Field   Planning and Construction

Review of Concrete Construction New Zealand qualifications.

Reviewed qualifications

Ref	Version	Qualification Title	Credits
4189	1	New Zealand Certificate in Concrete Construction Skills (Level 3) with strands in Formwork, Reinforcing, Placing and Finishing, Specified Concrete Finishes, Concrete Product Manufacture, Concrete Sawing and Drilling, and Precast Concrete Manufacture	50–60
4188	1	New Zealand Certificate in Concrete Construction (Commercial and Civil and Infrastructure) (Level 4) with optional strands in Premanufactured Elements and Post-tensioned Concrete	120–130

Review information

Qualification Developer	Construction and Specialist Trades Industry Skills Board
Reason for the development/review	Scheduled 5-year review
Review date	November 2025
Outcome date	April 2026
Next review date	April 2031

Summary of development/review and consultation process

Waihanga Ara Rau Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council initiated a review of the Concrete Construction qualifications in August 2025 to include skill standards and ensure the qualifications reflected current and emerging industry practice. A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) guided the review. Strategic input and wider communication were supported by members of the Steering Group.

Engagement included meetings with providers to observe workplace training and assessment. These discussions helped ensure the reviewed qualifications reflected realistic and achievable learning outcomes.

The review process ran from August to November 2025 and included online hui, written consultation, and in-person meetings. Feedback supported the shift to skill standard–based qualifications and the inclusion of sustainability, technology, and cross-trade skills. Revised drafts of the qualifications and related Programme Guidance were endorsed by the TAG and Steering Group.

Responsibility for these qualifications has been transferred from Waihanga Workforce Development Council to Construction and Specialist Trades Industry Skills Board to reflect VET reforms

Main changes resulting from the development/review process

New Zealand Certificate in Concrete Construction Skills (Level 3) [Ref: 4189]

Credits

· Total credits increased from 50–60 to 50–65 to reflect expanded learning across the Core and strands.

· Core credits increased from 35 to 40, now including essential tool and equipment competencies.

· GPO credits amended to better reflect scope and focus of learning and alignment with skill standards.

Education Pathway

· Clarified and broadened to recognise employment opportunities across the building, construction, and infrastructure industries.

Graduate Profile

· The qualification now places greater emphasis on working safely and responsibly on site, including following environmental procedures and reducing material waste.

· Communication, literacy, and numeracy skills have been strengthened within outcomes to reflect their importance in daily work.

· Amended to include the skills and knowledge required of graduates and the intended outcomes, reflecting updated industry expectations for safe, responsible, and efficient work practices in concrete construction.

· Simplified and restructured to align more closely with current workplace practices.

· GPOs were updated to align with skill standards and industry expectations.

· Mandatory skill standards were set into the conditions related to the graduate profile outcomes.

· Complexity terms have been introduced to describe the level of work expected. Level 3 is defined as ‘standard complexity’ helping learners, tutors, and employers understand the level of supervision and independence expected of graduates.

New Zealand Certificate in Concrete Construction (Commercial and Civil Infrastructure) (Level 4) [Ref: 4188]

The scale of structural change required this qualification was replaced, and a new qualification was listed.

Title

· The qualification title updated to New Zealand Certificate in Concrete Construction (Building and Infrastructure) from New Zealand Certificate in Concrete Construction (Commercial and Civil Infrastructure) to better reflect the full scope of construction environments covered by the qualification.

· Precast Concrete Element optional strand replaced the Premanufactured Elements optional strand to match industry language.

Credits

· Total credits increased from 120–130 to 140–160 to cover the wider learning and technical requirements.

· GPO credits amended to better reflect scope and focus of learning and alignment with skill standards.

Strategic Purpose Statement

· Broadened to apply to people entering or already working in the commercial or civil infrastructure trades, creating clearer entry and progression pathways.

Graduate profile outcomes

· Updated to reflect the responsibilities expected of a competent tradesperson working at standard and moderate complexity.

· Combined technical, compliance and professional skills, replacing generic statements with trade-specific outcomes.

· Mandatory skill standards were set into the conditions related to the graduate profile outcomes.

· GPOs were updated to align with skill standards and industry expectations.

Development/Review outcome

Ref:	Version	Qualification Title	Outcome category	New qualification ID/version (as applicable)
4189	1	New Zealand Certificate in Concrete Construction Skills (Level 3) with strands in Formwork, Reinforcing, Placing and Finishing, Specified Concrete Finishes, Concrete Product Manufacture, Concrete Sawing and Drilling, and Precast Concrete Manufacture	B-New version of qualification	4189-2
4188	1	New Zealand Certificate in Concrete Construction (Commercial and Civil Infrastructure) (Level 4) with optional strands in Premanufactured Elements, and Post-tensioned Concrete New Zealand Certificate in Concrete Construction (Building and Infrastructure) (Level 4) with optional strands in Precast Concrete Elements and Post-tensioned Concrete	C-New replacement qualification	4188-2 To expire 5689-1

Qualification review outcome categories

Outcome	Result	Category
Minor changes to the qualification	Qualification version number and ID (Ref) remain the same. New review date is required.	A
Moderate changes to the qualification	New qualification version number. Ref/ID remains the same. New review date is required.	B
Significant changes to the qualification	New replacement qualification with a new Ref/ID The existing qualification will expire.	C
The qualification is no longer required by industry	The qualification will expire with no replacement.	D

Transition information

Ref:	Version	Qualification Title	Last date of entry*	Last date of assessment
4189	1	New Zealand Certificate in Concrete Construction Skills (Level 3) with strands in Formwork, Reinforcing, Placing and Finishing, Specified Concrete Finishes, Concrete Product Manufacture, Concrete Sawing and Drilling, and Precast Concrete Manufacture	N/A	31 December 2028
4188	1	New Zealand Certificate in Concrete Construction (Commercial and Civil Infrastructure) (Level 4) with optional strands in Premanufactured Elements, and Post-tensioned Concrete	31 December 2029	31 December 2030

*only required for outcome category C or D

Any additional information, including Qualification Developer contact details.

The Qualification Developer may be contacted at:

Construction and Specialist Trades Industry Skills Board

PO Box 445

Wellington 6140

Email: info@cstisb.nz

Website: www.cstisb.nz

Phone: 04 909 0174