|
An ITO is an organisation that’s purpose is to standardise
the facilitation of training and to develop nationally recognised
qualifications for industry. Each industry is responsible
for facilitating its own training and for developing suitable
industry qualifications.
National Certificate in Signmaking comprises Core Subjects
and a minimum of one optional Strand. There are three strands:
- Hand Lettering
- Computer Graphics
- Electric Sign Making
The certificate is made up of a number of unit standards.
WHAT IS A UNIT STANDARD?
Representatives of the sign industry have written the unit
standards. These unit standards are based on the old Trade
Certificate and have been registered with the New Zealand
Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Unit standards are reviewed
regularly as part of a quality control process.
Unit Standards are allocated a level and credit value and
the level determines the nationally comparable value of the
qualification.
- Levels 1 - 4 are National Certificate or NCEA equivalent
- Levels 5 and 6 are National Diplomas
- Level 7 is a Bachelors Degree
- Level 8 is a Postgraduate Degree qualification –
or its equivalent - Postgraduate Diploma
- Level 9 is a Masters Degree
- Level 10 is a Doctorate
Credits show an estimation of the amount of learning, practice
and assessment that has taken place to achieve consistent
competence.
Each unit standard consists of three parts.
- Title - describing the whole task a person must be able
to complete
- Elements - the identifiable steps that make up a complete
task
- Performance Criteria - the parts of each element that
tell people what they must be able to do to be considered
competent in that particular component
The units are listed in the apprenticeship training record
book. A training record book will be sent to you when the
apprenticeship has been registered with a list showing the
units on each block course.
NZQA is the government established and run New Zealand Qualifications
Authority.
The Authority oversees and approves all NZQA approved study
and training. NZQA oversees qualifications within schools,
tertiary institutions and apprenticeship training to provide
clear and comparable standards for training received and completed.
The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) provides nationally
and internationally recognised standards for qualifications
across all approved areas of study. The NQF also shows the
collection of unit standards, which makes up each National
Certificate.
When competence is achieved in each Unit Standard by a trainee,
it will be recorded on their Record of Learning held on the
NQF Database in Wellington.
A National Certificate is issued when all the Unit Standards
for the certificate have been achieved and recorded on their
Record of Learning. Applications for the issue of National
Certificate must be made on the prescribed form and accompanied
by a $15.00 fee.
Your apprentice may have already had a record of learning
initiated for them at secondary school. If this is the case
your apprentice will already have an NZQA identification number.
As competency in the Unit Standard is achieved, a GST inclusive
fee of $1.55 per credit is payable (invoiced with the course
fees) to record these unit standard credits.
When you complete and sign the Apprenticeship Training Agreement
with your apprentice, you agree who should pay the NZQA cost.
While the government provides some funding to run the programmes
and ensure content is kept current, industry must provide
the balance. The ITO charges a fee per apprentice to help
cover administration costs. A fee is also paid by the apprentice
or employer to attend off site training. The fees are reviewed
each year by the governing board of the relevant ITO.
(All GST inclusive)
- Training Agreement administration fee to the ITO ($270.00)
- Training Record Book - Core Subjects - NZSDA Member ($62)
Training Record Book - Core Subjects - Non-Member ($130)
- Training Record Book - Elective Strand (each) - NZSDA
Member ($29)
Training Record Book - Elective Strand (each) - Non- Member
($54)
- NZQA charge $1.55 per credit achieved
- Where off-site (block course) training is required there
will be course fees
Accommodation costs where applicable
A travel subsidy will apply to those apprentices required
to cross Cook Strait to attend a course. Apprentices who are
eligible for the subsidy will be sent an application form
through their employer before the course commences.
If a pre trade course has been completed, some units may
have already been achieved. In some cases a credit of time
may be applicable and the apprentice may be exempt from part
of the block course training.
Please forward a copy of the course report with your apprenticeship
application form.
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM WAGE REQUIREMENT?
As of April 1, 2009, there are three minimum wage rates:
- the adult minimum wage applies to all employees aged 16
and over who are not new entrants or trainees
- the new entrants minimum wage applies to employees aged
16 and 17 except for those who have completed 200 hours
or three months of employment, whichever is shorter; or
who are supervising or training other workers; or who are
trainees
- the training minimum wage applies to employees aged 16
and over who are doing recognised industry training involving
at least 60 credits a year.
There is no statutory minimum wage for employees who are
under 16 years old.
To qualify for the training minimum wage, an apprentice must
be earning 60 or more credits per year. More information is
available from the Industrial Relations Info Line 0800 800
863. For up to date information about pay rates please go
to the ‘Employment Relations’ section on the Department
of Labour website www.dol.govt.nz or call the Department of
Labour Workplace Contact Centre on 0800 209 020.
ARE ANY SUBSIDIES AVAILABLE TO ME?
If you employ a person who has been registered as
unemployed, you may be eligible for a subsidy. You will need
to get in touch with your local office of the New Zealand
Employment Service and ask for clarification.
Modern Apprenticeships do not replace the current apprenticeship
system, but are an addition to the existing scheme.
Aimed at 17 – 21 year olds, Modern Apprenticeships provide
apprentices with a mentor in the form of an apprenticeship
co-ordinator. The coordinators are positioned throughout the
country and are available to assist people who are looking
to enter into an apprenticeship.
Their role is also to support employers looking to find a
suitable apprentice. The co-ordinators are employed by and
receive payment from the Tertiary Education Commission for
providing this mentoring service to employers and apprentices.
While you are not obliged to use these co-ordinators, the
facility is there if you are unable to find a suitable person.
If you wish to contact a modern apprenticeship co-ordinator
please phone your local Tertiary Education Commission Office
for a list of co-ordinators in your area.
Signmaking – with Hand Lettering Elective Strand
10,000 hours
Signmaking – with Electric Signmaking Elective Strand
10,000 hours
Signmaking – with Computer Graphics Elective Strand
8,000 hours
When your apprentice has completed all units required for
his/her particular strand of the industry, they can apply
for a National Certificate from New Zealand Qualifications
Authority.
Once your apprentice has received their National Certificate
and has completed a minimum of hours as set out in the training
requirements they are deemed to be out of their ‘time’.
When confirmation is received of completed ‘time’
from the apprentice’s employer, the Industry Training
Organisation will issue a Completion Certificate. [Please
refer to section 8 of the Apprenticeship Training Requirements].
This is an agreement between the employer and the apprentice
where both agree to participate in apprenticeship training.
The employer and apprentice fill out the training agreement
then forward it to the ITO.
The ITO will register the apprenticeship returning a copy
of the agreement to the employer and the apprentice. The original
agreement is kept with the ITO.
This is not a requirement under this ITO.
Employers are seen by the ITO to be the best teachers. They
are constantly in the field, up to date with industry developments
and skilled in their trade. Employers generally take the responsibility
of training an apprentice very seriously, not in the least
part because it is in their best interests to provide the
best training to a member of their team.
Any dispute between an employer and an apprentice over whether
the employer has satisfactorily provided training in the skills
of the relevant branch may require a visit from an ITO representative.
A written Employment Agreement must be established between
the employer and the apprentice at the point of signing the
training agreement. The ITO is not party to the employment
agreement and cannot get involved with employment related
issues.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you require further information, please contact either
Lynn or Ian:
CREATIVE TRADES INDUSTRY TRAINING ORGANISATION
P O Box 14-477
Kilbirnie
WELLINGTON 6241
Telephone (04) 387 9759
Facsimile (04) 387 2596
Freephone: 0800 200 486
e-mail: signwritingito@xtra.co.nz
Website: www.creativetradesito.co.nz
Fee Disclaimer
The fees stated represent fees as currently approved. However,
Creative Trades fees are subject to change, and the fee amounts
quoted may be adjusted at a future date.
TOP |
