Review of Electricity Supply qualifications

FIELD ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Review of Electricity Supply qualifications

National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Cable Jointer – Low Voltage) (Level 3) [Ref: 0869]

National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Cable Jointer – High Voltage) (Level 4) with an optional strand in Cable Jointer Advanced [Ref: 0870]

The Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation (ESITO) has completed the review of the qualifications listed above.

Date new versions published March 2008

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

Summary of review and consultation process

The review of the Cable Jointer qualifications and their industry specific unit standards was initiated by the Electricity Supply industry, as the structure and content of the qualifications were not meeting its needs. While it was intended that the National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Cable Jointer – Low Voltage) (Level 3) should cover low voltage practice and the National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Cable Jointer – High Voltage) (Level 4) with an optional strand in Cable Jointer Advanced should cover high voltage, the qualifications were not structured in this manner. The focus of the review therefore was centred on ensuring that the new qualifications fitted their respective categories, were fit for purpose, compatible with industry roles, and achievable as packaged.

Consultation was sought from the Electricity Supply industry, and an industry steering group was convened with membership drawn from companies involved in cable jointing practices. Restructuring of the qualifications and the review of unit standards was undertaken in conjunction with, and with approval from, the steering group via meetings and electronic communication. The demand for these qualifications is high and with the introduction of the reviewed qualifications it is anticipated that demand will rise.

Main changes resulting from the review

One unit standard covering high voltage practice has been moved from the level 3 to the level 4 qualification, and another covering low voltage practice has been moved from the level 4 to the level 3 qualification. In the case of 18029, which covered both low and high voltage practice, new standards, 23898 & 23899, were registered in order to separate the two.

It was established that all ‘non-live’ practices are covered in ‘live’ practice, so there was no necessity to have both ‘non-live’ and ‘live’ standards in the level 3 qualification, and the ‘non-live’ standards were removed. However, the steering group unanimously agreed that all Cable Jointers must be able to work with paper insulated cables, and the relevant standards remain in the qualifications.

While switching and traffic control work were not considered to be essential cable jointer skills, it was acknowledged that some companies require these skills, so the relevant standards were retained in the National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Cable Jointer – Low Voltage) (Level 3) as optional standards.

A non-supervisory traffic control standard has been added to the compulsory section.

National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Cable Jointer – Low Voltage) (Level 3) [Ref: 0869]

Review category

See

Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

Changes to structure and content

· Total credits were reduced from 88 to 78.

· Standards 9681, 10545, 10546, 10549, 18426, 20059, and 20060 were not required in the qualification.

· Standards 17602, 18273, 18276, 20877, 23896, 23897, and 24152 were added to the qualification.

· Standard 18029 was replaced by standard 23898.

· Standard 12298 was moved to this qualification from the National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Cable Jointer – High Voltage) (Level 4) with an optional strand in Cable Jointer Advanced [Ref: 0870].

· Standard 17028 was moved from this qualification to the National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Cable Jointer – High Voltage) (Level 4) with an optional strand in Cable Jointer Advanced [Ref: 0870].

· Standards 5627 and 20618 were made optional.

National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Cable Jointer – High Voltage) (Level 4) with an optional strand in Cable Jointer Advanced [Ref: 0870]

Review category

See

Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

Changes to structure and content

· Standard 23899 was added to the compulsory section.

· Minimum credit requirement for the elective section was increased from 16 to 18 credits to keep the qualification at level 4.

· Standard 17028 was moved to this qualification from the National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Cable Jointer – Low Voltage) (Level 3) [Ref: 0869].

· Standard 12298 was moved from this qualification to the National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Cable Jointer – Low Voltage) (Level 3) [Ref: 0869].

Transition

All existing candidates may either complete the version of the qualification on which they are enrolled or transfer their existing achievements to the latest version.

The last date for assessments to take place for the preceding version of each qualification is 31 December 2010. All new trainees will be enrolled in programmes leading to the new versions of the qualifications.

The National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Cable Jointer – Low Voltage) (Level 3) contains a standard that replaces an earlier standard. For the purposes of this qualification people who have gained credit for the expiring standard are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standard.

Credit for	Exempt from
18029	23898

The National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Cable Jointer – High Voltage) (Level 4) contains a standard that replaces an earlier standard. For the purposes of this qualification people who have gained credit for the expiring standard are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standard.

Credit for	Exempt from
18029	23899

It is anticipated that no existing candidates are disadvantaged by these transition arrangements. However, candidates may appeal in the first instance to the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation, which will consider any appeal on a case by case basis. See contact details below.

Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation

PO Box 1245

HAMILTON

Telephone 07 834 3038

Facsimile 07 834 8160

Email info@esito.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