New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3) (Heavy)

New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3) (Heavy)

New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3)

If you want to get into the Heavy Automotive Industry and work on wide range of equipment supporting the Road Transport, Agricultural, Plant and Equipment, Material Handling, and other heavy industries then the New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3) Heavy is for you. This qualification will prepare you for the industry and teach you all the fundamentals that you will need to know.

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Key Details
Invercargill
Qualification:
Certificate
Level:
3
Credits:
120
Duration:

One year full-time (three days in class, one to two days work experience)

Study Modes:
On Campus
Dates:

2025 Semester 1: 17 February to 21 November

Fees:

This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.

  • NO tuition fees
  • Direct material costs are $1,610.00 (including GST)

International Fees can be found here.

If you want to get into the Automotive & Heavy Equipment Industry and work on big trucks, tractors, cranes or combine harvesters then the New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3) Heavy is for you.

This pre-apprenticeship qualification will prepare you for the industry and teach you all the fundamentals that you will need to know through theoretical learning, hands-on practical workshops and work experience placements.

There are different sectors in the Automotive & Heavy Equipment Industry and this course will help you choose an area to focus your career on:

  • Road Transport
  • Plant and Equipment
  • Agricultural Equipment
  • Materials Handling Equipment.

You will learn how to:

  • Follow workplace policies, procedures and relevant regulations to work safely and effectively in an automotive workshop
  • Use tools and equipment to complete basic workshop engineering tasks
  • Apply fundamental automotive engineering knowledge to service engine, and driveline systems
  • Check operation of, and perform minor repairs on, electrical and electronic systems
  • Apply fundamental automotive engineering knowledge to service steering, suspension and brake systems.

AEC300 Automotive Workplace Requirements 

AEC310  Workshop Engineering, Hand and Power Tools

AEC320 Engine Principles and Service Requirements

AEC321 Engine Tuning, Disassembly, Inspection and Reassembly 

AEC322 Vehicle Clutches, Transmissions and Final Drives

AEC330 Automotive Electrical Principles

AEC331 Automotive Batteries, Starting and Charging Systems

AEC332 Automotive lighting and wiring systems

AEC333 Automotive Electronics and HVAC

AEC340  Vehicle Braking Systems

AEC341 Vehicle Suspension and Steering Systems

AEC342 Wheels and Tyres

Graduates of this qualification will have the skills and knowledge to work in an entry level position in the auotomotive industry.  This qualification is highly desirable by the industry for people to achieve before continuing on with an automotive apprenticeship.

Why complete a pre-trade course?

When you complete a pre-trade course you receive an industry recognised qualification that sets you on your way to an apprenticeship in your chosen field.

School Leavers

  • Four years’ minimum secondary education
  • Attained NCEA Level 2
  • Desire to work in the automotive industry
  • Recommended as a co-requisite: Class 1 full driver's licence

Mature Applicants

Applicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at Level 3 or above, in a related discipline and/or employment in the related sector for one or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty, in consultation with the Programme Operations Manager as appropriate.  Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment


IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5 with no band score lower than 5
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 500 (with an essay score of 4 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 35 (with a writing score of 14)
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 154. No less than 154 in each skill.
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 3 (General) or (Workplace) b) Level 3 (General)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 36 with no band score lower than 36
Language Cert - B1 Achiever International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS
Trinity ISE - ISE I with no less than distinction in any band

* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current

The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3) full time over 34 tutorial weeks or part-time over two years.

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully:

  • Achieve all the graduate outcomes in the graduate profile showing competence to a minimum of 120 credits in accordance with the programme schedule for the New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3).
  • Complete required practical and theoretical course work and assignments.
  • Complete a minimum of 136 hours of approved work experience

Please Note: Students failing to attend for 80% of the timetabled programme hours may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.

Three days per week class time: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 8.00am - 5.00pm.
 
Students are also required to undertake at least one full day a week work experience with a recognised automotive technician or similar who will delegate various tasks and help SIT assess your progress. There is no expectation upon the work experience provider to offer paid employment for this period, although this can be a confidential agreement between employer and student. You are encouraged to find your own work experience with a suitable company in the sector of the industry that interests you most.
 
In addition to the above, students will be required to complete regular homework.
 
Any changes to timetables will be as well communicated as possible in advance, any changes to timetable will be as a result of COVID 19.

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