Qualification FAQs
What is a Training Agreement?
Training Agreements enable trainees to be registered on the New Zealand Qualifications Authority database. Every trainee must fill one out with their employer prior to commencing training. These are then sent to Seafood ITO to keep on record.
What is a Unit Standard?
Your study and your qualification are based on ‘unit standards’. These are the building blocks of each qualification, specifying what you need to know and be able to do in a range of activities. For example, practical unit standards include fish filleting, food hygiene and using safe work practices.
Every unit standard you complete goes towards your ‘National Certificate’ – a nationally recognised qualification that you can take wherever you go.
Unit standards are given a level, to reflect the complexity of learning required (1 being the easiest and 10 being the hardest). Each unit standard has a credit value and once a trainee is assessed as being competent in that particular skill area, they gain credits. To achieve a national qualification, a trainee must successfully complete the required number of credits.
What is a National Qualification?
National Qualifications are made up of unit standards and are set at different levels to indicate the degree of difficulty.
There are three kinds of National Qualifications:
- National Certificates – levels 1-4
- National Diplomas – levels 5-6
- Degrees and post graduate programmes – levels 7-10.
What is the NQF?
The National Qualification Framework (NQF) is New Zealand’s qualification structure. It is administered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and it is the framework for all nationally recognised unit standards and qualifications.
All Seafood ITO developed unit standards and qualifications are registered on the NQF.
What qualification will you get?
Industry training covers all levels of the NQF but has a strong focus on National Certificates (Levels 1 to 4). For example, you can work towards a National Certificate in Seafood Vessel Operations (Level 2, 3 or 4) with different specialties like At Sea Processing or Nautical Skills.
What is a Record of Achievement (ROA)?
An NZQA Record of Achievement (ROA) records all credits achieved over a person’s lifetime, from the moment they are registered (or “hooked on” as NZQA call it). Everyone who completes NZQA-registered unit standards for a national qualification has the credits from those assessments registered with NZQA and placed on their ROA. Credits achieved in this way can count towards a national qualification and remain on your ROA for life.