Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Trowel Trades (Level 4) with strands in Brick and Block
Laying; Floor and Wall Tiling; Proprietary Plaster Cladding Systems, with an optional
strand in Fixing Cavities and Substrates; Ferro-Cement Tank Manufacture; Refractory
Installation; and Solid Plastering, with an optional strand in Decorative Mouldings
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
4
Credits
120 – 210
NZSCED
040399 Architecture and Building > Building > Building not
elsewhere classified
Qualification developer
Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation
(BCITO)
Next review
December 2020
Approval date
February 2016
Strategic purpose statement
This qualification is targeted at those intending to work, and
working in the trowel trades sector of the construction industry.
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the trowel trades
sector with tradespeople capable of providing leadership while
working unsupervised, to complete specific trowel trade work to
the level required of a commercially competent tradesperson.
The strands recognise aspects of the trowel trades industry.
The Brick and Block Laying, Solid Plastering and Proprietary
Plaster Cladding Systems strands support the knowledge and
skill requirements of the appropriate license class and/or areas of
practice of the Licensed Building Practitioner scheme.
Outcome Statement
Graduate profile
Qualification Reference 3137
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:

apply a broad practical working knowledge of the
fundamentals required in the trowel trades in order to
undertake specific trowel trade work

self-manage on-going learning and provide leadership for
others, with a responsibility to maintain the professional
standards required in the trowel trades industry

operate unsupervised to the required safety, technical,
quality and productivity standards expected in a commercial
environment.
Graduates of the Brick and Block Laying strand will be able to:

plan and carry out all aspects of brick and block masonry
work, including structural masonry and masonry veneer.
Page 1 of 6
Graduates of the Floor and Wall Tiling strand will be able to:

plan and carry out all aspects of floor and wall tiling work,
including wet and dry areas.
Graduates of the Proprietary Plaster Cladding Systems strand
will be able to:

plan and carry out all aspects of proprietary plaster cladding
systems, including installation and finishing.
Graduates of the Proprietary Plaster Cladding Systems strand,
with the optional strand in Fixing Cavities and Substrates will be
able to:

plan and carry out all aspects of fixing cavities and
substrates to framing, including fixing cavities and
substrates to timber and steel framing.
Graduates of the Ferro-Cement Tank Manufacture strand will be
able to:

plan and carry out all aspects of ferro-cement tank
manufacture, including concreting and plastering.
Graduates of the Refractory Installation strand will be able to:

plan and carry out all aspects of installing refractories,
including repairs and maintenance.
Graduates of the Solid Plastering strand will be able to:

plan and carry out all aspects of solid plastering work,
including a range of different finishes.
Graduates of the Solid Plastering strand, with the optional strand
in Decorative Mouldings will be able to:

plan and carry out all aspects of creating and installing
decorative mouldings, including run mouldings to create or
recreate decorative elements using plaster as the medium .
Education pathway
This qualification may lead to the New Zealand Certificate in
Construction Related Trades (Supervisor) (Level 4) [Ref: 2381].
Employment pathway
Graduates of this qualification are qualified tradespeople in their
field within the trowel trades sector. They may go on to roles in
supervision or management, to owning their own business, or to
become specialist operators.
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
Qualification Reference 3137
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
This qualification may be awarded by the Building and
Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) as the
qualification developer and the industry training organisation
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arranging training leading to the qualification under section 5 of
the Industry Training Act 1992.
This qualification may also be awarded by an education provider
recognised as a programme owner, accredited under section 259
of the Education Act 1989 to deliver a programme leading to this
qualification.
The formal document certifying the award of this qualification will
display the NZQF logo and may also include the name or logo of
the qualification developer and/or other awarding body.
Evidence requirements for
assuring consistency
Evidence requirements may include the following:

programme statistics such as completion data and
graduate destination data

evidence from internal and/or external moderation
processes

evidence of stakeholder engagement to ensure that
programmes continue to meet the ongoing needs of the
industry sector

regular feedback gathered from learners and employers

any other relevant evidence as appropriate.
Minimum standard of
achievement and standards for
grade endorsements
Achievement of all core outcomes and at least one strand.
Other requirements for the
qualification (including regulatory
body or legislative requirements)
None
General conditions for the programme leading to the qualification
General conditions for
programme
Current standards can be accessed at http://standards.co.nz.
Current legislation and regulations can be accessed at
http://legislation.govt.nz.
Approved Codes and Practice and best/good practice guidelines
can be accessed at http://business.govt.nz/worksafe
Industry expects that programmes leading to the qualification
fully recognise all aspects of the Trowel Trades specifications
which are published on the BCITO website. This includes specific
information for the fundamentals, and all strands. Refer:
www.bcito.org.nz/schools-and-providers/qualificationspecifications/.
Conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
Qualification Reference 3137
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
Conditions
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1
Apply a broad practical, working knowledge of the
fundamentals required in the trowel trades, in
order to undertake specific trowel trade work.
Credits 30
2
Self-manage on-going learning and provide
leadership for others, with a responsibility to
maintain the professional standards of the trowel
trades industry.
Credits 7
3
Operate unsupervised to the required safety,
technical, quality and productivity standards
expected in a commercial environment.
Credits 8
Brick and Block Laying strand
4
Plan and carry out all aspects of brick and block
masonry work, including structural masonry and
masonry veneer.
Credits 165
Floor and Wall Tiling strand
5
Plan and carry out all aspects of floor and wall
tiling work, including wet and dry areas.
Credits 125
Proprietary Plaster Cladding Systems strand
6
Plan and carry out all aspects of proprietary
plaster cladding systems including installation and
finishing.
Credits 111
Fixing Cavities and Substrates optional strand for graduates of the Proprietary Plaster Cladding
Systems strand
7
Plan and carry out all aspects of fixing cavities
and substrates to framing, including fixing cavities
and substrates to timber and steel framing
Credits 14
Ferro-cement Tank Manufacture strand
Qualification Reference 3137
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
Page 4 of 6
8
Plan and carry out all aspects of ferro-cement
tank manufacture, including concreting and
plastering.
Credits 75
Refractory Installation strand
9
Plan and carry out all aspects of installing
refractories, including repairs and maintenance.
Credits 135
Solid Plastering strand
10
Plan and carry out all aspects of solid plastering
work, including a range of different finishes.
Credits 125
Decorative Moulding - optional strand for graduates of the Solid Plastering strand
11
Plan and carry out all aspects of creating and
installing decorative mouldings, including run
mouldings to create or recreate decorative
elements using plaster as the medium
Credits 40
Transition information
Replacement information
This qualification replaced the:
National Certificate in Brick and Block Laying (Level 4) [Ref: 1356]
National Certificate in Floor and Wall Tiling (Level 4) [Ref: 0726]
National Certificate in Proprietary Plaster Cladding Systems (Level
4) with strands in Rebated Fibre Cement, Lightweight Fibre Cement,
and External Insulation Finishing Systems (EIFS) [Ref: 0786]
National Certificate in Refractory Installation (Level 3) [Ref: 1355]
National Certificate in Solid Plastering (Level 4) with an optional
strand in Specialist Mouldings and ecorative Work [Ref: 0725]
Candidates currently working towards the replaced qualifications may either complete the requirements
by 31 December 2020 or transfer to this qualification. The final date for enrolment in the replaced
qualifications is 31 December 2017 and the final date for assessment is 31 December 2020.
It is not intended that anyone be disadvantaged by this review. However, anyone who feels they have
been disadvantaged can appeal to BCITO at the contact details below.
Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO)
PO Box 2615
Qualification Reference 3137
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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Wellington 6140
Telephone
Email
Website
04 381 6430
national.office@bcito.org.nz
http://www.bcito.org.nz/
Qualification Reference 3137
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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