This is a carpentry pre-trade course where students will complete a range of small projects as well as building a three-bedroom house. The course runs three days per week, students are also expected to undertake industry work experience and study for a further two days each week. A large percentage of graduates move onto construction industry apprenticeships after completing the programme.
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One year full-time
2024 Semester 3: 12 August to 16 May
2025 Semester 1: 17 February to 21 November
2025 Semester 2: 17 March to 19 December - He Toki Scholarship
2025 Semester 3: 18 August to 22 May
He Toki Scholarship*
SIT Zero Fees Scheme**
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme. Studying in southern regions (Southland, Queenstown or Clutha) or continuing study from 2023
Full Fees
Not eligible for Zero Fees Scheme.
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The purpose of this qualification is to provide the wider construction trades sector with work-ready people able to enter the construction trades as a labourer or an apprentice who have developed essential transferable skills and underpinning knowledge applicable to a wide range of construction-related trades. This qualification is suitable for people new to, or intending to enter, the construction trades sector. The strands recognise the knowledge and skills required of entrants to allied trades, or the carpentry trades. The allied trades include painting and decorating, roofing, interior systems and exterior plastering.
Please note our courses full very quickly. Get your application in early so you don't miss out!
Compulsory - student must complete 30 credits
CTS301 Health, safety and compliance
CTS302 Effective communication
CTS303 Plans and specifications
CTS304 Calculations
Carpentry Strand - student must complete 90 credits
CTS308 Carpentry terminology and concepts
CTS309 Building technology
CTS310 Carpentry processes and techniques
CTS311A Building foundations and flooring
CTS311B Building envelope and structural elements
CTS311C Building interior
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the wider construction trades sector with work-ready people who are able to enter the construction trades as a labourer or an apprentice, who have developed essential transferable skills and underpinning knowledge applicable to a wide range of construction-related trades.
This qualification is suitable for people new to, or intending to enter, the construction trades sector.
Applicants should be a minimum of 16 years of age and able to complete the physical requirements of the programme.
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
Certificate at Level 3
IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5 with no band score lower than 5
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) where the test was carried out prior to 1 October 2017 - 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
To satisfactorily complete New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3) - Carpentry programme and be awarded the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3) with strand in Carpentry qualification, the student must successfully achieve:
Please note: students failing to engage in study as per programme requirements may forfeit zero fees entitlement.
To be confirmed, however the course generally runs three days per week. Students are also expected to undertake industry work experience and study for a further 2 days each week.