HITO Fees - HITO

What do HITO fees cover?

HITO support the apprentice and trainer through the requirements of the qualification. We supply the following:

Training plans
Training resources and materials
Regular progress visits
Assessments
Off-job training, if required
Industry assessors
NZQA fees and credit registration

Who is a funded vs. non-funded learner?

A funded learner is an employee who is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident. Funded learners pay a reduced amount for their fees compared with a non-funded learner.
A non-funded learner is an employer, or an employee who is a work visa holder. They pay the full amount of fees for their apprenticeship.

Refunds

HITO fees are non-refundable.

All HITO fees are in New Zealand dollars (NZD) and are inclusive of GST.

Can I pay by instalment?

Apprentice fees can be paid in monthly instalments for each year of training. You will receive a 5% discount if you pay the full annual fee up front. Contact us for more information on paying fees by instalment.

Am I eligible for the Government’s Fees Free allowance?

The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free policy will replace it, starting from 1 January 2025.

If you are a first-time tertiary learner in 2025, you may be able to get Fees Free for your final year of study or training. If you are eligible, you will need to apply for your entitlement through IRD from 2026 onwards.

For more information about the transition from first-year Fees Free or the final-year Fees Free policy, visit FeesFree.govt.nz.

Apprenticeship Fees

Funded Apprentice

If you are an employee who is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, you are classified as a Funded Apprentice and the fees are $1,586 for each year of your apprenticeship.

Total fees for each funded apprenticeship are:

Hairdressing – 3.5 years: $5,551
Barbering – 2 years: $3,172
Beauty Therapy – 2 years: $3,172

Fees Free

The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free policy will replace it, starting from 1 January 2025.

For more information about the transition from first-year Fees Free or the final-year Fees Free policy, visit FeesFree.govt.nz.

Note: If you are an employer or an employee who is on a work visa, you are classified as a Non-Funded Apprentice and fees are $5,085 for each year of your apprenticeship.

Invoicing for Apprenticeship Fees

HITO invoices are generated annually and cover a 12-month period, starting from the learners start or anniversary date of their apprenticeship. Any invoices sent prior to the end of 2023 will cover part of 2023 and part of 2024.

For 2024, learners are required to confirm their Fees Free status in order to determine whether their 2024 fees will be paid by the Government’s Fees Free scheme, or they must pay these fees themselves.

Once the learner’s Fees Free status is confirmed, the invoice will be updated to reflect the fees that are covered, and any outstanding fees amount for 2024. Note: The Fees Free amount for learners who have not used any of this allowance previously will cover up to 2 years of an apprenticeship.

Apprentice fees can be paid in monthly instalments for each year of training. You will receive a 5% discount if you pay the full annual fee up front. Contact HITO for more information on paying fees by instalment.

The total amount owed by an apprentice is calculated from the time you signed on for the full capped amount of the apprenticeship less the amount already paid. Note: Regardless of how long the apprenticeship takes you to complete, the fees are capped at the recommended timeframe for the apprenticeship which is 3.5 years for hairdressing and 2 years for barbering and beauty therapy.

Non-Funded Apprentice

If you are an employer or employee on a work visa, you are classified as a non-funded apprentice and fees are $5,085 for each year of your apprenticeship.

Total fees for each non-funded apprenticeship are:

Hairdressing – 3.5 years: $17,795
Barbering – 2 years: $10,170
Beauty Therapy – 2 years: $10,170

From 1 January 2023, work visa holders are no longer able to access domestic (funded learner) fees. New rules in place by the Government mean that any new learners, who hold a work visa, are required to pay the full, non-funded fees amount when signing in to an apprenticeship programme. Please note: there is an exception for special Ukraine visa holders.

Qualification by Experience Fees

Funded Qualification by Experience
Employee

Qualification by Experience funded trainee fees are $1,005.

Qualification by Experience fees must be paid at the time of application.

Non-Funded Qualification by Experience
Employer or employee on work visa

Qualification by Experience non-funded trainee fees are $2,030.

Qualification by Experience fees must by paid at the time of application.

From 1 January 2023, work visa holders are no longer able to access domestic (funded learner) fees. New rules in place by the Government mean that any new learners, who hold a work visa, are required to pay the full, non-funded fees amount when signing in to a Qualification by Experience programme. Please note: there is an exception for special Ukraine visa holders.

Other Programme Fees

Makeup and Skin Care

Makeup and Skin Care funded trainee fees are $1,525 for the entire programme.

Makeup and Skin Care non-funded trainee fees are $5,085 for the entire programme.

Makeup and Skin Care fees can be paid in monthly instalments. You will receive a 5% discount if you pay the full annual fee up front. Contact us for more information on paying fees by instalment.

From 1 January 2023, work visa holders are no longer able to access domestic (funded learner) fees. New rules in place by the Government mean that any new learners, who hold a work visa, are required to pay the full, non-funded fees amount when signing in to a HITO programme. Please note: there is an exception for special Ukraine visa holders.