This qualification will provide the outdoor recreation sector with individuals who are able to operate independently and provide instruction and leadership for participants during specific outdoor activity.The emphasis of this qualification is on developing participants' competence through safe, sequenced, learning experiences in dynamic outdoor environments.

Graduates of this qualification are able to work independently and contribute to the daily operation of, and work under, a Safety Management System (SMS).

Graduates will have specialised knowledge and skills to lead and instruct a specific outdoor recreation activity depending on which strand is achieved.

Graduates will contribute to the cultural, social and economic wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Graduates of this qualification may apply for full registration on the New Zealand Register of Recreation Professionals (NZRRP).

Graduates of this qualification will be able to:

- Independently plan, prepare for and instruct safe and enjoyable outdoor recreation activities and facilitate skill progression in a dynamic outdoor environment.
- Exercise judgement to plan, prepare for and instruct an outdoor recreation activity that is consistent with the safety management system of an organisation, including being able to assess and manage an emergency care situation.
- Role model the principles of kaitiakitanga that incorporate respect for the tikanga and kawa of local iwi or hapū, sustainability, and the environment in which they are operating.
- Apply pedagogical practices to create a sequenced programme of learning that meets the needs of learners in the outdoors.

Graduates of the Alpine strand will also be able to:
- Specialise in managing, instructing and leading mountaineering trips up to and including Logan Grade 1 in predominately easy alpine terrain, managing dynamic risks.

Graduates of the Bush strand will also be able to:
- Instruct participants in the skills required for a positive bush walking experience through effective planning, delivery and evaluation.

Graduates of the Caving Streamway strand will also be able to:
- Instruct participants in the skills required for positive, educational, and safe streamway caving experiences through effective planning, delivery and evaluation.

Graduates of the Education Outside The Classroom strand will also be able to:
- Act independently and with in-depth knowledge of EOTC and the NZ Curriculum to be Teacher in Charge (TIC) of events and trips in outdoor settings.

Graduates of the Mountain Biking (Grade 4) strand will also be able to:
- Instruct participants in the mountain biking skills required for a positive experience on trails up to and including Mountain Bike New Zealand (MTBNZ) Grade 4 through effective planning, delivery and evaluation.

Graduates of the Rock Climbing strand will also be able to:
- Instruct participants in the single pitch rock climbing skills required for a positive experience through effective planning, delivery and evaluation.

Graduates of the Canoeing strand will also be able to:
- Instruct participants in the skills required for positive, educational and safe canoeing experiences up to and including Class 2 whitewater through effective planning, delivery and evaluation.

Graduates of the High Ropes strand will also be able to:
- Instruct participants in the skills required for positive, educational and safe high ropes experiences through effective planning, delivery and evaluation.

Graduates of the Sea Kayaking strand will also be able to:
- Instruct participants in the skills required for positive, educational and safe sea kayaking multi-day experiences through effective planning, delivery and evaluation.

Graduates of the Whitewater Kayaking strand will also be able to:
- Instruct participants in the skills required for positive, educational and safe whitewater kayaking experiences up to and including Class 2 whitewater through effective planning, delivery and evaluation.

This qualification builds on the New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Level 4) with strands in Abseil, Bush, Caving, Education Outside The Classroom (EOTC), Mountain Biking (Grade 2), Raft Guide (Grade II), River Boarding Guide (Grade II), Rock Climbing, Canoeing, High Ropes, High Wire, Sea Kayaking, Sit-on-top Kayaking, and Whitewater Kayaking [Ref: 3662].

This qualification provides a pathway to the New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Senior Leadership (Level 6) with strands in Alpine, Bush, Caving, Education Outside The Classroom (EOTC), Mountain Biking (Grade 5), Senior Raft Guide (Grade III), Senior Raft Guide (Grade IV/V), Senior River Boarding Guide (Grade III), Senior River Boarding Guide (Grade IV/V), Rock Climbing, High Ropes, High Wire, Sea Kayaking, and Whitewater Kayaking [Ref: 3663].

Organisations or workplaces within the Outdoor Recreation sector may be covered by The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 dependent on their organisation type or whether they provide services to organisations' responsible for children and/or youth.

Where a learner engages with an organisation and/or activity that is covered by The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 they must successfully meet the safety check requirements.

For the purpose of this qualification, engagement may mean employment, practical experience or any learning and assessment within a programme leading to this qualification.

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes leading to the Alpine strand:
New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Guiding) (Level 5) [Ref: 3660] with Bush strand or the New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Instruction) (Level 5) [Ref: 3661] with Bush strand.

Pre-requisite for entry to programmes leading to the Education Outside The Classroom (EOTC) strand:
New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Level 4) [Ref: 3662] with EOTC strand, or be able to demonstrate equivalent skills and knowledge.

It is strongly recommended that those wishing to enter this strand be a New Zealand certified teacher