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Painting & Decorating

skill standards development

Ensuring painting and decorating qualifications meet industry needs

During the past few months, we have gathered feedback on the development of new skill standards for painting and decorating that break down potential skills and knowledge at Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 to support learner pathways into the painting and decorating trades.

Benefits of skill standards for industry

  • The skill standards reflect critical painting and decorating skills industry values.
  • They will become one set of “building blocks” used by all providers, reducing confusion and inconsistencies.
  • The skill standards will support learner pathways by including a progression of skills and knowledge from starting out to working unsupervised in the painting and decorating industry.

Unit standards that are being replaced by new skill standards

ID Expiring unit standard title Level Credits New skill standard title Level Credits
27401 Use painting and decorating tools and equipment 2 2 Select and maintain painting and decorating tools and equipment 2 5
27393 Handle painting and decorating materials 2 2 Safely handle painting and decorating materials 2 5
 27400 Prepare surfaces for painting or clear finish 3 10 Prepare surfaces for painting or clear finish 3 10
 27394 Apply paint by brush and roller to multiple surfaces 4 15 Apply paint by brush and roller to surfaces 3 10
27411 Demonstrate knowledge of applying paint by spray 3 8 Apply paint using a spray system 3 15
27395 Apply wallcovering 4 12 Apply standard wall coverings 3 15
27396 Apply advanced wallcovering technique 5 20 Apply advanced wallcovering techniques 4 35
31102 Prepare colour schemes for buildings 4 8 Prepare colour schemes for painting projects 4 5
31109 Prepare and break down painting and decorating sites 4 22 Prepare and break down painting and decorating sites. 4 10
31101 Select, handle and store coatings, solvents and additives for painting and decorating projects 4 6 Select, handle and store products for painting and decorating 4 15
31110 Maintain the professional standards of the painting and decorating industry as a decorating trade professional 4 15 Maintain professional standards in the painting and decorating trade 4 10
31112 Apply coatings using spray painting systems 4 50 Apply paints and coatings using spray painting systems 4 35
31111 Apply specialised coating systems 4 50 Apply specialised coating systems and perform remedial repairs 4 50

*Note skill standard titles may change slightly as a result of evaluation with NZQA.

Download the list of unit standards that will expire.

Questions and comments/Ngā pātai me ngā tākupu?

If you would like to see a copy of the new skill standards or have any questions, please email Lydia Harrell.

New Zealand Certificate in Painting and Decorating (Level 4) qualification review

We have also reviewed the New Zealand Certificate in Painting and Decorating (Level 4) [Ref 3568-2] alongside the development of the painting and decorating skill standards. A review of the qualification enables alignment of the skill standards with the graduate profile outcomes.

Download the qualification document to see how the new skill standards align to the qualification’s outcomes.

Core construction skill standards in painting and decorating

In the alignment of the qualification graduate profile outcomes to skill standards, some core construction skill standards have been used. Industry and stakeholders involved in the review confirmed these core construction skill standards are valuable skills for a qualified Painter Decorator.

The core construction skill standards are a suite of skill standards that describe common critical skills across construction trades and are intended to facilitate better mobility and consistency. Read more about this project.