How to complete a primary industries apprenticeship is less about academic ability and more about passion, dedication and the ability to set and follow through with clearly defined goals.
Primary ITO training adviser for the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman region, Robyn Patterson, says making the right decision about your career direction - being sure you are right for the apprenticeship - will go a long way to maintaining the commitment needed to finish.
"You need to be committed to what you are doing. It's not literacy or numeracy that will hold you back, but attitude, and good practical skills.
"At level four, trainees need to be able to to do things like finding out information on their own. Self-motivation is a factor, and much of that motivation, self-management and commitment comes down to knowing where you are going."
Primary ITO advisers guide and mentor trainees through their course, but probably one of the most important activities they will do with a trainee is to help them develop and achieve quarterly goals within the apprenticeship programme, as well as farm goals and personal goals.