QUALIFICATION DETAILS
Qualification Title
New Zealand Certificate in Scaffolding (Level 3) with strands
in General and Suspended Scaffolding
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
3
Credits
100-180
NZSCED
040329 Architecture and Building > Building > Scaffolding and Rigging
DAS Classification
965 Service Sector > Lifting Equipment
Strategic purpose
statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the scaffolding sector with
people who have attained scaffolding erection and dismantling skills in either
general or suspended scaffolding.
The General Scaffolding strand prepares people for entry into the New
Zealand Certificate in Scaffolding (Level 4) [Ref: 2362].
The Suspended Scaffolding strand is a pre-requisite for the award of the New
Zealand Certificate in Scaffolding (Level 5) [Ref: 2363].
Graduates of the respective strands will be ready to apply for the following
scaffolding competence endorsements as specified in the Health and Safety
in Employment Regulations 1995:
General Scaffolding strand
Basic Certificate
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
A fall arrest system
A free standing modular scaffolding system
A gin wheel
A rope
A static line
Advanced Certificate
O. Tube and coupler scaffolding
Suspended Scaffolding Strand
Suspended Certificate
A. Bosun’s chair – handheld or mechanical
B. Swinging stage – handheld or mechanical.
Outcome Statement
Graduate
profile
Graduates will be able to:

Comprehend and act on instructions, communicate information within
a team and outside groups, complete basic workplace documentation

Maintain personal safety while working at heights in accordance with
health and safety legislation and the best practice guidelines for
scaffolding systems

Sling and prepare scaffolding and equipment for lifting by crane and
communicate the lift requirements.
Graduates of the General Scaffolding strand will be able to:

Assure compliance of straightforward, proprietary and tube
scaffolding structures
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
Base-out straightforward, proprietary and tube scaffolding structures
from given plans

Demonstrate, at height, safety procedures for the erection and
dismantling of scaffolding

Erect and dismantle straightforward, proprietary and tube scaffolding
structures from given plans.
Graduates of the Suspended Scaffolding strand will be able to:
Education
pathway

Assure compliance of proprietary suspended scaffolding structures

Erect and dismantle proprietary suspended scaffolding structures,
including; hand haul and powered bosun’s chairs; and swinging
stages.
This qualification is the first step in the New Zealand scaffolding qualification
pathway. The General Scaffolding strand will prepare the candidate for entry
into the New Zealand Certificate in Scaffolding (Level 4) [Ref: 2362].
The Level 4, Ref: 2362, is a prerequisite for candidates enrolling in the New
Zealand Certificate in Scaffolding (Level 5) [Ref: 2363]. Candidates who have
not completed the Level 3 strand in Suspended Scaffolding may undertake
programmes leading to that strand and Ref: 2363 concurrently. The award of
this qualification via the Suspended Scaffolding strand is a pre-requisite for
the award of the Level 5 Ref: 2363.
Graduates of this qualification will have achieved unit standard 3789.
Achievement of this unit standard represents 22 credits required for the New
Zealand Certificate in Cranes (Dogman Operations) (Level 3) [Ref: 1786].
This unit standard is also included in the New Zealand Certificate in Rigging
(Level 3) [Ref: 2355].
Employment
pathway
Graduates of the General Scaffolding strand are likely to gain employment as
a scaffolder erecting and dismantling elementary scaffolds for construction,
events and industrial purposes. They will be able to work for companies
providing scaffolding services, performing all basic scaffolding tasks – in
accordance with the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995
competence endorsements as listed in the strategic purpose statement.
Graduates of the Suspended Scaffolding strand will be able to erect and
dismantle proprietary suspended scaffolding structures. They will be able to
work for companies in the window cleaning or maintenance sectors – in
accordance with the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995
competence endorsements as listed in the strategic purpose statement.
Further training in the New Zealand Certificate in Scaffolding (Level 4) [Ref:
2362] and New Zealand Certificate in Scaffolding (Level 5) [Ref: 2363] will
extend their employment opportunities as they will obtain endorsement
towards the advanced scaffolding competencies as specified in the Health
and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995.
Qualification
Developer
The Skills Organisation
Qualification Specification
Qualification award
This qualification may be awarded by The Skills Organisation as the
qualification developer and the industry training organisation arranging
training leading to the qualification under section 5 of the Industry Training
Act 1992.
This qualification may also be awarded by a tertiary education organisation
(TEO) accredited under section 250 of the Education Act 1989 to deliver an
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approved programme leading to this qualification.
The formal document certifying the award of this qualification includes the full
qualification title, the date of award, and the logos of The Skills Organisation,
the accredited TEO, and the NZQF.
As the qualification developer, The Skills Organisation will maintain a list of
graduates of this qualification. The TEO will annually report the names of all
graduates awarded the qualification to The Skills Organisation.
Review period
By 31 December 2019
Any person or organisation may contribute to the review of this qualification
by sending feedback to the qualification developer at
reviewcomments@skills.org.nz.
Evidence
requirements for
assuring
consistency
All TEOs either arranging training or delivering programmes that lead to the
award of the qualification are required to participate in a consistency process
scheduled by NZQA.
TEO’s are to provide evidence from the following sources that graduates of
their programmes have gained the knowledge and skills contained in the
qualification’s graduate profile outcomes:

Feedback from teaching staff, training supervisors and industry managers
regarding trainee progression within either the TEO or the workplace.

Feedback from major employers' associations, such as SARNZ and the
NZ Crane Association, to determine the extent to which members
involved in industries that rely on rigging specialists are satisfied with the
knowledge and skill level of graduates..

Feedback from Independent surveys of graduates and employers to
determine if the graduates have gained the knowledge and skills required
in the workplace.

Review of results of a common assessment task.
For full details of The Skills Organisation arrangements for managing
consistency, contact The Skills Organisation at: consistency@skills.org.nz
Credit transfer and
recognition of prior
learning
arrangements
TEOs delivering programmes that lead to the award of this qualification may
transfer credit and recognise prior learning in accordance with their own
credit recognition policies and procedures.
These policies and procedures, and information about associated fees, must
be available to the applicant prior to enrolment.
To facilitate credit transfer, TEOs must clearly demonstrate the equivalency
or comparability between each of the outcomes in the graduate profile, and
the assessment components of their programmes.
Credit transfer will be automatic where standards on the Directory of
Assessment Standards are used for assessment within programme of study
or training leading to this qualification.
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Minimum standard
of achievement and
standards for grade
endorsements
(where applicable)
Prerequisites to
meet regulatory
body or legislative
requirements
The minimum standard of achievement required for the award of the
qualification will be:

achievement of all graduate outcomes in the graduate profile through
successful completion of an approved programme.

achievement of either the general or suspended scaffolding strand.

successful completion of a common summative assessment task.
To enrol in this qualification, it is expected that candidates will have existing
knowledge and skills in numeracy at a level that includes/exceeds what is
required in the industry.
A current workplace first aid certificate covering unit standards 26551, 26552
(or equivalent) is also a requirement.
The qualification includes unit standard 3789 which is a requirement for
anyone directing cranes under the Department of Labour Approved Code of
Practice for Cranes Nov 2009 (3rd edition) or replacements that supersede it.
Other conditions
for qualification
Programmes leading to this qualification must reflect current industry best
practice as defined in the Best Practice Guidelines for Scaffolding – or
replacements that supersede it, first published by OSH (Ministry of Business
Innovation and Employment) in 2002, and revised, 2009, and the Best
Practice Guidelines for Working at Height in New Zealand (April 2012) or
replacements that supersede it.
Qualification outcomes are to be met in accordance with:
– Legislative requirements dictates certain scaffolds be erected by, or
under direct supervision of a scaffolder holding the appropriate class of
certificate of competence.
Conditions relating to outcomes
Qualification Outcomes
(including indicative
credit values for each
outcome)
Conditions
Comprehend and act on
instructions, communicate
information within a team
and outside groups,
complete basic workplace
documentation
5 credits
Programme and assessment will include the
knowledge and skills required to:

comprehend recorded workplace information,
verbal instruction, written or drawn
specifications, and signs

communicate workplace information using oral
communication, hand signals, written
information, and drawings

complete basic workplace documentation such
as timesheets, log books, work plan details,
hazard identification, task sheets, control
plans, scaffold register and notification of
hazardous work.
Mandatory or
Optional
This outcome must be demonstrated through
assessment against the following unit standard:
1277
This outcome may be demonstrated through
assessment against one of the following unit
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standards:
11097
1312
Maintain personal safety
while working at heights in
accordance with health and
safety legislation and the
best practice guidelines for
scaffolding systems
27 credits
Programme and assessment will include the
knowledge and skills required to apply fall restraint
in scaffolding contexts and construct work restraint
and work positioning systems using rope access
equipment.

health and safety legislation and the best
practice guidelines for scaffolding systems

locate and interpret information from the Best
Practice Guidelines for Scaffolding to suit given
situations

demonstrate an overview knowledge and
understanding of the Crane Safety Manual for
Operators/Users, obtainable from the Crane
Association of New Zealand (Inc) or its
equivalent

interpret and apply legislative requirements in
the design of scaffolding works

plan loading, load, restrain, secure and unload
scaffolding and equipment in a commercial
vehicle

use and maintain scaffolding hand and power
tools and report any faults
This outcome must be demonstrated through
assessment against the following unit standards:
19620
23229
15757
1753
19622
This outcome may be demonstrated through
assessment against one of the following unit
standards:
19621
26607
This outcome may be demonstrated through
assessment against one of the following unit
standards:
20855
26591
Sling and prepare
scaffolding and equipment
for lifting by crane and
communicate the lift
requirements
22 credits
This outcome must be demonstrated through
assessment against the following unit standard:
3789
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General scaffolding
strand
Assure compliance of
straightforward, proprietary
and tube scaffolding
structures
9 credits
Programme and assessment will include the
knowledge and skills required to:

plan and prepare for the erection of scaffolding

complete a scaffolding inspection compliance
report
This outcome may be demonstrated through
assessment against one of the following unit
standards:
20856
23228
Base-out straightforward,
proprietary and tube
scaffolding structures from
given plans
Programme and assessment will include the
knowledge and skills required to:

prepare a scaffolding site for the basing out of
scaffolding

base out tube and fitting scaffolding

base out proprietary frame scaffolding

base out individual component proprietary
scaffolding

base out returns for tube and fitting scaffolding.
39 credits
This outcome may be demonstrated through
assessment against one of the following unit
standards:
20857
20858
20859
20860
23223
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Demonstrate, at height,
safety procedures for the
erection and dismantling of
scaffolding
Programme and assessment will include the
knowledge and skills required to:

demonstrate, at height, safety procedures for
the erection of scaffolding

demonstrate at height, safety procedures for
the dismantling of scaffolding.
12 credits
This outcome may be demonstrated through
assessment against one of the following unit
standards:
20861
20862
Erect and dismantle
straightforward, proprietary
and tube scaffolding
structures from given plans
66 credits
Programme and assessment will include the
knowledge and skills required to:

erect and dismantle standing tube and fitting
scaffolding

erect and dismantle mobile scaffolding

erect and dismantle elementary falsework

erect and dismantle standing proprietary
scaffolding

design, erect, and dismantle scaffolding ties

use tube and coupler in standing proprietary
scaffolds
This outcome may be demonstrated through
assessment against one of the following unit
standards:
23224
23225
23226
23227
23715
19623
Suspended scaffolding
strand
Assure compliance of
proprietary suspended
scaffolding structures
10 credits
Programme and assessment will include the
knowledge and skills required to:

plan and prepare for the erection of suspended
scaffolding

complete suspended scaffolding inspection
compliance reports
This outcome must be demonstrated through
assessment against the following unit standards:

26592

26595
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Erect and dismantle
proprietary suspended
scaffolding structures,
including; hand haul and
powered bosun’s chairs;
and swinging stages

erect, operate, and dismantle bosun's chairs

erect, operate, and dismantle swinging stages.
This outcome must be demonstrated through
assessment against the following unit standards:
26593
36 credits
26594
Transition information
Replacement
information
This qualification replaces the National Certificate in Scaffolding (Elementary)
(Level 3) [Ref: 1352] and the National Certificate in Suspended Scaffolding
(Level 4) [Ref: 1771].
The last date for entry into programmes leading to the replaced qualifications is 31 December 2016.
The last date to meet the requirements of the replaced qualifications will be 31 December 2019 when
the qualifications will be discontinued. From that date no results can be reported against the
qualifications.
People currently working towards one of the replaced qualifications may either complete the
requirements by 31 December 2019 or transfer their results to the replacement qualification.
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© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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