Become an accredited wool grader in the industry and be able to grade wool from across the table and board.
This course provides the New Zealand wool industry with people who have the skills and knowledge to grade wool across the table and board, co-ordinate the quality of team output and complete documentation in a wool harvesting operation.
2 Day course with some distance learning
$150.00 for Domestic Students
$1000.00 for International Students
The Wool Clip Grading Course is a brand new programme designed for experienced woolhandlers wanting to improve their wool knowledge and become a registered Wool Grader. The course combines learning at home with a two-day block course run at various locations throughout New Zealand. The qualification is NZQA-approved and is supported by the New Zealand Shearing Contractors Association.
Once you have successfully completed the course you will have the opportunity to become a registered Q-Stencil holder, recognised by the New Zealand Wool Classers Association.
Who should do the course?
Experienced woolhandlers with good practical skills (“Leading Shedhands”) wanting to improve their knowledge and enhance their employment opportunities will find the Grading course extremely valuable.
How is the programme run?
The learning at home component of the course is based around a comprehensive study-guide that students receive two weeks prior to attending the Block Course. The study-guide includes information on:
Two-day practical block courses are held at various locations in both the North Island and the South Island, with assistance from local shearing contractors. The block courses assess practical woolhandling skills and use wool samples for teaching:
31978 Grade wool clip in a wool harvesting operation
Students will learn to operate in accordance with on-farm and workplace procedures and wool market/industry requirements, as well as work in a team to achieve the best possible output and complete the necessary documentation required in a wool harvesting operation.
The Wool Classers Association considers those students who achieve NZQA Unit Standard 31978 as having the appropriate skill and knowledge for a wool clip grader to be considered as qualified.
Students will need to complete some reading and written activities prior to attending the two day block course. Two written assessments will be done after the block course.
As part of the Wool Clip Grading Training Scheme, students will also need to access and complete the Tahi Ngatahi health and safety course online.
Graduates will have developed the skills and knowledge required for recognition as an accredited wool grader.
Also, graduates of this course qualify to apply for NZ Wool Classers Association "Q"Grading Registration
Over 16 years of age at the commencement of the programme.
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 Bachelors’ 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 5.5 with no band score lower than 5
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 530 (with an essay score of 4.5 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 46 (with a writing score of 14)
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2First for schools with a score of 162. 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 (Academic), b) Level 3 (Applied)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 42 with no band score lower than 36
Language Cert - B2 Communicator IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than pass in any band
Accommodation and meals may be available at the Telford Campus Hostel for courses delivered at Telford.
Students must successfully complete all course material, assessments and the 2-day block course to be awarded with the Certificate of Completion and Unit Standard 31978.
