New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4)

Your workload

You will undertake three block courses in the first year and two block courses in your second and third year. There are no block courses during your fourth year (unless you have missed previous block courses and then the fourth year gives you a chance to attend these and catch up). 

The pathway will be slightly different if you have completed a Pre-Trade programme prior to an apprenticeship. This pathway will be discussed with you in your initial sign-up meeting.

This programme takes between three and a half and four years to complete. Part-time options aren't available. 

Entry requirements

• No academic entry requirements.
• You must be working in the construction industry as an employee or contractor and must be supervised by industry professionals prepared to support your training.
• You will need to enter into a training agreement with your employer and Otago Polytechnic. 

Please contact one of our apprentice assessors (see Contact us section below for contact details) to make an initial appointment to discuss your apprenticeship.

English Language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide:

• New Zealand University Entrance OR
• Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 with no individual band score lower than 5.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
• New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 3) - with the General, Workplace, or Academic endorsement, or 
• Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for internationally recognised proficiency tests and proficiency outcomes for international students). 

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.

Please note: This programme is not available to international students.

Tuition fees

The tuition fees shown above are approximate only. There may be a slight fee increase per year once Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) rules and guidelines are applied. These fees also don’t include additional costs or living costs.