Review of Electricity Supply qualifications

FIELD ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Review of Electricity Supply qualifications

National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Technician) (Level 4) with strands in Control and Instrumentation, Power Technician, and HVDC Technician, and with an optional strand in Electrical Services [Ref: 0917]

National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Technician) (Level 3) with strands in Control and Instrumentation, Power Technician, and HVDC Technician [Ref: 0922]

National Certificate in Electricity Supply (HVDC and Mercury Arc Valve Maintenance) (Level 4) [Ref: 0923]

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

Date review complete November 2008

Summary of review and consultation process

A review was undertaken of the above qualifications to ascertain the continued relevance to industry. Consultation determined that the Technician qualifications and the HVDC qualifications were surplus to requirements. Other ESITO qualifications had been developed which more effectively covered the role of technician in the electricity supply industry, and better reflected the skills expected of a technician. The HVDC qualification covered skills which were rarely required in the electricity supply industry; in particular the mercury arc valve maintenance standards, as mercury arc valves had been superseded and were no longer in use.

This lack of continued relevance to industry is further evidenced by the low number of enrolments on to these qualifications. It was therefore agreed that there was no longer a demand for them and they should be expired.

ESITO have confirmed that there are only a small number of candidates for these qualifications, all of whom have been informed of this review. The last date for assessments to take place has taken into account their progress to date and allows sufficient time for them to finish.

Main changes resulting from the review

The National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Technician) (Level 4) with strands in Control and Instrumentation, Power Technician, and HVDC Technician, and with an optional strand in Electrical Services [Ref: 0917], the National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Technician) (Level 3) with strands in Control and Instrumentation, Power Technician, and HVDC Technician [Ref: 0922], and the National Certificate in Electricity Supply (HVDC and Mercury Arc Valve Maintenance) (Level 4) [Ref: 0923] were designated expiring and will not be replaced.

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Technician) (Level 3) with strands in Control and Instrumentation, Power Technician, and HVDC Technician [Ref: 0922]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

National Certificate in Electricity Supply (HVDC and Mercury Arc Valve Maintenance) (Level 4) [Ref: 0923]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

These qualifications no longer meet the needs of industry and are expiring.

Candidates currently working towards any of these expiring qualifications must complete by December 2010.

It is not intended that anyone is disadvantaged by this review; however, anyone who feels that they have been disadvantaged may appeal to:

Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation

PO Box 1245

Hamilton 3204

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