FIELD ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Revision of Fire Detection and Alarm Systems qualifications
National Certificate in Fire Detection and Alarm Systems (Testing) (Level 3) [Ref: 0862]
National Certificate in Fire Detection and Alarm Systems (Level 4) [Ref: 0569]
Competenz has completed the revision of the qualifications listed above that were registered in 2001.
The review of these qualifications is planned to take place in March 2006
Versions 1 and 2 respectively of these qualifications required achievement of registration as Electrical Service Technician Type A (EST-A) with the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) as a pre-condition for issue of the National Certificate. Unfortunately the practical work requirements for this registration are such that they cannot be achieved by the majority of trainees in their normal employment in the fire protection industry.
As a large number of trainees have met all other requirements for this qualification, the Fire Protection Industry Sector Advisory Group met in November 2004 and requested that the EST-A registration requirement be removed from both qualifications as an urgent measure. The opportunity was taken to implement a number of maintenance changes arising from changes made to unit standards by other standard setting bodies.
Main changes resulting from the revision
In the new versions of both qualifications, the requirements for EST-A registration has been removed, standards designed to prepare for registration have been moved to the elective section, and maintenance updates have been incorporated.
National Certificate in Fire Detection and Alarm Systems (Testing) (Level 3) [Ref: 0862]
Changes to structure and content:
· Credit total changed from 128 credits to 114 credits
· Compulsory credits changed from 180 to 94
· Electrical Service Technician (Level A) registration requirement removed from qualification
· Unit standards 10933, 10934, 10935, and 10936 moved from the compulsory section to the elective section
· Unit standard 2824 removed from qualification
· Levels, credits and/or titles updated for unit standards 3271, 4647, 10937, 15845, and 15849 to reflect changes made at review.
People currently working towards version 1 of this qualification may either complete the requirements of that version or transfer their results to this version of the qualification. The last date for completion of version 1 is 31 December 2007.
National Certificate in Fire Detection and Alarm Systems (Level 4) [Ref: 0569]
Changes to structure and content:
· Credit total changed from 218 credits to 203 credits
· Compulsory credits changed from 176 to 161
· Electrical Service Technician (Level A) registration requirement removed from qualification
· Unit standards 10933, 10934, 10935, and 10936 moved from the compulsory section to the elective section
· Unit standards 2824, 5932 and 6625 removed from qualification
· Levels, credits and/or titles updated for unit standards 2780, 3271, 4432, 4647, 5925, 10782, 10937, 15845, 15846, 15849, 15851, and 15852 to reflect changes made at review.
Transition
People currently working towards version 2 of this qualification may either complete the requirements of that version or transfer their results to this version of the qualification. The last date for people to complete version 2 is 31 December 2007.
It is not the intention of Competenz that candidates for either of these qualifications are disadvantaged by these transition arrangements. Any person who considers they have been disadvantaged is requested to contact:
Competenz
PO Box 62 561
Central Park
AUCKLAND
Telephone 09 525-5400
Email j.broadhead@competenz.org.nz