FIELD                 SERVICE SECTOR

 

Review of Funeral Services qualifications

 

National Certificate in Embalming [Ref: 0289]

National Certificate in Funeral Directing [Ref: 0290]

National Diploma in Funeral Services [Ref: 0459]

 

The Funeral Service Training Trust of New Zealand has completed the review of the qualifications listed above.

 

Replacement qualifications

 

National Diploma in Embalming [Ref: 1329]

National Diploma in Funeral Directing [Ref: 1330]

 

Date new versions published                                                      October 2007

 

The next qualification review is planned to take place during 2012.

 

Summary of review and consultation process

 

On the 23-24 August 2006 the Funeral Service Training Trust held a meeting of industry stakeholders to review the unit standards and qualifications as they were nearing their planned review date.  Feedback was canvassed from both industry users and the provider on any changes required to the qualifications.  The changes set out below were approved.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

·           The three reviewed qualifications have been replaced by two new qualifications.

·           The qualifications have been updated to reflect changes made to the unit standards during the review process.

·           Recommended requirements relating to first aid have been added to the special notes section of the qualifications.

 

National Certificate in Embalming [Ref: 0289]

 

Review category

C

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

 

This qualification and the National Diploma in Funeral Services [Ref: 0459] have been replaced by the National Diploma in Embalming [Ref: 1329].

 

There are substantial differences between the National Certificate in Embalming [Ref: 0289] and the replacement qualification.  Differences include:

·      the replacement qualification is a Diploma

·      the credit total has increased from 169 to 175

·      generic standards 101, 111, 1297, 1583, 6402, 9694, 9706 and 11097 have been removed from the compulsory section

·      first aid requirements have been added to the special notes.

 

National Certificate in Funeral Directing [Ref: 0290]

 

Review category

C

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

 

This qualification and the National Diploma in Funeral Services [Ref: 0459] have been replaced by the National Diploma in Funeral Directing [Ref: 1330].

 

There are substantial differences between the National Certificate in Funeral Directing [Ref: 0290] and the replacement qualification.  Differences include:

·      the replacement qualification is a Diploma

·      the credit total has increased from 155 to 174

·      generic standards 6402 and 9706 have been removed from the compulsory section

·      first aid requirements have been added to the special notes

·      generic standards 101, 111, 1297, 7442, 9694 and 11097 have been added to the qualification.

 

National Diploma in Funeral Services [Ref: 0459]

 

Review category

C

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

 

This qualification, the National Certificate in Embalming [Ref: 0289], and the National Certificate in Funeral Directing [Ref: 0290] have been replaced by the National Diploma in Embalming [Ref: 1329], and the National Diploma in Funeral Directing [Ref: 1330].

 

Transition

 

People currently working towards the replaced qualifications may either complete the requirements for those qualifications by 31 December 2010 or transfer their results to one of the replacement qualifications.  The last date for entry to training programmes or courses for the replaced qualifications is December 2007.

 

The replacement qualifications contain standards that replace earlier standards.  For the purposes of the qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards - see table below.

 

Credit for

Exempt from

201, 202

2780

3502

11097

 

It is not intended that anyone is disadvantaged by this review, and the above arrangements have been designed for a smooth transition.  However, anyone who feels disadvantaged may appeal to:

 

Funeral Service Training Trust of New Zealand

PO Box 10 872

The Terrace

WELLINGTON

 

Telephone              04 385 9503

Email                       fiona@fstt.org.nz

 

Key to Qualification Review Categories

 

Category A

The qualification is published as a new version with the same NQF 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 NQF 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 NQF 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