FIELD SCIENCES
Review of Conservation qualification
National Certificate in Conservation (Ranger) [Ref: 0797]
Learning State has completed the review of the qualification listed above.
Date new version published July 2010
The next qualification review is planned to take place during 2014.
Summary of review and consultation process
The qualification was reviewed because it had passed its planned review date and there had been limited uptake since its registration in 2000. Consultation discussions and meetings took place during 2009 and 2010 involving representatives and their networks from the Department of Conservation, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, territorial and regional authorities, and Skills Active Aotearoa. The review considered the qualification's fitness for purpose, its relationship to the National Certificate in Conservation (Trainee Ranger) (Level 3) [Ref: 0642] and the National Certificate in Parks and Recreation (Park Ranger) (Level 3) [Ref: 1475], and the removal of any barriers to achievement.
Given the wide range of activities that can contribute to the achievement of overall conservation outcomes, the review found that the qualification needed to have a smaller compulsory section than previously, and elective structures and content to recognise competence in activities more diverse in scope than those rangers engage in.
In view of these considerations, revising the title to omit the word 'ranger' and to further distinguish it from the existing National Certificate in Conservation (Trainee Ranger) (Level 3) [Ref: 0642] was proposed.
In terms of overall content it was determined that quite extensive changes were required in order to reflect current practice.
Main changes resulting from the review
National Certificate in Conservation (Ranger) [Ref: 0797]
National Certificate in Conservation (Level 4) [Ref: 0797]
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Review category |
B |
See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report |
Changes to structure and content
· The total credits for the qualification were reduced from 85 to 70
· The qualification title has changed from National Certificate in Conservation (Ranger) to National Certificate in Conservation (Level 4)
· Standard 2785 is no longer compulsory and is included in the Generic Computing domain added to Elective 2
· Standard 3491 is no longer compulsory and is included in the Writing domain added to Elective 2
· Standards 108, 14950, and 16218 were moved from the Compulsory to Elective 3
· Standards 4, 11, 19, 37, 43, 431, 451, 996, 1009, 1667, 6916, 9034, 10095, 10099, and 10100 were removed from the qualification and not replaced
· Standard 435 was replaced by standards 20159 and 20160
· Standard 26541 was substituted for standard 4136
· Standard 5059 was replaced by standard 21554
· Standard 21556 was substituted for standard 5060
· Standards 16082, 17593, and 26288 were added to the Compulsory
· The domains Parks and Recreation, Fire and Rescue Services - Vegetation, and Visitor Interpretation were added to Elective 1
· Standards 125, 424, 427, 6144, 6147, 6400, 6914, 11091, 11092, 13377, 15189, 15998, 16042, 17256, 17279, 17602, 17763, 17766, 17788, 17976-17978, 19361, 19362, 20645, 20838, 20848, 21033, 21417, 21555, 22445, and 25219 were added to Elective 3
· Standards 3285, 3286, and 11282 are no longer listed but are included in the Fire and Rescue Services - Vegetation and the Compliance and Regulatory Control domains added to Electives 1 and 3 respectively
· The domains Selling Skills and Service Sector - Core Skills were removed from the qualification and replaced with standards 376, 378, and 11815 in Elective 3
· The domains Pest Control and Temporary Traffic Management were added to Elective 3
· The rules for the elective sections were changed.
Transition
People currently enrolled in a programme leading to version 1 of the qualification may either complete that version or transfer to version 2. The last date for assessments to take place for version 1 is 31 December 2012.
The 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.
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Credit for |
Exempt from |
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435 |
20159, 20160 |
|
1678, 1679 |
21033 |
|
5059 |
21554 |
|
5060 |
21556 |
|
6914 |
26541 |
|
17280 |
22445 |
|
18473, 18474 |
20848 |
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 they have been disadvantaged may appeal to:
Learning State (trading name of the Public Sector Training Organisation)
PO Box 25293
The Terrace
Wellington 6146
Telephone 04 495 1410
Email qualifications@learningstate.govt.nz
Website http://www.learningstate.govt.nz/
Key to Qualification Review Categories
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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 |
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No change is made to title, rules or components of the qualification | |
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No transition arrangements are required | |
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Category B The qualification is published as a new version with the same NQF ID |
Changes are made to title, rules or components |
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The new version of the qualification recognises a similar skill set to that recognised by the previous version | |
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The SSB is confident that people awarded the new or previous version are comparable in terms of competence | |
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Transition arrangements are required if candidates must gain additional/different credits for the new version | |
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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 |
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The SSB views people with the replacement qualification as being significantly different in terms of competence from those with the replaced qualification | |
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Transition arrangements are required | |
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Transition may be limited to phase-out dates | |
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Category D Qualification will expire. There is no replacement qualification |
Qualification is no longer required by industry |
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The qualification is designated as expiring and a last date for meeting the qualification requirements is set |