Field           Engineering and Technology

 

Review of Electrical Engineering and Electronic Engineering unit standards

 

Subfield

Domain

ID

Electrical Engineering

Core Electrical

15844, 15862, 29441

Electrical Appliance Servicing

29421, 29427

Electrical Installation and Maintenance

2016, 2020, 2021, 2030, 5931, 10787, 15869, 15870, 16415, 29419, 29422-29424, 29426, 29428, 29430-29436, 29438, 29439, 29446

Electrical Machines

29420, 29443

Electrical Standards and Statutes

1702, 21766, 29484

Electric Switchboards

29440

Electrotechnology

29437

Electronic Engineering

Core Electronics

19747

 

The Skills Organisation has completed the review of the unit standards listed above.

 

Date new versions published                                                                                                      March 2022

 

Planned review date                                                                                  December 2026

 

Summary

 

The Skills Organisation (Skills), industry, and provider representatives reviewed and developed unit standards to support unit standard based programmes for the New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Trade (Level 4) with strands in General Electrical, and Electricity Supply [Ref: 4204], with a particular focus on the core and the General Electrical strand.  As the Standard Setting Body for Electrical Supply, Connexis identified unit standards for programmes for the Electricity Supply strand.

 

The unit standards were developed with industry and provider representatives between April 2019 to September 2021 as part of the discussions and development of a competency framework for electrical apprentices.

 

As the review began during the early stages of the sector-wide Review of Vocational Education (RoVE), it was unclear which educational products would be required for the long term.  To bridge the uncertainty, The Skills Organisation, industry, and providers agreed to produce a document describing the sequencing, teaching, and assessment content.  This document would be used to form programmes of study and/or unit standards and programmes of industry training, which would ensure consistency across the sector.  These unit standards address the assessment and sequencing requirements of that document.

 

The unit standards also embed the changes that occurred in the Electrical Workers Registration Board Essential Capabilities for Electrical Registration.  Consultation was undertaken via surveys, email, face to face, and online meetings over the multiyear period.

 

Since the original unit standards were developed, industry and providers have altered their view of which competencies logically fit together and what stages of learner development they are best introduced.  The original unit standards were used in apprenticeship programmes, supported by the provider network delivering off-job teaching and assessment.  They have also been used in Gateway products to support school leavers into apprenticeships.  As the apprenticeship changes are embedded using the new suite of unit standards, the provider network and Gateway products will change to use the new unit standards.  As this change is occurring during the same time as transitions occurring under RoVE, there is an extended expiry date for the expiring standards.  Providers should move to the new standards as soon as possible.

 

The new unit standards are fit for purpose, current, and relevant to the Electrical Engineering industry.

 

Main changes

 

·       38 unit standards were reviewed and a new suite of 44 unit standards were developed to meet current and future requirements of the electrical industry, based on the competency framework to train electrical apprentices.

·       34 of the reviewed unit standards were designated as expiring and will not be replaced as the relationship between them and the new suite of standards was too complex to list as direct replacements.

·       4 of the reviewed unit standards were amended.  Of these, 21766 increased in credit value from 3 to 6 credits and 1702 decreased from 8 to 5 credits, to better reflect the time required for learning and assessment.

·       AS/NZS 3000:2018 version is not yet cited in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010.  To address this, the two sector regulators, WorkSafe and the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB), have agreed that any reference to AS/NZS 3000 in the unit standards will be written as “AS/NZS 3000 (version as cited in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations), Electrical Installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules)”.

 

Category D unit standards will expire at the end of December 2025

 

The last date for assessment of superseded versions of Category B unit standards is December 2027

 

Detailed list of unit standards – classification, title, level, and credits

 

All changes are in bold.

 

Key to review category

A

Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number

B

Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number

C

Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement standard with a new ID

D

Standard will expire and not be replaced

 

Engineering and Technology > Electrical Engineering > Core Electrical

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

15844

Select and install flexible cords

3

2

D

15862

Demonstrate knowledge of industrial process control

4

2

D

29441

Demonstrate and apply knowledge of cable coding, colours, characters, applications, and capacity

4

2

D

32605

Demonstrate knowledge for working safely in the electrical industry

3

6

New

32606

Demonstrate knowledge of tools, fittings, and plans in the electrical industry

3

5

New

32607

Apply knowledge of working safely in the electrical industry

4

8

New

32608

Apply knowledge of electrical tools, fittings, and plans in the workplace

4

7

New

32609

Demonstrate knowledge of mathematical principles, conductors and insulators

3

7

New

32610

Demonstrate knowledge of voltage, power and energy, and DC circuits

3

6

New

32611

Demonstrate knowledge of magnetism and AC generation

3

6

New

32613

Demonstrate knowledge of cords, cables, and cable installation

3

4

New

32614

Demonstrate knowledge of electrical faults, circuit protection, de-commissioning, and commissioning

3

6

New

32615

Demonstrate cable handling and fixing techniques, pre-wire electrical circuits, and join and test TPS cables

4

5

New

32616

Apply knowledge of common cords, cables, and electrical fittings

4

6

New

32617

Select and use instruments for testing, fault finding, and repairing basic appliances

4

4

New

32618

De-commission, test and commission basic electrical appliances, fittings, and equipment

4

4

New

32620

Demonstrate knowledge of electrical plans, switching circuits, and lighting systems

3

5

New

32621

Demonstrate knowledge of wiring support systems and cable installation

3

5

New

32622

Demonstrate knowledge of the national supply grid, MEN system, and earthing

3

6

New

32623

Demonstrate knowledge of circuit protection and distribution board wiring

4

5

New

32625

Demonstrate knowledge of damp situations, SELV and PELV systems, and single-phase transformers

3

5

New

32626

Demonstrate knowledge of capacitors, inductors, and electronics in the electrical trade

3

5

New

32629

Demonstrate knowledge of electric motors and alternators

4

5

New

32638

Demonstrate knowledge of earthing systems and switchboards

4

6

New

32639

Demonstrate knowledge of cable selection, underground cable systems, and specialised cables

4

4

New

32640

Demonstrate knowledge of power factor, three-phase AC power, and transformer safety and performance

4

6

New

32641

Demonstrate knowledge of electric motors and motor faults

4

3

New

 

Engineering and Technology > Electrical Engineering > Electrical Appliance Servicing

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

29421

Inspect, test, fault-find, and repair fixed-wired electrical appliances and portable appliances

3

3

D

29427

Install, test, and commission electrical appliances

4

2

D

 

Engineering and Technology > Electrical Engineering > Electrical Installation and Maintenance

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

2016

Install earthing systems for multiple earthed neutral installations

3

3

D

2020

Plan and install cable support systems

3

3

D

2021

Plan, install, and commission a power supply on a construction or demolition site

4

2

D

2030

Schedule and manage preventative maintenance for industrial electrical equipment

5

6

D

5931

Select and install domestic or commercial electric switchboards

4

3

D

10787

Install and test transducers

4

2

D

15869

Install electrical equipment in damp situations

4

3

D

15870

Inspect and test an electrical installation for compliance with AS/NZS 3000

4

5

D

16415

Install and commission extra-low voltage equipment

4

3

D

29419

Prepare for, install, test, and commission new electrical installations

4

10

D

29422

Install, wire, test and fault-find, and repair power outlets and electric lighting systems in existing installations

4

7

D

29423

Carry out planned maintenance of electrical equipment

4

3

D

29424

Install, commission, and maintain emergency lighting systems

4

2

D

29426

Follow a control drawing and install, wire, and commission a control panel

4

3

D

29428

Install, test, and commission a.c. rotating machines

4

2

D

29430

Select and install industrial electric switchboards

4

3

D

29431

Select and install electric motor starters

4

2

D

29432

Select, install, and commission a variable frequency drive

4

2

D

29433

Install, wire to, and connect a machine safety device

4

2

D

29434

Install and programme a PLC

4

2

D

29435

Install computer networking infrastructure systems

4

4

D

29436

Wire and connect control devices used in the electrical environment

4

4

D

29438

Install, commission, and maintain a power quality protection system

4

4

D

29439

Schedule and manage preventative maintenance for domestic or commercial electrical equipment

4

5

D

29446

Demonstrate knowledge of computer networking infrastructure principles

4

2

D

32624

Demonstrate knowledge of electrical installation testing, fault finding, and rectification of discovered faults

4

6

New

32630

Establish new worksites and interpret plans

4

4

New

32631

Install, join, and terminate cables

4

7

New

32632

Design switching circuits and a PLC programme

4

4

New

32633

Install electrical equipment in damp situations and install earthing and lighting

4

9

New

32634

Plan circuit protection, and install and test distribution boards

4

10

New

32635

Use fault finding and fault rectification techniques on electrical installations

4

4

New

32642

Demonstrate knowledge of de-commissioning, commissioning, and verification of electrical installations

4

6

New

32643

Demonstrate knowledge of alternative energy systems

4

3

New

32644

Demonstrate knowledge of hazardous areas, construction and demolition sites, and special electrical installations

4

5

New

32646

Select cables for different applications

4

3

New

32647

Install mains and submains cables

4

5

New

32648

Install a main switchboard

4

5

New

32649

Install electric motors and diagnose and repair faults

4

5

New

32650

Install a complete electrical installation

4

10

New

32651

Carry out verification of an electrical installation

4

5

New

32652

De-commission and commission electrical installations

4

6

New

32653

Maintain electrical installations

4

5

New

 

Engineering and Technology > Electrical Engineering > Electrical Machines

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

29420

Fault-find, test, and commission electric motors

4

4

D

29443

Demonstrate and apply knowledge of a.c. motors

4

4

D

 

Engineering and Technology > Electrical Engineering > Electrical Standards and Statutes

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

1702

Demonstrate knowledge of, and apply electrical legislation, New Zealand Codes of Practice and Standards

Demonstrate knowledge of electrical legislation, New Zealand Codes of Practice, and Standards

4

8

 

 

5

B

21766

Demonstrate knowledge of theory for registration of electricians

Demonstrate knowledge of electrical theory for registration of electricians

4

3

 

6

B

29484

Demonstrate knowledge of theory and practice for electrical workers

Demonstrate intermediate knowledge for working in electrical trades

3

1

B

32612

Demonstrate knowledge of legislation, industry governance bodies, and AS/NZS3000 for the electrical industry

3

4

New

32619

Demonstrate fundamental knowledge for working in electrical trades

3

1

New

 

Engineering and Technology > Electrical Engineering > Electric Switchboards

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

29440

Demonstrate knowledge of electric switchboards

4

3

D

 

Engineering and Technology > Electronic Engineering > Electrotechnology

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

29437

Analyse building and plant energy efficiency

4

3

D

 

Engineering and Technology > Electronic Engineering > Core Electronics

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

19747

Demonstrate and apply fundamental knowledge of microcontrollers

3

5

B