National Certificate in Motor Industry (Motorcycle Engineering)

THE COURSE

A two-year course designed for people who want a career in motorbike mechanics is offered at the Wellington Technology Institute.

The National Certificate in Motor Industry (Motorcycle Engineering) is a level four NZQA qualification and it's the only full-time course of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Graduates get jobs in New Zealand and overseas as motorcycle technicians or racebike technicians and they also can set up their own business or work in another motorcycle-related career.

Students learn in a state-of-art workshop at the WelTec campus in Petone, Wellington.

They study for 24 hours a week for 34 weeks each year, beginning in February. Students also need to devote eight hours of their own time to study.

The course combines theory and practical sessions in the workshop and 500 hours of work experience. For the work experience, students are released from study one day a week throughout the course and for one complete week at a midway point in the course.

Students learn mechanical theory such as internal combustion engines, electrical systems, engine tuning and repair, basic engineering, welding techniques, suspension, steering and braking systems as well as customer service skills.

Assessment is based on a series of theory examinations and practical tasks.

Entry requirements for the course are the National Certificate in Employment Skills or the National Certificate of Entry to Automotive Trades or relevant work experience. Consideration is given on a case-by-case basis to candidates who don't meet those requirements.

Applicants will have an advantage if they can show a passion for motorcycles, a motorcycle licence, three years' secondary education, and an ability to think laterally and to work in a team.

Each candidate is interviewed and must sit a test on motorcycle knowledge.

Numbers are limited to 16 and the cut-off for applications is November.

Fees are $5900 for the first year and $4585 for the second year.

Graduates can pursue further study for the national "A" grade registration for motorcycle engineering.

WHAT GRADUATES THINK


Dugald Moore, 24

Mechanic

TSS Motorcycles Ltd

Graduated 2003


Before I did the course I was working in a good job in Christchurch but I wanted some kind of a qualification so I would always have something to fall back on.

I've liked bikes since I was knee high to a grasshopper.

I thought working on them would be interesting.

I saw an ad for the course, applied, got in and moved to Wellington. The course was a good combination of theory and practical.

The classroom is not really a classroom - it's more like a workshop.

You would do a certain amount of study in class and then you'd go and do it practically in the workshop for the rest of the day.

There were a certain amount of units you have to get through and we'd do one or maybe two a week.

I had full-time work experience the whole time I was doing it and that helped because when you are taught stuff it is good to parallel that in the workplace.

WHAT EMPLOYERS THINK


Stewart Rodwell

Director

TSS Motorcycles Ltd

Hutt Valley


Doing the course means people have been through the basics and I have got confidence in them knowing the basics of their trade.

They don't have the (job) experience, but they have the theory basics and some practical experience.

They are not starting from zero - they can actually come in and start ripping motors apart and do the job with somebody keeping an eye on them.

It's an advantage as an employer to hire them. It's the minimum standard. I wouldn't employ anybody that hasn't got that as a minimum.

The students have gone out of their way to get trained up rather than go to an employer and say, "I want to be an apprentice". They have gone the extra mile.

They start higher up the pay scale than an apprentice.


National Certificate in Motor Industry (Motorcycle Engineering)

WelTec

Phone: 0800 935 832

Website: Weltec