| Qualification: | Certificate |
| Level: | 3 |
| Dates: | 2025 Semester 1: 20 January to 24 October 2025 Semester 2: 24 February to 28 November 2025 Semester 3: 12 August to 15 May 2025 Semester 4: 17 March to 19 December |
| Duration: | One year full-time (four days in class, one day work experience) |
| Location: | |
| Credits: | 120 |
If you want to get into the Automotive Industry as a Mechanic, then the New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3) Light is for you.
This pre-apprenticeship qualification will prepare you for the industry and teach you all the automotive engineering fundamentals that you will need to know. Hands-on practical workshops and work experience placements are an essential part of this course.
You will learn how to:
AEC300 Automotive Workplace RequirementsÂ
´¡·¡°ä310Ìý Workshop Engineering, Hand and Power Tools
AEC320 Engine Principles and Service Requirements
AEC321 Engine Tuning, Disassembly, Inspection and ¸é±ð²¹²õ²õ±ð³¾²ú±ô²âÌý
AEC322 Vehicle Clutches, Transmissions and Final Drives
AEC330 Automotive Electrical Principles
AEC331 Automotive Batteries, Starting and Charging Systems
AEC332 Automotive lighting and wiring systems
AEC333 Automotive Electronics and HVAC
´¡·¡°ä340Ìý Vehicle Braking Systems
AEC341 Vehicle Suspension and Steering Systems
AEC342 Wheels and Tyres
17³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍøZero Fees Scheme**
This qualification is designed for people who are beginning a career in the industry and provides graduates with the skills to service general automotive systems. Graduates of this programme will be able to work under limited supervision.
17³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍøhas some of the best automotive facilities in the country and great relationships with local employers. This course has been endorsed by the Motor Industry Training Organisation (MITO) and the Automotive Advisory Committee (Invercargill) which represents the local industry.
Why complete a pre-trade course?
When you complete a pre-trade course you receive an industry recognised qualification that sets you on your way to an apprenticeship in your chosen field.
School Leavers
Mature Applicants
Applicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at Level 3 or above, in a related discipline and/or employment in the related sector for one or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty, in consultation with the Programme Operations Manager as appropriate. Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment
IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5 with no band score lower than 5
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 500 (with an essay score of 4 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 35 (with a writing score of 14)
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 154. No less than 154 in each skill.
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 3 (General) or (Workplace) b) Level 3 (General)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 36 with no band score lower than 36
Language Cert - B1 Achiever International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS
Trinity ISE - ISE I with no less than distinction in any band
* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current
The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3) full time over 34 tutorial weeks or part-time over two years.
To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully:
Please Note: Students failing to attend for 80% of the timetabled programme hours may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.
Students are also required to partake in at least one full day a week work experience with a recognised automotive technician or similar who will delegate you various tasks and help 17³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍøassess your progress. There is no expectation upon the employer to offer paid employment for this period, although this can be a confidential agreement between employer and student. You are encouraged to find your own work experience with a suitable company in the sector of the industry that interests you most.
In addition to the above, students will be required to complete regular homework.