Certificate in Electrical Engineering

By JANINE OGIER

THE COURSE

Manukau Institute of Technology's Certificate in Electrical Engineering is a full-time pre-trade course tailored to prepare students for apprenticeships in the electrical trade.

The certificate incorporates a level two and level three NZQA qualification. It comprises two-thirds of a three-stage programme to cover the theory component of an apprentice electrician's work, known as off job units.

Graduates of the three stages who complete appropriate work experience are eligible to apply for registration as an electrician.

Students can choose to complete one, two or three stages on a full-time basis until they attain an apprenticeship, then they continue to study on a part-time basis.

For full-time students, each stage of the programme is one semester or 15 weeks long. Students are in the classroom for 14 hours each week, they spend another eight hours in practical laboratory work and are advised to study for 14 hours each week in their own time.

Apprentices learn the theory at MIT part-time for one full day a fortnight and one weeknight session for about three years.

Wiring, earthing, lighting and motor operation skills are taught with an emphasis on safety and testing. There are 55 skills to perfect before a student is eligible to register with the Electrical Workers Registration Board.

Assessment includes examinations and assignments and checking of practical work after each laboratory session.

There's open entry to the course but students need to demonstrate English language competency.

The next course begins in February 2005 and applications for the 40 places close at the end of January.

Fees for the level two and level three course are $1999 and $1860, respectively, including GST. Students need to allow about $200 for costs related to materials.

Students pursue further study for the level four NZQA qualification as part of an apprenticeship.

For more academic training, they can enrol in MIT's Diploma in Electrical Engineering.

WHAT GRADUATES THINK

Lori Clearwater, 30

Apprentice electrician

Trak

Auckland

Graduated level two 2001

"I was trying hard to get an apprenticeship and I decided to do the course to show that I'm keen. Being a woman, to show that I was serious I had to put my neck out.

It worked out well for me. Once I did the pre-trade level two, I was in level three and one of the guys from Trak came to meet the students and talk about jobs and I thought 'I want that job' and I got it. They often have people coming in from businesses recruiting.

I found it a bit harder doing the theory before the practical because I couldn't really match anything up, especially as it was quite new to me.

The pre-trade course was full-on classroom work for six months. With an apprenticeship that reduces to once a fortnight a full day and every Monday night.

The two and a half years of work and study have sped by and once I have 8000 hours of work behind me I am fully qualified."

WHAT EMPLOYERS THINK

Gary Reily

Contracts manager

Trak

Auckland

"We employ between three and six apprentices at any given time. What we have found is that the ones who have done the pre-trade course have already made a commitment to the industry.

If you are judging that over someone who has not done it, you know they have made a decision about what they want to do, which is very good.

They have also done some of the basic theory which means once they get into the workplace they have some basic knowledge of how an electrical system works. The calibre of the people who come out of the pre-trade course from our experience has been very high.

We take them on for a three-month trial to make sure they enjoy the physical work, then we enter into an 8000-hour apprenticeship which is a three-and-a-half- to four-year commitment. They go with a tradesman for three years. That person supervises them and signs off their work log book and that's how they get through the apprenticeship."

The qualification

Certificate in Electrical Engineering

Manukau Institute of Technology

Contact by email or phone 09 968 8765 ext 8211