Frequently asked questions

Hosts take on Etco apprentices for a number of reasons depending on their circumstances. The primary reasons are that hosting reduces cost, reduces risk and reduces stress. Ask the Etco team for more information.

With seven days’ notice, the apprentice can be returned to Etco and reassigned to a new host.

Your Apprentice Mentor will carry out quarterly reviews for all apprentices and are on hand for any questions or queries you may have at any time during your hosting of an Etco apprentice. You will also have access to Etco’s portals to monitor academic and work experience progress – and night class attendance!

This is one of the financial benefits of hosting an Etco apprentice, we pay for all the above!

If you are an Etco apprentice, we will arrange the training agreement for you.

If you are employed by an electrical company, you need to organise a training agreement to be signed by yourself, your employer and a training provider, such as Etco. Please see our Training Agreements page for more info!

Yes you can, just tell your employer or your etco mentor you want to switch to Etco – or tell us – and you will be switched over. We’ll then contact you with the details. Please see our Training Agreements page for more info!

If you have the required NCEA credits from school, you do not require a pre-trade course to be eligible for an Etco apprenticeship.

Our Level 3 pre-trade programme is an excellent pathway for those who can’t get straight into an apprenticeship.

If you have already completed an electrical pre-trade course elsewhere you can still apply for an Etco apprenticeship – just make a note of it on your application form.

Absolutely! Please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button on any of our apprenticeship pages and complete the online enrolment form today.

This depends on the workloads or the projects of the host company you are placed with. Overtime rates will be discussed with you at the time of the placement.

On the completion of each 12 months working, providing you are progressing satisfactorily through your apprenticeship. Pay increases are in recognition of the increasing value you provide your host company as you progress through your apprenticeship.

Your dedicated Etco Apprentice Mentor and our placement team will find another host company for you – this will also ensure you can continue your apprenticeship and gain the full range of domestic, commercial, and industrial experience needed.

Yes, Etco provides a comprehensive starter toolkit with professional trade-quality tools. This ensures conformity and the quality of the tools you will be using. You can add to that as you progress.

The New Zealand registered qualification is an internationally recognised and well-regarded qualification in most places around the world.

Etco or your host company will provide all the personal protection equipment you need – including work boots and overalls. And we’ll replace any PPE that is damaged or worn out on a fair wear-and-tear basis.

Yes! We encourage all our apprentices to enter the annual Master Electricians Apprentice Challenge. This enables you to test your skills and knowledge against your electrical peers in friendly competition.

There is also the Etco Apprentice of the Year event, with nominations coming from the Apprenticeship Coordinators. The criteria is based on your achievements throughout the year; on-job, off job, host feedback and exams results all being considered.

Graduations are also held at the end of every quarter to celebrate our apprentices’ success on completion of their 45-month apprenticeship. This will be held on a regional basis where applicable.

In 2025, there will be fees-free policy changes, and here is an outline of what this means for our apprentices and trainees, or anyone thinking about signing up.

• Signed on before 31st January 2024: You will have your fees covered for 24 months unless your eligibility finishes prior to that as a result of you using up your full entitlement as per the original fees free policy.
• Signed on in 2024 from 1st February 2024 onwards: You come under the “first year free” scheme and will have your fees covered upfront by the government until the end of 2025 unless your eligibility finishes prior to that as a result of you consuming the full funding as per the original fees free policy.
• Signing on in 2025: You come under ‘final year fees free’ if you are eligible to receive it.

For more information go to our Fees Free Policy information page or visit the official Tertiary Education Commission website.

Yes, we require all our apprentices to have good colour vision so we can be assured that they will be safe on the worksite.

Our Foundation course is a full-time course, that is currently Fees Free. If you are not eligible for Fees Free, you can apply for a student loan via Studylink. The rest of our courses offered are all part-time study so do not qualify for student loans.

You won’t need to buy textbooks because we have made all our NZ Certificate of Electrical Engineering course work online

We offer the Safe Working Practices course. There is some online learning to be done before attending on our two-day inhouse course, comprised of a full day of first aid and a practical assessment. This fulfils the requirements of anyone applying for a trainee or provisional licence.

Please contact ASPEQ to book any exams.

You will first need to contact the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB). They will be registering you and issuing you with a practising licence to work. You will have to submit to them:

• Evidence of qualifications completed
• Evidence of course(s) completed
• Evidence of work experience including details of work done, hours served etc.

EWRB will then be able to confirm to you, which courses you are required to complete to gain registration in New Zealand

You must be either a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand resident to enrol on an EWRB Registration course with Etco. A copy of your passport must be provided with your enrolment.

Click here for contact info for the EWRB.

Once EWRB has advised you what course(s) you need to complete, click here to book online, or call our friendly Training Administrators on 0800 275 3826 for further assistance.

Yes, courses are held regularly at our training centres nationwide.  Click here to find out more about continuing your professional development.

Etco offers a range of industry courses. Click here to find out more about continuing your professional development.

Please contact ASPEQ to book any exams.

Our minimum requirement to study with Etco is that you must have a work permit that is valid until at least the end of your course. Alternatively, if you are a New Zealand Resident or Citizen, we would just require a photocopy of your passport.