Review of Retail qualifications

FIELD SERVICE SECTOR

Review of Retail qualifications

National Certificate in Retail (Level 2) [Ref: 0993]

National Certificate in Retail (Level 3) [Ref: 0994]

National Certificate in Retail (Level 4) [Ref: 0995]

The Retail ITO has completed the review of the qualifications listed above that were registered in November 2003.

Date new versions published June 2006

The next qualification review is planned to take place in December 2010.

Summary of review and consultation process

The review was undertaken to refocus the qualification on knowledge and skills needed for retailing and reduce the number of non-retail unit standards that were available as part of the qualifications.

The review was carried out in conjunction with advice from the Retail Industry Advisory Groups. The qualifications were viewed and discussed at Advisory Group meetings held around the country throughout 2005. All feedback from the industry was considered as part of the review process.

National Certificate in Retail (Level 2) [Ref: 0993]

Changes to structure and content

· Elective 2 allowing up to 5 credits from anywhere on the NQF has been removed the remaining elective has had the minimum credits increased from 20 to 25.

· The Distribution and Retail and Wholesale subfields have been removed from the elective.

· The Selling Skills, Service Sector Skills, and Service Sector – Core Skills domains have been removed from the elective.

· Only unit standards 57 and 376 from the Service Sector – Core Skills domain, are included in the elective.

· Unit standard 103 has been added to the elective.

Transition

People currently working toward version 2 of this qualification may complete the requirements for that version or transfer to version 3. The last date for people for award of version 2 is 31 December 2008.

National Certificate in Retail (Level 3) [Ref: 0994]

National Certificate in Retail (Level 3) with optional strands in Bicycle Sales and Servicing, Visual Merchandising, Delicatessen, and Produce [Ref: 0994]

Changes to structure and content

· The title was changed to take account of the addition of optional strands.

· Elective 1, containing a choice of unit standards from various subfields and domains, has been removed and Elective 2 has been renamed ‘Core Elective’.

· The two Core Generic unit standards have been removed from Elective 2 and a wider choice of retail relevant unit standards has been added.

· Unit standards 1312, 11939, 11968, and 376 have been moved from the compulsory section to the elective.

· Unit standards 17593 and 11097 have been moved from the Elective 2 to the Core Compulsory.

· The total credits for the qualification have decreased from 67 to 60.

· New optional strands have been added to recognise skills and knowledge in bicycle sales and servicing, visual merchandising, delicatessen, and produce.

Transition

National Certificate in Retail (Level 4) [Ref: 0995]

Changes to structure and content

· Unit standards 11994 and 7452 were removed from the compulsory section, as they were not considered to be relevant.

· Unit standards 9704, 11101, and 11965 have been moved from the compulsory to the elective section.

· Elective 2 has been removed to strengthen the focus on retail skills and knowledge.

· Unit standard 1983 has been moved from elective 2 to the elective section.

· Units 8493, 8495, 9696,11995, 22012, and 11999 have been added to the compulsory section.

Transition

Appeals

It is not intended that anyone be disadvantaged by this review, and the above arrangements have been designed for a smooth transition. However, any candidate who feels that they have been disadvantaged my appeal to the Retail ITO. Any enquiries should be directed to

Retail ITO

PO Box 24 341

Manners Street

WELLINGTON

Telephone 04 499 3078

Email info@retailito.org.nz