FAQ
- How can I become an Apprentice?
- What level of education do I need for the building industry as an Apprentice?
- What age do I have to be to begin training?
- Will I be asked to pay for the cost of training?
- How do I arrange for an employer to give me an Apprenticeship?
- What type of qualifications are available for Apprentices?
- Do I have to go to a Polytechnic?
- What wages are paid for Apprenticeships?
- How long do I have to train for?
- Who provides the training?
- What are Modern Apprenticeships?
- If I am not happy, how do I make a complaint?
How can I become an Apprentice?
The key thing to becoming an Apprentice is to find an employer who is prepared to take you on as an Apprentice. This may not always be the easiest thing in the world to do, so the BCITO can help you if you are interested in an Apprenticeship in carpentry, cement and concrete, interior plastering, commercial fit-out, exterior plastering, or tiling. You can contact your nearest BCITO Regional Office or drop us a line at the National Office if you want some help. (Details are contained on the Contact Us section of this web site.)
There are different training option pathways that you can follow in order to do your Apprenticeship. The pathway you choose could be dependent on the trade or career you choose, so, it is best to look at the Qualifications section to see what training options are available to you for the qualification you are interested in doing. Once you have done this, the Training Options section of this web site gives you a detailed breakdown of each training option - including some pro's and con's that you might want to think about. Of course, should all this information be a little too much to take in one hit, a BCITO Training Advisor can help to decipher what you are interested in and how to become an Apprentice!
top >>
What level of education do I need for the building industry as an Apprentice?
You need to have a good understanding of maths, reading and writing. Passing NCEA Level 1 or 2 Maths and English usually demonstrates this. However, even if you don't have passes in those subjects, talk to a BCITO Training Advisor - in some instances, they can organise to have you up-skilled in those areas to enable you to get an Apprenticeship.
Many schools offer technology and workshop subjects. It may well have been while doing these subjects that you first got interested in the building industry. Good practical skills are a real plus when it comes to looking for an Apprenticeship. After all, not many employers would want to hire someone who had absolutely no idea how to swing a hammer or barrow a load of concrete!
top >>
What age do I have to be to begin training?
You can normally begin training after you have finished Year 10, 11 or 12 at school. There is no upper age limit except for people entering the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme - which is for people between the ages of 16 and 21. However, Apprenticeships outside of the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme have no upper age limit. You are never too old to become an Apprentice!
As a general rule though, you should begin training and learning as soon as possible if you want to make it in the building and construction industry.
Will I be asked to pay for the cost of training?
There are no hard and fast rules on who pays for what. Some employers pay for all or part of the Apprenticeship costs. Some don't. Others will pay the costs on behalf of the Apprentice and then get reimbursement through the Apprentice's wages at so much per week.
It's up to the employer and the Apprentice to work out who pays for what - and it generally pays to work it out sooner rather than later so that there are no surprises when the bill comes!
How do I arrange for an employer to give me an Apprenticeship?
The BCITO can help you get an Apprenticeship or refer you to a Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator to help you secure one if you are between the ages of 16 and 21. It is a good idea to try and get some work experience through a school programme (such as the Gateway Programme) so that you can make contact with employers and start to get to know whether they are looking for Apprentices.
What type of qualifications are available for Apprentices?
The qualifications available in the building and construction industry are National Certificates. They are registered with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and administered by us - the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation.
Check out the Qualifications section of this web site for trades that you might be interested in learning more about.
Do I have to go to a Polytechnic?
Going to a Polytechnic is not essential. There are different training options available for Apprentices and people wanting to become Apprentices. Training through a Polytechnic or Private Training Establishment is a part of two options. (Go to the Training Options section of this web site for more information.) These options will also vary depending on which trade you are interested in.
Polytechnics play the largest role in offering Carpentry Pre-trade courses. By doing a Pre-trade course, you will normally learn most of the theory you need and also get some practical experience before getting an Apprenticeship. It is a more expensive pathway than going directly from school to a job. However, the knowledge and skills you learn will be valuable. Some employers prefer to take Pre-trade students for the simple reason that they already have some experience. Others are comfortable with taking students directly from school - provided they have aptitude and 'work readiness'.
What wages are paid for Apprenticeships?
Wages are negotiated between the apprentice and their employer. The BCITO does not set the wages you are paid as an apprentice or the increases you may get as you progress through your apprenticeship. There is however a minimum wage that an apprentice must be paid and this information can be found by going to the following website: www.ers.dol.govt.nz/pay.
How long do I have to train for?
The length of time depends on the qualification, although qualifications are no longer about serving time, but about demonstrating competence. What this means is that there are no restrictive time constraints placed on them. Most however take about three years, although carpentry Apprenticeships tend to take a little longer on average.
You should always remember that trade Apprenticeships allow you to earn money while you are learning and when you're finished, you have a valuable qualification that is NZQA approved. Always make sure you are training towards an NZQA National Certificate. It pays to check with a BCITO Training Advisor before you choose to start training. If you haven't seen one of them, you might not be working towards the real thing!
Who provides the training?
Trade training is tailored towards training that occurs in the workplace. It seems logical that in order to become a tradesperson, you should learn on the job until such time as you can be considered a tradesperson yourself! Training in the workplace can only be undertaken by someone who is deemed experienced and responsible enough to carry out this role. The BCITO checks out all employers wanting to take on an Apprentice to make sure that they have the ability to train and assess someone to the standard required.
There are, however, theory elements that need to be understood to reinforce what you are learning in the workplace. This is where there are some different options available. If you want more detail on the training options available, you should look at the individual qualifications contained in each of the Training Options sections of this web site. Talking to a local BCITO Training Advisor will also help you understand what is available.
What are Modern Apprenticeships?
These are available for young people aged 16 to 21 years. Modern Apprenticeships provide extra support for an Apprentice during their Apprenticeship training period. For example, there are four visits a year from a co-ordinator appointed to look after a Modern Apprentice. If you need extra training in such areas as literacy or maths, then this can also be provided to you, and is usually free of charge. There is also general support for any problems you have during the training period and assistance to make the training work better.
There is no charge to you for a Modern Apprenticeship service. Modern Apprenticeship Co-ordinators include Industry Training Organisations (such as the BCITO), Polytechnics, Private Training Establishments and job finder organisations. (To find out more information on Modern Apprenticeships you can go directly to the Modern Apprenticeships web site, or look at the Modern Apprenticeship section on this web site.)
If I am not happy, how do I make a complaint?
The BCITO has a policy which sets standards for the level of service our staff will meet when dealing with BCITO clients. We also have a procedure through which clients are able to lodge a complaint about the service or standards of service that have been provided or not provided as the case may be. The process is outlined in the Stakeholders Code of Rights, Complaints and Appeal Procedures (69 Kb) document which is in PDF format. If you have any problems downloading the document - please email national.office@bcito.org.nz and we will forward you a hard copy.