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Each industry is responsible for running its own training
along with developing suitable industry qualifications. The
Creative Trades Industry Training Organisation is responsible
for the administration of signwriting apprenticeships in New
Zealand.
National Certificate in Signmaking (replaces the Trade Certificate)
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 your industry have written unit standards.
The unit standards are based on the old Trade Certificate.
These unit standards have been registered with the New Zealand
Qualifications Authority (N.Z.Q.A.). Unit standards are reviewed
regularly as part of a quality control process.
Unit Standards are allocated a level and credit value. The
level determines the type of qualification each unit is a
part of. Levels 1 - 4 are National Certificate Levels 5 -
7 are National Diplomas and level 8 is for Degrees. Credits
indicate an estimate amount of learning, practice and assessment
time to achieve consistent competence.
Each unit standard consists of three parts:
- A title describes the whole task a person must be able
to complete
- Elements are the identifiable steps that make
up a complete
task.
- Performance Criteria are the parts of each element
that tell people what they must be able to do to be deemed
competent
in that element.
The units are listed in the apprenticeship training record
book. A book will be sent to you once the apprenticeship
has been registered. In addition to this a list showing
the units on each block course will also be sent to you.
N.Z.Q.A. oversees all qualifications in New Zealand registered
on the National Qualifications Framework (N.Q.F.) These may
be set at school, tertiary or university levels. The N.Q.F.
is an eight level grid on which all registered unit standards
are placed. The N.Q.F. also shows the collection of unit
standards, which make up each National Certificate.
When competence is achieved in each Unit Standard by a trainee,
this is recorded on their Record of Learning held on the
NQ.F. Database in Wellington. A National Certificate is issued
when all the Unit Standards for the certificate are achieved
and recorded on the N.Q.F. Database. Applications for the
issue of National Certificate must be made on the prescribed
form and accompanied by a $15.00 fee.
A $25.00 fee must be paid to N.Z.Q.A. once only to initiate
a record of learning. As competency in the Unit Standard
is achieved, a further fee of $1.00 per credit is payable
to N.Z.Q.A. to record these unit standard credits. Your apprentice
may already have a record of learning initiated at secondary
school. If this is the case, your apprentice will already
have an N.Z.Q.A. identification number and the $25.00 will
not need to be paid again.
When you complete and sign the Apprenticeship Training Agreement
with your apprentice, you agree who should pay the N.Z.Q.A.
cost.
If a pre trade course has been completed, units may have
been achieved. Please forward a copy of the course report
with your apprenticeship application form. A credit of time
may apply; also the apprentice may be exempt from part of
the block course training.
While government provides some funding to run the programmes
and ensure content is kept current, industry must provide
the balance. The I.T.O. 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 I.T.O. where each
industry sector is represented.
(All GST exclusive)
- Training agreement administration fee to the I.T.O. ($250.00)
- Training Record Book $55.00 members for core strand and
$25.00 members for elective strands
- Non-members $115.00 and $48.00 respectively
- N.Z.Q.A. hook on fee of $25.00
and $1.00 per Credit achieved.
- Where Off site training
is required - course fees. First Block Course $353.00
and for second and
third Block Courses
$376.75 each.
- Accommodation costs where applicable.
A travel subsidy will apply to those apprentices that
are required
to travel between
the North and South Island to attend a course.
For those apprentices who are eligible for
the subsidy,
an application
form will be sent to the employer at the appropriate
time.
Each Block Course runs for three weeks. A total of three
Block Courses are required over the term of the apprenticeship.
Block Courses are currently held in Wellington at the New
Zealand Sign School in Kilbirnie. Other costs connected to
the Sign School may also apply e.g. student services fees,
etc.
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM WAGE REQUIREMENT?
Youth Rate (16 & 17 Year olds) = $9.00 per hour as from
1/4/07
Adult Rate (18 Years and above) = $11.25 per hour as from
1/4/07
If an apprentice is earning 60 or more credits per year
they are exempt from this. Confirmation can be obtained from
the Industrial Relations Info Line 0800 800 863.
ARE ANY SUBSIDIES AVAILABLE TO ME?
If you employ a person who has been registered as unemployed,
you may be eligible for a subsidy. Please direct your
enquiries to your local office of the New Zealand Employment
Service
and ask for information.
Modern Apprenticeships do not replace the current apprenticeship
system, but are in addition to it. They are aimed at 17 – 21
year olds. Apprenticeship Co-ordinators are positioned throughout
the country to assist those wishing to enter into an apprenticeship
and those employers wishing to find a suitable apprentice.
The co-ordinators receive payment from Skill New Zealand
for providing this mentoring service to employers & apprentices.
You are not obliged to use the Co-ordinators, but 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.
The term of apprenticeship for Sign Making - Hand Lettering
is 10,000 hours, Electric Signmaking 10,000 hours and Computer
Graphics 8,000 hours.
However when your apprentice has completed all units required
for their particular strand of the industry they can apply
for their National Certificate from New Zealand Qualifications
Authority.
Once they have received their National Certificate and completed
a minimum of 8000 hours they are deemed to be out of their
time. On confirmation 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 & apprentice fill out the training agreement
then forwarded 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 for the industries under this
ITO.
Any dispute between and 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, this has happened only on rare
occasions. Employers generally accept the responsibility
of providing training very seriously and as such are not
usually approached.
(replaced
employment contract)
A written Employment Agreement must be established between
the employer and the apprentice at the point of signing the
training agreement. The I.T.O. is not a party to the employment
contract and cannot get involved with employment related
issues.
If you require further information, please contact either
Lynn or Don:
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
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