New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 3)

Graduates of this qualification are likely to be employed, or self-employed as an:

• Organic orchard/vineyard supervisor or leading hand 
• Organic crop supervisor or team leader or technician 
• Organic crop monitor 
• Organic nursery specialist
• Organic farm production supervisor or assistant supervisor
• Organic pastoral or arable supervisor
• Mahinga Kai supervisor

School Leavers

Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and have achieved NCEA Level 2, including:

• 60 credits at Level 2 or above, plus 20 credits at any level.
• Literacy: A minimum of 10 credits at Level 1 or above through either:
  • specified assessment standards available across a range of subjects and English for Academic Purposes, including unit standards 22750 and 22751 (minimum total of 10 credits); or
  • the three literacy unit standards 26622, 26624 and 26625 (all three required).
• Numeracy: A minimum of 10 credits at Level 1 or above through either:
  • specified achievement standards available across a range of subjects (minimum total of 10 credits); or
  • the three numeracy unit standards 26623, 26626 and 26627 (all three required).

Mature Applicants

Applicants aged 20 years or over at the time of enrolment may be considered if they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in the programme.

Evidence may include successful completion of a programme of study at Level 2 or above and/or at least one year of employment in a related sector.

Admission may be subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager, as appropriate. Personal commitment and belief in your ability to succeed will also be considered during the selection process.

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where English is not the language of instruction in schools, must provide evidence of one of the following:

• NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance; or
• an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A Level qualification where teaching and assessment were conducted in English; or
• a 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 (equivalent to New Zealand primary school Years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (equivalent to three years of New Zealand secondary school Years 9 to 13) at schools in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, where English was the language of instruction; or
• successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (equivalent to New Zealand secondary school Years 9 to 13) at schools in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, where English was the language of instruction; or
• successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours Degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree taught in English by a tertiary education provider in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States; or
• successful completion of one of the internationally recognised English proficiency tests below at the required level. All scores must be achieved in a single test taken within the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment.

Recognised English Proficiency Tests

• IELTS (General or Academic): Score of 5.0, with no band score lower than 5.0.
• 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, with no less than 154 in each skill.
• OET: Minimum Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests.
• NZCEL: Level 3 (General) or (Workplace).
• Pearson Test of English (Academic): PTE Academic score of 36, with no band score lower than 36.
• LanguageCert: 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.

This programme of study is supported by the Biological Husbandry Unit Organic Farm located in Lincoln. Information about the Biological Husbandry Unit can be found at: https://www.theorganiccollege.org.nz/ or by calling their office at 03 325 3684

Before you apply

Please read the Information on this page before starting your application. 
Your application will be assessed based on the information and supporting documents you provide.

Missing information or documents may delay your application.

Application checklist (once you click “Enrol”)

Before submitting your application, check that:

• You have read the Programme Information on this page.
• You meet the programme admission requirements.
• You meet any entry requirements for the individual paper(s) you want to study.
• You have selected your preferred intake(s), avoiding overlapping intakes.
• You know how you intend to pay for your study.
• If your organisation or employer is paying, you have an approved purchase order ready to attach. If they do not pay your fees, these will become your responsibility.
• If applying for cross credit, you have completed the required cross credit form.
  You have access to a computer, internet connection and software for creating electronic documents, such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.

For Level 3 programmes: You will be required by the Tertiary Education Commission to complete at least one literacy and one numeracy assessment as part of your studies.

New students

You will also need to:

• Provide an active NSN in the name you are enrolling under. If you do not know your NSN, contact NZQA on 0800 697 296.
• If you do not have an active NSN, provide verified identification in the name you are enrolling under.
• If you are a New Zealand Resident or Permanent Resident, provide proof of residency.
• Provide supporting academic documentation, such as your NZQA Record of Achievement, academic transcripts or certificates. These documents do not need to be verified.
• If you do not have academic documentation, provide a comprehensive CV outlining your education and work experience.
• Attach any other supporting documents required for the programme.

Zero Fees Scheme | What is the Zero Fees Scheme?

Under the Zero Fees Scheme, SIT does not charge tuition fees. You will still need to pay the applicable Student Direct Material Cost and a non-refundable administration fee.

The Student Direct Material Cost provides access to Blackboard®, SIT's online learning environment, and student support services throughout your study.

Who qualifies?

The Zero Fees Scheme is available to:

• New Zealand citizens completing the full qualification.
• Australian citizens, New Zealand Residents and Permanent Residents who will be living in New Zealand for the duration of their enrolment.

If you are not eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme, call 0800 748 257 to discuss your options.

Submit your application

Complete the online application and attach all required supporting documentation.

Before submitting, check that the information you have provided is complete and accurate. Missing information or documentation may delay the processing of your application.

Any additional documentation can be emailed to sitonline@sit.ac.nz.

What happens next?

1. Application received
   You will receive an automatic email confirming that SIT has received your application. Processing may take up to three weeks. We will contact you sooner if we require additional documentation.
2. Offer and invoice
   If your application is accepted, you will receive a conditional offer of acceptance, an invoice and payment instructions.
3. Enrolment confirmed
   Once payment has been received, or you have selected an approved payment method such as Credit Card, Student Loan or Purchase Order, you will receive an Enrolment Confirmation Letter and Important Information Booklet.
4. Get ready to study
   Closer to the start of your intake, you will receive a Time To Get Started Letter with the information, tools and guidance you need to begin your studies.

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 3), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:

• A minimum of 50 credits in accordance with the Programme schedule for the New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 3).
• The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 3) full-time over 6 months or part-time over 2 years.

Please Note: Students failing to engage in study as per programme requirements may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement..

Important: To successfully complete this paper, students need to achieve an overall mark of at least 50%, achieving no less than 35% for each individual assessment. All assessments must be attempted.

Tutorial times: Monday-Wednesday 9am-3pm

Assessments are varied, and include practical activities, short paragraph questions, reports, multichoice tests, etc.

Important: To successfully complete this paper, students need to achieve an overall mark of at least 50%, achieving no less than 35% for each individual assessment. All assessments must be attempted.

For more information on required and recommended textbooks for this course please refer to the textbook list here.