FIELD                 ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

 

Review of Telecommunications qualification

 

National Certificate in Telecommunications (Level 4) with strands in Bearer and Switch, Building and Data Cabling, Customer Access Network, Customer Premises Equipment, and Radio [Ref: 1002]

 

The ElectroTechnology Industry Training Organisation (ETITO) in conjunction with the Telecommunication Education and Skills Standards Organisation (TESSO) has reviewed the above qualification.

 

Date new version published                                                                      April 2008

 

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

 

Summary of review and consultation process

 

The review was prompted by the industry's need for more advanced training in the area of information and communications technology (ICT), and was conducted by ETITO in conjunction with TESSO and the telecommunications industry.  As a result, two new standards covering ICT at level 4 were developed and included in a new strand within the qualification.  These complement the level 3 ICT standards.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

National Certificate in Telecommunications (Level 4) with strands in Bearer and Switch, Building and Data Cabling, Customer Access Network, Customer Premises Equipment, and Radio [Ref: 1002]

National Certificate in Telecommunications (Level 4) with strands in Bearer and Switch; Building and Data Cabling; Customer Access Network; Customer Premises Equipment; Information and Communications Technology; and Radio [Ref: 1002]

 

Review category

B

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

 

This qualification was reviewed and issued as version 2.

 

Changes to structure and content

·           addition of a sixth strand - Information and Communications Technology - and the title updated accordingly

·           addition of standards 24520 and 24521 to the new Information and Communication Technology Strand

·           standards 2780, 2781, and 17151 removed

·           standards 22721 and 22722 replaced 16964, 16965, and 16972

·           standard 22726 replaced standard 16966

·           qualification credit value changed from 118-138 to 108-131.

 

This qualification contains standards that replace earlier standards.  For the purposes of this 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

4907, 4909, 4931

18709, 18713

4911, 4912, 4913

18710, 18714

4914, 4915, 4930

18708, 18712

16964, 16965, 16972

22721, 22722

16966

22726

 

From the date of registration, all new candidates will be enrolled in programmes leading to version 2 of the qualification.

 

The last date to meet the requirements of version 1 of the qualification is 31 December 2010.  Candidates may either complete the requirements of version 1 before 31 December 2010 or transfer to version 2.

 

It is not intended that anyone be disadvantaged by this review, and the above arrangements have been designed for a smooth transition.  However, anyone who feels they have been disadvantaged may appeal to the ElectroTechnology Industry Training Organisation at the address below.

 

ElectroTechnology Industry Training Organisation

FREEPOST 5164

PO Box 24-469

ROYAL OAK

Auckland 1345

 

Telephone         09 525 2590

Email                  file:///I:/FDU/Amys/Evaluation/ETITO/2007-0291/Compliance%20check/connect@etito.co.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