Field                   Engineering and Technology

 

Review of Telecommunications qualifications

 

National Certificate in Telecommunications (Level 2) [Ref: 0338]

National Certificate in Telecommunications (Level 3) with strands in Bearer and Switch, Building and Data Cabling, Customer Access Network, Customer Premises Equipment, Information and Communications Technology, Radio, and Rigging [Ref: 0767]

 

The Skills Organisation has completed the review of the qualifications listed above.

 

Replacement qualification

 

New Zealand Certificate in Telecommunications (Level 3) with strands in Access Network Technologies, Core Network Technologies, Radio/Wireless Technologies, and Signals and Communications [Ref: 2210]

 

Date new qualification published                                                    August 2013

 

The review of the replacement New Zealand qualification is planned to take place in 2017.

 

Summary of review and consultation process

 

During 2011 and 2012, a mandatory sector review of qualifications in the Telecommunications sector occurred.  The review encompassed broad consultation with industry and training provider stakeholders to ensure that the new qualification meets current and future needs.

 

The review resulted in a recommendation that the national qualifications listed above should be replaced by a single New Zealand Level 3 qualification, in order to meet stakeholder needs.

 

The replacement New Zealand qualification has now been listed, and the national qualifications will therefore be phased out.

 

The replacement qualification does not include a strand in rigging.  This will be covered by a Level 3 New Zealand Certificate in Rigging, which is currently being developed and is expected to be listed on the NZQF later in 2013.  The Rigging qualification development group includes representatives from the telecommunications sector.

 

The sector review of Telecommunications qualifications also resulted in a recommendation for development of New Zealand Certificates in Telecommunications at Level 4 and Level 5.  The Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Telecommunications qualification will be submitted to NZQA for approval to list later in 2013.  The development of the Level 5 New Zealand Certificate in Telecommunications is being considered in relation to the current review of the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

The existing National Certificates were replaced by a single New Zealand qualification.

 

National Certificate in Telecommunications (Level 2) [Ref: 0338]

National Certificate in Telecommunications (Level 3) with strands in Bearer and Switch, Building and Data Cabling, Customer Access Network, Customer Premises Equipment, Information and Communications Technology, Radio, and Rigging [Ref: 0767]

replaced by

New Zealand Certificate in Telecommunications (Level 3) with strands in Access Network Technologies, Core Network Technologies, Radio/Wireless Technologies, and Signals and Communications [Ref: 2210]

 

Review category

C

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

 

Transition

 

The last date for entry into programmes leading to the replaced qualifications is 30 June 2014, when the replaced qualifications will be designated expiring.

 

The last date to meet the requirements of the replaced qualifications is 31 December 2016, when the qualifications will be discontinued.  From that date no results can be reported against the qualifications.

 

People currently working towards one of the replaced qualifications may either complete the requirements by 31 December 2016 or transfer their results to the replacement qualification.  Options for people currently working towards completion of the Rigging strand of [Ref: 0767] will be available later in 2013.

 

It is anticipated that no existing candidates will be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements.  However, anyone who feels that they have been disadvantaged may appeal to The Skills Organisation at the address below.  Appeals will be considered on a case by case basis.

 

The Skills Organisation

Freepost 5164

PO Box 24469

Royal Oak

Auckland 1345

 

Telephone       09 525 2590

Fax                   09 525 2591

Email                reviewcomments@skills.org.nz

Website            http://www.skills.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