If you're not already employed in a roofing business, you'll need to find a roofing company willing to take you on as an apprentice. Roofing work requires physical fitness, good balance, and comfort working at heights. Want to give yourself an edge when applying? Show employers you're serious about safety - roofing is skilled work that demands respect for height safety and weather conditions.
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Build your roofing career
Ready to learn a trade that literally covers all of New Zealand? A roofing apprenticeship teaches you far more than just laying tiles. You'll master everything from metal roofing installations on residential homes to complex weatherproofing systems that protect commercial buildings from the elements.
Learn the job while doing the job with Skills Trades Training. Our New Zealand Certificate in Roofing (Installation) (Level 4) gets you qualified as a roofer with skills that employers actually want. From profiled metal roofs to tile installations, you'll train on the systems that keep communities dry and safe.
Choose to specialise in different roofing types - metal tile, profiled metal roof and wall cladding, or even traditional shingle and slate work.
How Skills Trades Training supports your apprenticeship
If you're already working as an apprentice at a roofing company, Skills Trades Training can handle all your formal training and block courses while you gain experience on the job.
Getting started without a job
Training requirements and support
All roofing apprentices need formal training to become qualified roofers. We cover roofing safety regulations, installation techniques for different roofing materials, and the weatherproofing skills you need to work safely at height. You'll learn to install metal roofing systems, tile work, and weatherproofing that actually protects buildings. We've been training roofers since 2022 - we know what employers need and what keeps you safe on the job.
Your apprentice training journey
Your apprenticeship combines hands-on work experience with formal training at Skills Trades Training. You'll attend block courses and complete online learning modules while gaining real experience on roof sites. Our tutors are industry experts who understand both traditional roofing methods and modern installation techniques.
The New Zealand Certificate in Roofing (Installation) (Level 4) takes approximately three years to complete, covering everything from safety regulations and material knowledge to practical installation skills across different roofing types. You'll master:
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Safety regulations for working at height
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Installing metal roofing, tiles and weatherproofing systems
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Building expertise in roofing materials
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Working on projects from residential homes to commercial buildings
We handle all the training agreement paperwork and work with you and your employer to schedule your learning around real work commitments. Our apprentices get the support they need to succeed, which is why employers trust us to deliver qualified roofers who are ready to work safely at height.
Where your career can go
Once you're qualified, there's plenty of directions to go. Become a roofing inspector checking other roofers' work, or move into project management running roofing jobs on big construction sites. Some roofers specialise in commercial work, others focus on residential roofing or heritage restoration projects using traditional materials.
You could work on industrial roofing systems, get into sustainable roofing solutions like solar integration, or specialise in weatherproofing for extreme New Zealand conditions. Many roofers start their own businesses or become estimators, working out roofing costs for new builds. Some get into teaching, training new apprentices.
If you're into innovation, modern roofing technology is evolving fast with smart materials and integrated building systems. The roofing game needs people who understand both traditional craft and new technology. Your roofing qualifications give you skills that are essential wherever buildings need protection from weather.
Wherever you end up in the roofing trade, solid training in safety and quality installation is what sets you apart - and that's what Skills Trades Training delivers.
We’re New Zealand's leading trades training provider for electrical, plumbing, gasfitting, drainlaying and roofing. Our industry experts prepare the next generation of tradies with skills that work where it matters – on the job site.
We keep the world running
From power grids to water mains, our graduates maintain the essential infrastructure that keeps New Zealand running every day.