New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Trade

The qualification includes strands to recognise the differences between electricians who work in domestic, commercial and industrial sectors and electricians who work in the electricity supply sector.

The qualification encompasses the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) electrical theory and regulations examination requirements for registration as an electrician. Graduates may use this New Zealand Certificate as evidence of having met the minimum applicable standards when applying to the EWRB for registration under the Electricity Act 1992.

Graduates will not be able to practice as an electrician until they have met all EWRB registration and licensing requirements.

• Apply knowledge of electrical theory, systems, equipment, machines, and electrical protection in an electrical environment.
• Work safely; identify and control hazards; and manage risks in an electrical environment.
• Comply with electrical and relevant non-electrical legislation governing the work of electricians.
• Develop knowledge of areas where specialist knowledge is required to carry out installation and maintenance of electrical equipment.
• Work as a commercially competent registered electrician and communicate with stakeholders on electrical matters.

Graduates of the General Electrical strand will also be able to:

• Install, commission, and maintain electrical systems, equipment, and machines within electrical environments.
• Carry out fault diagnosis and testing of electrical systems and equipment within electrical environments.

Graduates of the Electricity Supply strand will also be able to:

• Install, commission, and maintain electrical services associated with distribution networks, power stations, and substations.
• Carry out fault diagnosis and testing of electrical services associated with distribution networks, power stations, and substations.

On completion of this qualification graduates may progress to higher level qualifications within the electrical industry such as the New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering (Level 5) [Ref: 2384], the New Zealand Certificate in Process Control and Automation (Level 5) with strands in Process Control, and Process Automation [Ref: 2253], or the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) [Ref: 2612].

Evidence requirements for assuring consistency

Evidence may come from:

• Analysis of survey results from graduates and employers to show that the Graduate Profile Outcomes (GPOs) have been met;
• Attestations from employers that graduates have met the qualification requirements;
• Any other relevant evidence as appropriate.

Commercially competent means an individual understands the risks and limitations of work environments; and uses their skills, knowledge, and behaviour to safely perform tasks within industry-accepted quality, expectations and timeframes.
Common assessment tasks refer to assessments undertaken in a supervised environment including EWRB examinations that forms part of the licensing requirements.

Specialist knowledge is required in special electrical situations. Examples of these situations may include but are not limited to: marinas and recreational boats; transportable structures and vehicles including their site supplies (e.g. caravans and caravan parks); high-risk prescribed electrical work according to the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010.