Not all training providers are created equal
A recent look at the google reviews of the top providers of
the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services Level 5 puts Professional IQ
ahead of the rest of the pack. We spoke
to the team to see what they think sets them apart from the rest.
With a 5-star rating, Professional IQ’s General Manager,
Jillian Stewart, put the results down to a dedication by the entire team on
student outcomes: “We work tirelessly to ensure that throughout their learning
experience, our students have the support they need. Unlike other providers we enrol students and
give them access to their learning materials within one working day, often
within hours of completing their enrolment.”We survey all ourstudents and use the Net Promoter Score as another measure of how well we’redoing. The national average foreducation is 31 (Perceptive,2025 NPS Industry Benchmarks) and Professional IQ is consistently sitting
between 63 and 83. Bain & Co, the source of the NPS system, suggest that
above 50 is excellent, and above 80 is world class.
With changing market conditions, we spoke to Star Mortgage,
a rapidly growing mortgage advisory firm in Auckland, who said their
partnership with Professional IQ had allowed them to hire new advisers,
conditional on them completing their qualifications, secure in the knowledge
that they would be supported by the team at Professional IQ.
Straightforward and and effective
Being one of the last providers to undergo a review with NZQA before the new regime came into effect in 2026, allowed Professional IQ to demonstrate its internal systems and compliance processes to the regulator. Its use of Dacreed’s compliance platform to ensure high-quality delivery in the educational environment was one of the key factors for the positive report from NZQA.
A conscious decision not to employ offshore support staff means Professional IQ retains close connections to its students and corporate clients. By asking students and clients what they need, Professional IQ’s responsive approach means that:
– Students can enrol immediately, with no intake dates
– Our NZ-based student support team mean quicker response times, saving students valuable time
– Motivated students can complete much earlier than the 49-week maximum timeframe
‘I couldn’t be happier with my experience with
Professional IQ. What truly impressed me was the exceptional support and
guidance provided throughout the program. The team was responsive, helpful, and
genuinely invested in ensuring that students succeed.’
Perry
W. (Professional IQ Graduate 2025)
Built on solid foundations
Leveraging its partnership with sister company Dacreed,
Professional IQ has expanded the range of CPD it offers with plans to be the
leading neutral provider of CPD by the end of the year.
While there are several CPD platforms in the market,
Professional IQ’s partnership with Dacreed means that users can access double
the value with access to a full compliance and training solution with
Professional IQ’s CPD materials.
“Making people aware of this unique opportunity and value
proposition is a key focus for us in 2026” said Dacreed’s Chief Commercial
Officer, Tim Larkin. “It’s an amazing opportunity for advisers and FAPs to get
all their training and compliance needs met from a single integrated provider.”
Where to from here?
We simply ask ourselves: How do we get better? How do we improve the learning
experience? How do we support our
students achieve everything they’re capable of.
We are currently going through a review of the programme to align it
with the new skills standards that are coming into force this year. It’s going to provide us with the opportunity
to refresh our content, strengthen real-world
relevance, and ensure our graduates are confident, capable, and workforce ready.
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