New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills, Carpentry (Level 3)
Prepare for a carpentry apprenticeship and a career in construction.
Domestic
About the programme
This 34-week programme gets you ready for work. You’ll be trained in every aspect of a house build – including foundations and roofing – so you’re ready for work on the West Coast where our builders do the lot. You’ll even get to build a three-bedroom house alongside your classmates to get a feel for the real job.
You’ll also undertake three weeks’ work experience with a local West Coast builder, which can often lead to offers of apprenticeships after your training is finished.
Our tutors make sure you know how to handle yourself on a building site. You’ll learn how to use hand and power tools, understand health and safety practices on-site and become more confident and more employable on a building site.
Graduates of this programme are in-demand. Local builders are busy right now and they’re keen to employ graduates who have learned the basics and know how to get the job done.
What You Study
Core elements
This programme will provide you with knowledge and skills in a range of areas including:
- Construction site safety
- Hand and power tools
- Construction site organisation
- Building consents and regulations
- Site set out
- Foundations, subfloors and flooring
- Framing
- Roofing (framing and roof cladding)
- Exterior cladding
- Interior linings
- Fitting of windows and doors
- Insulation
- Fitting interior joinery
- Skirtings, architraves and furnishing
Further study options
This qualification can lead on to the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trades Skills Level 4 and the National Certificate in
Construction Site Management.
Career opportunities
Upon successful completion of this qualification, you’ll have the skills to pursue a career in the construction industry, in a
variety of positions including Apprentice Carpenter, Hammer hand or Skilled Labourer.
Workload
Programme structure and workload
This programme runs for 34 weeks. Theory is taught in a classroom environment while practical learning occurs in our carpentry workshop and on a building site with the student/tutor ratio reflective of the practical task. As part of your studies, you’ll also undertake three weeks’ work experience (across terms two, three and four) with a local West Coast builder. During your work experience you’ll gain an insight into the industry and make contacts as a prospective employee. Tutors will carry out on-site visits during your placement.
Entry
Entry requirements
To apply for this programme you must:
- Have a minimum of 10 credits each in literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy at NCEA Level 1, or able to demonstrate suitable knowledge and skills.
- Be physically capable of meeting programme requirements.
- Meet general or academic IELTS 5 (with no band score lower than 5) or equivalent, if English is a second language
- Attend an information session where you’ll be required to demonstrate your ability, interest, motivation and commitment to succeed in the programme
*If you’re a domestic applicant over 20 years old and you don’t meet the academic entry requirement but can demonstrate your skills, education and/or work experiences, you may be eligible for special admission.
Fees
Additional costs
You should expect to spend approximately $500 on programme specific equipment (apron, hammer, rule, tape, pencil, square, punch set, chisel set, driver set, screwdriver set, safety glasses, ear muffs and knife). This can be covered by the course-related costs section of your student loan (if you are eligible). You can borrow up to $1,000 even if you are not drawing down the tuition fees component of your student loan, e.g. those students who are fees-free.
Application
Enrolments
When you apply to study with Tai Poutini Polytechnic, you will be enrolled with Te Pūkenga, the national network of vocational and applied education in Aotearoa New Zealand. You will learn in the same way, in the same place, and with the same people. The great news is that this enables us to share skills and knowledge across a network of passionate education providers, to better help you succeed. Enrolling in programmes with Tai Poutini Polytechnic, means that you will graduate with a Te Pūkenga qualification.
You will be offered a place subject to meeting the entry and selection requirements and the availability of places on the programme. The Polytechnic reserves the right to not accept late applications, i.e., after the programme has started. The Polytechnic reserves the right to cancel, prior to commencement, any programme which does not attract a minimum number of students. The fees shown are indicative only. Both domestic and international fees are subject to change. For further information visit here.
