New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering – Level 3

This pre-apprenticeship programme will provide the electrical industry with people who have introductory and entry level knowledge and skills in the area of safe electrical installation, testing, commissioning, and servicing of electrical installations and equipment.

Graduates of this qualification are not electricians but will have an operational and theoretical knowledge of electricity production, distribution, and utilization, and can carry out a limited range of prescribed electrical work safely and ethically under general supervision in accordance with the Electricity Act 1992.

Fundamentals of Electricity

• Demonstrate an understanding of the basic mathematics, electrical quantities and their units of measurements
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of basic electricity
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of electrochemistry
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of cells and batteries
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of magnetism and its applications

Direct Current (DC) Circuits

• Demonstrate knowledge, understanding, analysis and problem solving of direct current (DC) circuits
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of resistance and resistors
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of inductance, inductors and its applications
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of capacitance, capacitors and its applications
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use, selection, application and care of different test instruments

Alternating Current (AC) Circuits

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles and applications of single phase alternating current generation
• Demonstrate knowledge, understanding, analysis and problem solving of alternating current (AC) circuits
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles and applications of the phase alternating current generation

Transformers and DC Machines

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of electromagnetic Force (RMF) and its application
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of transformer operating principles, types, configurations and applications
•  Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the mechanics of electric machine, its disassembly and re-assembly
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the operating principles of DC machines, types, construction and applications
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles of DC motor control

AC Motors and Control

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles of three-phase AC motors, their operating conditions and fault diagnosis
•  Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles of single phase AC motors, their operating conditions and fault diagnosis
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the operating principles of synchronous motors
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of AC motor control
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of electric motor protection

Fundamentals of Cabling and Installation

• Demonstrate knowledge of cables, connections and terminations
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge in the selection of fixing methods and accessories for electrical and data communication
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge on wiring and cabling to different electrical installation systems
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge and understanding on selection and installation of earthing systems and their protection methods
•  Demonstrate knowledge and skills in testing techniques, compliance verification and fault finding

Electrical Protection and Applications

• Demonstrate and apply knowledge of electrical protection and protective devices to electrical systems
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge of safety devices to electrical installation systems
• Demonstrate knowledge in installation design, selection of cables and protective devices
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge of electrical installation in special situations, areas or conditions
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge in the design of switchboards and control panels
• Demonstrate knowledge of electric heating and motor appliances
• Demonstrate knowledge of lighting principles sources and their applications

Health and Safety, Regulations and Standards and Electrical Drawings and Diagrams

• Demonstrate and apply knowledge and understanding on the Occupational Health and Safety and electrical safety in the workplace
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge and understanding on the regulations and standards to electrical systems and the profession
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding on electrical drawings and circuit development
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge and understanding of drawings, diagrams, schedules and documents used in electrical work
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills of First Aid (Unit Standards 6400, 64021, 6402)

• Students must be 16 years of age or over.
• Candidates must have achieved the National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) (Level 1) in Mathematics, English, and Physics or General Science, or equivalent qualifications before starting programmes leading to the qualification.
• There may be further restrictions when this course is offered under a Tertiary Education Commission contract.

Academic Pathway

This qualification provides one of two entry pathways into the electrical industry and is intended for candidates who do not have an electrical apprenticeship agreement.

On completion of this qualification graduates may progress to higher level qualifications within the electrical industry such as the New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory and Practice (Trade) (Level 4) [Ref:2388], or the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering [Ref: 112950]. Graduates may also progress to degree level programmes.

The second entry pathway is through an apprenticeship agreement where candidates will be signed directly into the New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory and Practice (Trade) (Level 4) [Ref: 2388]. This qualification is not a prerequisite for the New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory and Practice (Trade) (Level 4) [Ref: 2388]. However, credits gained for this qualification will contribute towards that qualification.

Employment Pathway

Graduates will be equipped with the skills, knowledge, and attributes to work in apprenticeships in the electrical industry in the field of their choice with guidance, mentoring, and supervision in accordance with the Electricity Act 1992.

Examples of roles that this qualification may lead to are Electricity Supply Electrical Apprentice, Domestic/Commercial Electrical Apprentice, or Industrial Electrical Apprentice, or apprenticeships in other electrical related sectors.

Graduates may also be able to work in areas such as electrical wholesaling or retailing as a counter sales person, or electrical meter readers.