FIELD                 Engineering and Technology

Review of Electricity Supply qualification

New Zealand Certificate in Electricity Supply (Transmission Line Maintenance) (Level 4) with strands in Line Mechanics, and Structure Maintenance [Ref: 2705]

The Infrastructure ITO (Connexis) has completed the review of the qualification listed above.

Date new version listed                                                                     July 2017

The next qualification review is planned to take place during 2022.

Summary of review and consultation process

The Transmission Line Maintenance qualification could not be assessed fully due to the inclusion of outcomes and conditions that were not relevant to the work of the line mechanic or the tower structure maintainer. Outcome 2 on performing condition assessment on electricity structures is part of the role of the line maintenance worker but not required by the structure maintainer.

Connexis called three meetings with the Industry Subject Matter Experts to review the qualification and to develop the requirements for the two strands in alignment with industry requirements.

The development process included meetings and collaboration through email, skype meetings and website consultation.  All stakeholders included in this development agreed to the changes through a letter of support and endorsement by email.

Main changes resulting from the review

New Zealand Certificate in Electricity Supply (Transmission Line Maintenance) (Level 4) with strands in Line Mechanics, and Structure Maintenance [Ref: 2705]

Review category

B

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

The main changes included:

• Qualification credit total reduced from 150 – 180 to 145 – 154
• The Graduate Outcomes were re-written to clarify the skills and knowledge needed by the Line Maintenance workers and the Structure Maintenance workers when they work on the different types of poles.  The health and safety and the generic Electricity Supply industry skills and knowledge are the same but the Line Mechanics must meet Electrical Workers Registration Board registration requirements to carry out line work, while the structure maintainers carry out maintenance of the actual poles.
• Strand names were updated to match the title.

Transition

The last date for entry into programmes leading to version 1 of this qualification is 31 December 2018.  The last date for assessments to take place for version 1 of the qualification is 31 December 2020.

People currently working towards version 1 may complete the requirements for that version by 31 December 2020 or transfer to version 2 of the qualifcation.

It is anticipated that no existing candidates will be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements.  However, anyone who feels that they have been disadvantaged may appeal to Connexis at the address below.  Appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Infrastructure ITO (Connexis)

PO Box 2759

Wellington 6140

Telephone     0800 486 626

Email              qualifications@connexis.org.nz

Website          www.connexis.org.nz

Key to Qualification Review Categories

Category A The qualification is published as a new version with the same NZQF ID	Changes are made to SSB name, contact details or purpose statement
	No change is made to title, rules or components of the qualification
	No transition arrangements are required
Category B The qualification is published as a new version with the same NZQF ID	Changes are made to title, rules or components
	The new version of the qualification recognises a similar skill set to that recognised by the previous version
	The SSB is confident that people awarded the new or previous version are comparable in terms of competence
	Transition arrangements are required if candidates must gain additional/different credits for the new version
Category C A new (replacement) qualification is published with new NZQF ID	Significant changes are made to the qualification in terms of components, structure, type or level
	The SSB views people with the replacement qualification as being significantly different in terms of competence from those with the replaced qualification
	Transition arrangements are required
	Transition may be limited to phase-out dates
Category D Qualification will expire. There is no replacement qualification	Qualification is no longer required by industry
	The qualification is designated as expiring and a last date for meeting the qualification requirements is set