Agricultural Contractor Training

Graduates will have developed the skills and knowledge required for entering into agricultural contracting employment.

Should be over 16 years of age at the time of programme commencement. 

Must be suitably physically fit and healthy to be able to undertake work related to agricultural contracting.

Applicants referred by a rural contracting company or rural-based business who can support them in their work placement will be given preferential acceptance into the course.

Driver Training in Weeks 3 and 4 will depend on the driver license held. See below for more details: 

• Class 1 Full license 
  Will be able to complete all scheduled driver training.
• Learner or no license 
  Able to take part in everything, but will not be able to receive to received credits for W, T & F endorsements (16701, 16703 & 18496).
  On the 2nd Monday where the day is completing the W, T & F assessments they would not need to attend this day welcome to sit in on the theory.
  Can participate in the practical training which is done under supervision. They will get time on a loader, on the digger and on the forklift as well as all of the tractor practical training.
• Restricted License 
  Able to complete the fatigue/logbook unit standard, defensive driving, OSH forklift and all the practical session.
  Restricted license holders can take part in a license endorsements training, however they cannot complete the actual endorsement theory and final practical assessment until they hold their full Class 1.  

English Language Criteria

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

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.

Certificate at Level 3

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 B2First 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 IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill

Trinity ISE - ISE I with no less than distinction in any band

• Accommodation and meals are provided at Telford 
• Accommodation only provided in Invercargill
• Work placement accommodation will be provided by the contractor or in Invercargill
• Priority will be given to New Zealand citizens and residents. 
  Migrants who are eligible to work in New Zealand may attend if they intend to, and would be eligible to, take up primary sector jobs. Please also check your visa conditions to make sure you are eligible to study. 
  Priority will be given to New Zealand citizens and residents. Migrants who are eligible to work in New Zealand may attend if they intend to, and would be eligible to, take up primary sector jobs. Please also check your visa conditions to make sure you are eligible to study. 

To be awarded the Agricultural Contracting Training Scheme (Level 3) students will need to successfully complete 24 credits as outlined in the programme schedule.

The course is five days per week course, 8am – 5pm. 

There may be guest speakers in evenings.