QUALIFICATION DETAILS
Qualification
Title
New Zealand Diploma in Engineering Practice (with
strands in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering
and Mechanical Engineering)
Version
1.0
Qualification
type
Diploma
Level
6
Credits
120
NZSCED
Engineering and Related Technologies > Other Engineering and
Related Technologies > Engineering and Related Technologies not
elsewhere classified
Strategic
purpose
statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the engineering industry
with people that are able to consistently apply understanding and skills to
the standard expected of a practicing engineering technician in either the
civil, electrical or mechanical practice areas. It is aligned with the
Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand competence standard
for engineering technicians seeking recognition in the class of Associate
Member (AIPENZ) and/or registration as a Certified Engineering
Technician (CertETn).
The New Zealand Diploma in Engineering Practice is intended to
supplement and integrate the academic learning achieved through
completion of a New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (NZDE) with
practical knowledge and experience, and hence develop further
competence in engineering through on-job experience.
The practice area for the candidate may include but is not limited to
engineering consultancy, maintenance or asset management, design,
manufacturing, installation, production engineering, technical sales and
customer service, draughting services, construction or contracting.
Qualification Reference 1714
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2011
Page 1 of 5
Outcome Statement
Graduate
profile
Education
pathway
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:

comprehend and apply detailed knowledge underpinning good
practice as an engineering technician

comprehend and apply detailed knowledge underpinning good
practice as an engineering technician that is specific to the
jurisdiction in which he/she practices

identify, state and analyse well-defined engineering problems in
accordance with good practice for engineering

design or develop solutions to well-defined engineering problems by
applying accepted procedures and methodologies

be responsible for making decisions on part or all of one or more or
more well-defined engineering activities

manage part or all of one or more well-defined engineering activities
in accordance with good engineering management practice

identify risk and apply risk management techniques to well-defined
engineering problems

conduct engineering activities to an ethical standard at least
equivalent to the relevant code of ethical conduct

recognise the reasonably foreseeable social, cultural and
environmental effects of well-defined engineering activities generally

communicate clearly with others in the course of his/her well defined
engineering activities

maintain the currency of engineering knowledge and skills

exercise sound engineering judgement
This diploma builds on from the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering
(NZDE) (Level 6), and other engineering diplomas recognised by the New
Zealand Board for Engineering Diplomas.
It may lead to further study such as a Bachelor of Engineering
Technology or a Bachelor of Engineering degree.
The NZDEP is recognised by the Institution of Professional Engineers
New Zealand (IPENZ) as meeting the competence standard for
engineering technicians seeking recognition in the class of Associate
Member (AIPENZ) and/or registration as a Certified Engineering
Technician (CertETn).
Employment
pathway
Graduates with this qualification will likely be employed as civil, electrical
or mechanical engineering technicians in one of the following contexts:
- engineering consultancy
- maintenance or asset management
- engineering design
- manufacturing or production engineering
- technical sales and customer service
- draughting services
- construction
- contracting
Qualification
Developer
New Zealand Board for Engineering Diplomas (NZBED)
Qualification Reference 1714
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2011
Page 2 of 5
Qualification Specification
Qualification award
This qualification is awarded by the industry training organisation
arranging training leading to the qualification that are recognised by
the New Zealand Board for Engineering Diplomas and have signed a
Statement of Commitment to the Unified System for Engineering
Diplomas.
The formal certification document will include the NZQF logo, the
logo of the relevant industry training organisation and the logo of the
New Zealand Board for Engineering Diplomas.
Review period
60
To be reviewed in 2016
Arrangements for
managing consistency
The New Zealand Board for Engineering Diplomas (NZBED) has
established a National Moderation System covering assessment for
the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (NZDE) and the New
Zealand Diploma in Engineering Practice (NZDEP).
Assessment towards the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering
Practice may only be carried out by a workplace assessor registered
by the appropriate Industry Training Organisation and endorsed by
both the New Zealand Board for Engineering Diplomas (NZBED)
and the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ).
Each assessor is required to comply with the relevant requirements
of the National Moderation System, which includes the requirement
to actively take part in an annual Peer Moderation meeting.
Credit transfer and
recognition of prior
learning arrangements
The New Zealand Diploma in Engineering Practice will be assessed
using a holistic assessment philosophy which incorporates
submission of a portfolio of evidence and a professional interview.
This practice allows the recognition of any relevant prior learning as
part of the assessment process.
This qualification replaces the National Diploma in Civil Engineering
(Applied) [Ref: 1292]. The last date for award of this qualification is
31 December 2014.
No further enrolments in the the National Diploma in Civil
Engineering (Applied) [Ref: 1292] will be accepted after the
registration date for the NZDEP. People who have fully or partially
completed unit standard 23410 in the replaced National Diploma in
Civil Engineering (Applied) [Ref: 1292] are able, at no extra cost, to
have their Record of Achievement evaluated by the New Zealand
Board for Engineering Diplomas (NZBED) in terms of demonstrating
equivalent knowledge and skills and will be awarded credit towards
the Civil Engineering strand of the NZDEP.
Minimum standard of
achievement and
standards for grade
endorsements (where
applicable)
Not applicable
Pre requisites to meet
regulatory body or
legislative requirements
(where applicable)
The New Zealand Diploma in Engineering Practice (NZDEP) will only
be awarded to candidates who have also completed a New Zealand
Diploma in Engineering (NZDE) or an equivalent qualification
approved by the New Zealand Board for Engineering Diplomas.
Optional conditions for
qualification
None.
Qualification Reference 1714
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2011
Page 3 of 5
Conditions relating to specific outcomes
Qualification Outcomes
(including indicative
credit values for each
outcome)
Conditions
Mandatory
or
Optional
Unit standard 27476
Mandatory
Unit standard 27472
Mandatory
Comprehend and apply
detailed knowledge
underpinning good practice
as an engineering
technician
Comprehend and apply
detailed knowledge
underpinning good practice
as an engineering
technician that is specific to
the jurisdiction in which
he/she practices
Be responsible for making
decisions on part or all of
one or more or more welldefined engineering
activities
Manage part or all of one
or more well-defined
engineering activities in
accordance with good
engineering management
practice
Communicate clearly with
others in the course of
his/her well defined
engineering activities
Maintain the currency of
engineering knowledge and
skills
Exercise sound
engineering judgement
60 credits
Conduct engineering
activities to an ethical
standard at least equivalent
to the relevant code of
ethical conduct
Recognise the reasonably
foreseeable social, cultural
and environmental effects
of well-defined engineering
activities generally
15 credits
Qualification Reference 1714
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2011
Page 4 of 5
Identify, state and analyse
well-defined engineering
problems in accordance
with good practice for
engineering
15 credits
Design or develop
solutions to well-defined
engineering problems by
applying accepted
procedures and
methodologies
15 credits
Identify risk and apply risk
management techniques to
well-defined engineering
problems
15 credits
For the Civil Engineering Strand:
Unit standard 27473
For the Electrical Engineering Strand:
Unit standard 27482
Mandatory
For the Mechanical Engineering Strand:
Unit standard 27479
For the Civil Engineering Strand:
Unit standard 27474
For the Electrical Engineering Strand:
Unit standard 27480
Mandatory
For the Mechanical Engineering Strand:
Unit standard 27477
For the Civil Engineering Strand:
Unit standard 27475
For the Electrical Engineering Strand:
Unit standard 27481
Mandatory
For the Mechanical Engineering Strand:
Unit standard 27478
Qualification Reference 1714
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2011
Page 5 of 5