outsourcing the delivery of courses that contribute to the RoSA and/or HSC, the outsourced courses must comprise a minority of each student's overall pattern of study in Stage 4, Stage 5, Preliminary or HSC.
  2. Schools may outsource more than a minority of courses to external providers where there is prior approval from NESA1 and/or if compliant with sector rules and requirements2.

Roles and responsibilities of schools outsourcing courses to external providers

  1. Schools outsourcing the delivery of courses to an external provider remain primarily responsible for monitoring course delivery and for duty of care for students undertaking study with an external provider.
  2. For each student undertaking courses with an external provider, schools must retain records of:
    1. course name(s)
    2. name(s) of external providers delivering the course(s), and
    3. monitoring student progress and attendance.
  3. Schools must retain student records for 24 months after the completion of the course delivered by the external provider.

Using Group B external providers

  1. When outsourcing courses to external providers in Group B, schools must retain records:
    1. determining the provider’s suitability to deliver the course, including their certification by an appropriate agency (where relevant)
    2. ensuring that the external provider complies with NSW child protection requirements
    3. of an agreement with the external provider, specifying the respective responsibilities of the school and the provider, and
    4. ensuring that curriculum requirements are and will be met for the course(s) of study delivered by the provider
  2. Schools must retain records for Group B external providers for 24 months after the completion of the course delivered by the external provider. 

Related ACE Rules

For further information

Registered and accredited non-government schools seeking approval from NESA to outsource more than a minority of courses, must contact the School Registration Unit on (02) 9367 8866 or by email at schoolrego@nesa.nsw.edu.au

For enquiries about entering student data in Schools Online for students undertaking study with an external provider, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For enquiries about entering VET competency data in RTOs Online for students undertaking study with an RTO, please contact VET Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at vetrecords@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. In exceptional circumstances, registered and accredited non-government schools may seek approval from NESA to outsource more than a minority of courses to external providers.

  2. Government schools outsourcing more than a minority of courses must comply with Department of Education rules and requirements in addition to the ACE Rules.

Categories

K–10Life SkillsRoSASchools OnlineVET

Roles and responsibilities of principals in approving Stage 4 and Stage 5 courses with an external provider

  1. Principals:
    1. may approve students to undertake study of one or more courses with external provider(s) that comprise a minority of each student’s overall pattern of study in Stage 4 or Stage 51 
    2. may approve the study of languages with an external provider, and
    3. must ensure students are entered in the course being delivered by the external provider in Loading .

Roles and responsibilities of external providers

  1. External providers are responsible for entering Stage 5 grades, Life Skills outcomes and/or VET competency data in Loading  or Loading , as applicable. If an external provider does not have access to Schools Online or RTOs Online, they must coordinate entries with the school where the student is enrolled.
  2. External providers must:
    1. ensure students undertaking their courses have obtained approval from their principal before commencing delivery of the course
    2. deliver the course in accordance with the relevant syllabus2
    3. determine Stage 5 grades, Life Skills outcomes and/or VET unit of competency outcomes in accordance with the relevant syllabus3
    4. submit Stage 5 grades, Life Skills outcomes and/or VET unit of competency outcomes in Schools Online or RTOs Online, as applicable, by the due date outlined in the Loading  or provide Stage 5 grades, Life Skills outcomes and/or VET unit of competency outcomes to the school, as agreed with the principal
    5. process any student appeals concerning assessment, and
    6. follow NESA’s ‘N’ determinations warning process, with support from the school where the student is not meeting course completion requirements.

Credentialling Stage 4 and Stage 5 courses studied with an external provider

  1. Courses studied with an external provider, that are part of NESA’s curriculum, are recorded on the RoSA and/or the Transcript of Study in the same way as courses studied at the school where a student is enrolled.
  2. Students may study additional courses outside NESA’s curriculum with external providers however such courses will not be reflected on the RoSA and/or HSC.

Online resources

Related ACE Rules

For further information

For enquiries about entering student data in Loading  for students undertaking study with an external provider, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For enquiries about entering VET competency data in RTOs Online for students undertaking study with an RTO, please contact VET Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at vetrecords@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. Registered and accredited non-government schools may approve students to undertake more than a minority of courses with external provider(s) where there is approval from NESA.

  2. RTOs must deliver VET courses in accordance with the VET Framework syllabus or VET BEC course description, as applicable.

  3. RTOs must deliver VET courses in accordance with the VET Framework syllabus or VET BEC course description, as applicable.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC credentialHSC (curriculum)K–10Life SkillsPreliminaryRoSASchools OnlineVET

Roles and responsibilities of principals approving study of Stage 6 courses with an external provider

  1. Principals:
    1. may approve students to undertake study of one or more courses with external provider(s) that comprise a minority of each student’s overall Preliminary or HSC pattern of study1
    2. may approve the study of languages with an external provider
    3. must ensure students are entered in the course being delivered by the external provider in Loading , and
    4. must ensure students meet eligibility requirements for Stage 6 courses that have eligibility criteria.

Roles and responsibilities of external providers

Preliminary courses

  1. External providers are responsible for entering Preliminary grades, Life Skills outcomes and/or VET competency data in Loading  or Loading , as applicable. If an external providers does not have access to Schools Online or RTOs Online, they must coordinate entries with the school where the student is enrolled.
  2. External providers must:
    1. ensure students undertaking their courses have obtained approval from their principal before commencing delivery of the course
    2. deliver the course in accordance with the relevant syllabus and Assessment and Reporting information2
    3. determine Preliminary grades, Life Skills outcomes and/or VET unit of competency outcomes in accordance with NESA syllabuses and Assessment and Reporting information3
    4. submit Preliminary grades, Life Skills outcomes and/or VET unit of competency outcomes in Schools Online or RTOs Online, as applicable, by the due date outlined in the Loading  or provide Preliminary grades, Life Skills outcomes and/or VET unit of competency outcomes to the school, as agreed with the principal
    5. process any student appeals concerning individual assessment tasks, VET unit of competency outcomes, or final grades
    6. follow NESA’s ‘N’ determinations warning process, with support from the school where the student is not meeting course completion requirements.
  3. Where students are studying an UDBEC, the roles and responsibilities of schools and universities differ to those noted above.

HSC courses

  1. External providers are responsible for entering HSC assessment data4 in Loading  or Loading , as applicable. If an external provider does not have access to Schools Online or RTOs Online, they must coordinate entries with the school where the student is enrolled. 
  2. External providers must:
    1. ensure students undertaking their courses have obtained approval from their principal before commencing delivery of the course
    2. deliver the course in accordance with the relevant syllabus and Assessment and Reporting information5
    3. determine HSC assessment results6 in accordance with the relevant syllabus and Assessment and Reporting information7
    4. submit the HSC assessment data in Schools Online or RTOs Online, as applicable, by the due date outlined in the Loading  or provide the HSC assessment data to the school, as agreed with the principal
    5. process any student appeals concerning marks awarded, grades8, rank order, or VET unit of competency outcomes, and
    6. follow NESA’s ‘N’ determinations warning process, with support from the school where the student is not meeting course completion requirements.
  3. Where students are studying an UDBEC, the roles and responsibilities of schools and universities differ to those noted above.

Online resources

Related ACE Rules

For further information

For enquiries about entering student data in Loading for students undertaking study with an external provider, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au. 

For enquiries about entering VET competency data in RTOs Online for students undertaking study with an RTO, please contact VET Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at vetrecords@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. Registered and accredited non-government schools may approve students to undertake more than a minority of courses with external provider(s) where there is approval from NESA.

  2. RTOs must deliver VET courses in accordance with the VET Framework syllabus or VET BEC course description, as applicable.

  3. RTOs must deliver VET courses in accordance with the VET Framework syllabus or VET BEC course description, as applicable.

  4. Assessment data includes HSC assessment marks; and/or grades; and/or optional exam estimated marks; and/or Life Skills outcomes; and/or VET unit of competency outcomes.

  5. RTOs must deliver VET courses in accordance with the VET Framework syllabus or VET BEC course description, as applicable.

  6. For the purpose of moderation, students are considered as being part of the course candidature with the external provider where the course is being studied.

  7. RTOs must deliver VET courses in accordance with the VET Framework syllabus or VET BEC course description, as applicable.

  8. English Studies, Mathematics Standard 1 and Numeracy.

external provider

A separate entity to the school that delivers an entire course to the student(s). These courses may be delivered on school premises or elsewhere, but the school remains primarily responsible for each student.

registered training organisation (RTO)

A training provider registered by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), or a state registering and accrediting body, to deliver training, and/or conduct assessments, and issue nationally recognised AQF VET qualifications. RTOs delivering NESA VET courses must have the relevant qualification and units of competency on their scope of registration.

Transcript of Study

A list of courses and, where applicable, results for students who completed at least one Stage 5 course, but are not eligible for a RoSA. It lists all mandatory and additional Stage 5 courses and, where applicable, Stage 6 courses completed by the student, along with the grade/mark awarded. It also lists any courses commenced but not completed, and the date of leaving school.

University Developed Board Endorsed course (UDBEC)

A course designed by a university and endorsed by NESA that supplements and extends HSC curriculum in areas not covered by Board Developed courses or other types of Board Endorsed courses. Intended for high-achieving students in Stage 6 (Year 11 and/or Year 12). UDBECs count as Board Endorsed unit credit for the HSC but do not contribute towards an ATAR.