NZ CERTIFICATE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (SWITCHGEAR FITTING) LEVEL 4

Switchgear fitters design and build electrical equipment called switchboards, which are used in factories and plants around the country. These switchboards are used to take a big supply of electricity and split it up into smaller, more useable streams.

Some switchgear fitters choose to do the ‘installer strand’ when completing their qualification, which lets them install the switchboards on job sites. This means they could be traveling around New Zealand visiting manufacturing plants or other industrial buildings.

The New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering (Switchgear Fitting) Level 4 will take approximately three and a half years to complete.

To enter this programme we recommend you hold:

• NCEA Level 2 in Mathematics, English, and Physics, OR
• NCEA Level 2 in Mathematics, English, and General Science, OR
• have equivalent qualifications or relevant experience

You will need to be employed by a switchboard builder that agrees to train you as an apprentice before you sign up.

You'll complete both on-job training at your workplace and off-job theory learning. The programme structure means you learn while you work. You'll gain hands-on experience assembling, wiring, testing, and installing switchboards and control gear systems in real-world settings.

You must hold NZ residency, permanent residency, or citizenship and be employed by a switchboard builder that agrees to train you.

You'll need NCEA Level 2 in Mathematics, English, and Physics, or NCEA Level 2 in Mathematics, English, and General Science, or equivalent qualifications and relevant experience. You must be able to complete the programme in English.

If you're over 20 and don't have these qualifications, your work experience and practical knowledge may still qualify you if they demonstrate you can succeed in the training. You should be responsible and well-organised, able to understand basic maths and physics, physically fit (the work involves climbing and lifting), able to present yourself professionally, good at communicating with others, flexible with working hours as evening, weekend and on-call is sometimes required, and comfortable working at heights or in small enclosed areas in places that may be noisy, dirty, dusty, or hazardous.

There are some basic skills which will help you go far in your career as an electrician. You should be:

• Responsible and well-organised
• Able to understand basic maths and physics
• Physically fit (the work involves climbing and lifting)
• Able to present yourself professionally (you’ll be representing your employer and interacting with clients and other people, like members of the public).
• Good at communicating with others
• Flexible with working hours, as evening, weekend and on call is sometimes required
• Comfortable working at heights or in small enclosed areas, and in places that may be noisy, dirty, dusty, and/or hazardous.

You'll be able to:

• Monitor and use safe working procedures and practices to identify, control, and manage hazards in the workplace and environment.
• Apply knowledge of related electrical theory, electrical components, and drawings to assemble and wire switch and control gear.
• Apply knowledge of related electrical theory, electrical components, and drawings to test switch and control gear.
• Fabricate switchboards and install busbars in new and existing switchgear systems.
• Install process control, automation, energy management, and motor control centre hardware.
• Work ethically and professionally within the electrotechnology industry, communicate effectively with stakeholders in order to maximise industry standards and reputation.

Graduates of the Electrical Installer strand will also be able to:

• Carry out prescribed electrical work (PEW) to meet the Electrical Installer license requirements.