Enhancing Carpentry Skills: New Standards for Industry

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Carpentry skill standards

We’re excited to announce that we’re developing new skill standards for the carpentry industry, focusing on levels 3 and 4. These standards will help learners progress from basic to advanced skills step-by-step.

Skill standards will support learner pathways by including a progression of skills for:

New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4)
New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3)
Micro-credentials in Construction Trades

Why this matters

Skill standards will be used in all carpentry programmes, helping recognise and transfer skills from prior learning for flexibility and transferability.

These standards will reflect the skills that are valued by the industry.

The updated skill standards reflect skills that a person must be able to do in the Carpentry Licence Class in the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

How you can help

We’re seeking industry feedback to contribute to the development of these skill standards. Whether you can contribute by being part of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG), providing one-off feedback, or just wanting to be kept informed of the progress, we would love to hear from you. Your input is key to making sure these skill standards reflect industry good practice.

How to give your feedback

To help guide your feedback, consider the following:

What changes in the industry should be reflected in the updated skill standards?
What specialist technical skills are you looking for in the carpentry workforce?
How does your scope of work support apprentices in achieving standards?
Which skills are most important for apprentices to master?

Please email [email protected] to provide feedback, express your interest in participating, or recommend someone else who might be.

Give your feedback now

Providers

Due to the development of carpentry skill standards, some current unit standards will be affected and may be expired. We will request an extended expiry date for these unit standards from NZQA.

Impacted unit standards

*Standard Number*	Title	Level
12997	Demonstrate knowledge of working safely in construction	3
13008	Demonstrate knowledge of formwork for footings and foundation walls up to 1.2 metres tall	3
13009	Demonstrate knowledge of using reinforcing steel for construction	3
13010	Demonstrate knowledge of placing concrete	3
13015	Demonstrate knowledge of specialist trades on a construction site	3
13023	Demonstrate knowledge of installing mechanical fixings and building hardware	3
13026	Demonstrate knowledge of constructing retaining walls	3
13028	Demonstrate knowledge of adhesives and sealants used in construction	3
13031	Demonstrate knowledge of demolition work	3
13043	Excavate and fill a site for footings and slab construction under supervision	3
13045	Construct formwork for footings and foundation walls up to 1.2 metres tall under supervision	3
13046	Install reinforcing steel used for footings and foundations for concrete slab construction under supervision	3
13047	Place, finish, and cure concrete for footings and foundation walls under supervision	3
13052	Attend to specialist tradespeople under supervision	3
13059	Install mechanical fixings and building hardware under supervision	3
13062	Construct a retaining wall under supervision	3
13063	Check construction of concrete masonry and paving under supervision	3
20736	Demonstrate knowledge, and supervise the installation, of a building site ground retention system	5
20739	Describe and supervise the installation, of non-structural exterior building systems	5
20740	Supervise sub-trades for installation of building services for a medium building	5
20742	Explain installation procedures and supervise installation of proprietary ceiling and wall systems for a medium building	4
20743	Describe applications and production of structural precast concrete units and supervise their installation	5
20889	Set out and erect steel wall framing on site	4
20892	Set out and erect steel frame roofs on site	4
20893	Erect steel frame roof trusses on site	4
22145	Store and prepare materials for use on construction sites	3
24362	Demonstrate knowledge of documentation, working drawings, and specifications for building work	3
24364	Demonstrate knowledge of the compliance framework that governs building in New Zealand	3
24380	Demonstrate knowledge of constructing pile foundations	3
24381	Demonstrate knowledge of constructing floor framing, flooring, and decking	3
24386	Demonstrate knowledge of thermal insulation and sound control for buildings	3
24391	Demonstrate knowledge of concrete masonry and paving construction	3
24396	Construct pile foundations under supervision	3
24397	Construct and fix timber floors and decking under supervision	3
24401	Install wall and ceiling insulation under supervision	3
27187	Demonstrate knowledge of building construction methods for a medium building	5
27188	Prepare order lists for a medium building	4
27649	Demonstrate knowledge of wall frame construction	3
27651	Perform wall frame detailing for building projects	4
30844	Install and flash exterior joinery	4
30846	Install and flash wall claddings	4
30847	Install ceiling framing	4
30848	Demonstrate understanding of columns, posts, beams and portals	4
30849	Construct and erect roof framing	4
30850	Construct and erect wall frames	4
30851	Demonstrate understanding of the principles, features and construction methods of different building types	4
30852	Demonstrate understanding of licensing requirements, and comply with codes and consent processes, for construction work	4
30853	Read and interpret working drawings and specifications and apply them to undertake construction projects	4
30854	Apply legislative frameworks to construction operations	4
30855	Demonstrate understanding of materials used for carpentry work	4
30856	Use mathematics for construction	4
30857	Plan and communicate for construction processes	4
30858	Demonstrate understanding of building and construction science	4
30859	Use tools and equipment for carpentry work	4
30860	Install finishing trim	4
30861	Install building hardware	4
30862	Install thermal insulation	4
30863	Install interior joinery	4
30864	Install wall and ceiling linings	4
30865	Install sound control systems for noise reduction and soundproofing	4
30866	Plan and undertake demolition work	4
30867	Establish, maintain and disestablish a construction site	4
30868	Set out buildings, construct profiles and establish set-out points	4
30869	Maintain the professional standards of the construction industry as a carpentry trade professional	4
30870	Construct concrete foundations and slabs	4
30871	Construct framed floors and stairs or ramps	4
30872	Construct retaining walls	4
30897	Erect prefabricated wall frames	3
32442	Install interior joinery under supervision	3
32462	Use carpentry tools under supervision	3
32463	Set out and establish a construction site under supervision	3
32468	Construct and erect wall frames under supervision	3
32469	Construct timber frames for alternative roof designs under supervision	3
32471	Cut and fix metal roof cladding under supervision	3
32472	Cut, fit, and fix interior linings and trim under supervision	3
32475	Construct pole framing to form the foundation for a residential dwelling under supervision	3
32478	Use adhesives and sealants for construction work under supervision	3
32479	Construct and strike commercial falsework and formwork under supervision	3
32480	Erect and fix prefabricated beams under supervision	3
32481	Undertake demolition work under supervision	3
32482	Install proprietary suspended concrete floor systems under supervision	3
32483	Erect truss roofs under supervision	3
32485	Demonstrate knowledge of installing proprietary suspended concrete floor systems	3
32487	Construct substrates for structural steel framework roofs under supervision	3
32499	Install weather proofing and exterior cladding under supervision	3
32500	Install exterior joinery under supervision	3
32501	Construct timber stairs under supervision	3
32502	Install sound control systems in buildings under supervision	3
32503	Work at height in the construction industry under supervision	3
32566	Interpret plans and specifications for insulation installation	4
32567	Demonstrate knowledge of installing wall, ceiling, and underfloor insulation, and ground vapour barriers	4
32568	Demonstrate knowledge of insulation products	3
32569	Install wall, ceiling, and underfloor insulation, and ground vapour barriers	4
33137	Demonstrate knowledge of roof cladding installation	4
33139	Prepare for and complete longrun roof cladding installation	4

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