NCEA fee applications for 2015 closed on December 1, and of the 839 Otago pupils and their families who applied for financial assistance, 826 have been approved by NZQA.
Nationally, there have been 28,730 applications and 27,757 approved.
NZQA assessment deputy chief executive Richard Thornton said the entry cost for NCEA was $76.70 a year for all NCEA standards.
This included up to three New Zealand Scholarship subjects, he said.
But the cost was reduced to $20 per pupil, or $30 per family, if eligible.
''We want all children in New Zealand to have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and NCEA fees shouldn't be a barrier to this, which is why we have a financial assistance policy in place for families who qualify for it.
''NCEA is an important and well-regarded qualification. To demonstrate their skills, knowledge and training, it is important that people who have gained NCEA are able to make use of their qualification.''
Other than the increase in GST in 2010, NCEA fees have not changed since 2005.
Mr Thornton said the number of financial assistance applications had recently decreased slightly after remaining steady over the past five years.
Otago Secondary Principals' Association secretary Gordon Wilson said it was an ''important mechanism'' whereby families struggling with the fees could get government help.
''This seems to fit the purpose and it's clearly needed by about 800 families across Otago, and thousands across New Zealand.
''It's necessary and it looks like it's been necessary for a long period of time.''
Mr Wilson said schools and NZQA worked closely to ensure teachers and families were aware of the assistance available, but some families might still not be aware of it.
''All that I would hope is that those who are eligible for assistance make sure they do test their eligibility and get it.''
Mr Thornton said financial help was available to pupils/families if a Work and Income or Study Link benefit was being received; a family's income entitled them to receive a Community Services Card; or a fee-payer had two or more children sitting NCEA.
The NZQA fee represented a 33% contribution to NCEA direct costs, which included exam-setting; marking; printing and/or sorting; holding exams; distributing exam papers; secondary school moderation; professional development and support; school liaison, quality assurance and support.
Each year, the authority alerts pupils to having unpaid NCEA fees.
''Pupils must pay their fees to have their results recorded on their Record of Achievement, and to receive certificates,'' Mr Thornton said.
''Regardless of whether fees have been paid or not, pupils can log on to NZQA's website and see their results.''
Financial help
Pupils receiving NCEA financial help
Otago
2010: 887
2011: 885
2012: 900
2013: 834
2014: 826
New Zealand
2010: 31,639
2011: 32,230
2012: 31,360
2013: 29,967
2014: 27,757
