Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Apparel and Fashion Technology (Advanced
Garment Construction) (Level 5)
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
5
Credits
70
NZSCED
030107
Engineering and Related Technologies > Manufacturing,
Engineering and Technology > Garment Making
DAS classification
182
Manufacturing > Clothing Manufacture
Qualification developer
Competenz
Next review
December 2019
Approval date
November 2014
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the apparel and
fashion manufacturing sector with people who are able to use
industrial sewing machines to accurately produce and assemble
a range of complete structured and unstructured items, sample
items, and develop garment specification documentation to meet
organisational and customer requirements.
This qualification is suitable for experienced people working in
the apparel and fashion manufacturing sector, and recognises
the specific technical skills and knowledge around garment
construction demonstrated by sample machinists and senior
sewing machinists.
Graduates will be capable of complete self-management of
learning and performance within defined contexts and may have
some responsibility for the management of learning and
performance of others.
Outcome Statement
Graduate profile
Education pathway
Qualification Reference 2605
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Graduates of this qualification will, in accordance with
organisational procedues, be able to:

Select and lay up a range of fabrics for sample making.

Develop garment specification sheets for, and accurately
sew and assemble a range of complete garments and
sample garments.

Write a simple job breakdown for an unstructured garment,
or garment part.

Work as part of a team, applying effective communication
and behavioural skills to meet production requirements.
This qualification builds on the New Zealand Certificate in
Apparel and Fashion Technology (Level 3) [Ref: 2607], and may
Page 1 of 4
lead to the New Zealand Diploma in Apparel and Fashion
Technology (Level 5) [Ref: 2606].
Employment pathway
Holders of this qualification will have the skills and knowledge to
work as a sample machinist, senior machinist, garment or
specifications technician in the apparel and fashion
manufacturing industry.
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
This qualification can be awarded by a tertiary education
organisation (TEO) which has an approved programme of
study or industry training programme leading to the
qualification.
The certificate will display the logo of the NZQF and may
display the name and/or logo of the awarding body.
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.
This will involve reviewing evidence associated with
graduate’s achievement of outcomes, and agreeing
acceptable thresholds for qualification outcome
achievement, and areas for improvement.
To demonstrate how graduates are achieving the
qualification graduate profile outcomes, TEOs are required
to produce their own evidence in a high level report.
Evidence will include the following:

Employer surveys to determine if graduates of the
qualification meet the graduate profile outcomes.

Evidence of effective processes to ensure programmes
continue to meet current industry needs.

A range of workplace evidence demonstrating that
graduates meet the graduate profile outcomes.

Any other relevant evidence as appropriate.
Further information about the managing consistency process
can be found on the NZQA website.
Credit transfer and recognition of
prior learning arrangements
Organisations that offer programmes towards the
qualification are expected to have Recognition of Current
Competence (RCC) or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
assessment processes in place. Credit transfer will be
automatic where assessment standards are used for
assessment within programmes of study or training leading
to this qualification.
Minimum standard of achievement
and standards for grade
Achievement of all outcomes. There are no grade
endorsements for this qualification.
Qualification Reference 2605
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Page 2 of 4
endorsements
Entry requirements (including
prerequisites to meet regulatory body
or legislative requirements)
It is recommended that people enrolling in this qualification
hold the New Zealand Certificate in Apparel and Fashion
Technology (Level 3) [Ref: 2607], or have demonstrated
appropriate experience as an advanced machinist in the
apparel and fashion manufacturing environment.
Qualification conditions
Overarching conditions relating to the qualification
Conditions for programme
structure
None.
Conditions for programme
context
None.
Other conditions
It is expected that the skills and knowledge components listed against
each outcome statement in the table below will be used when
developing programmes and assessing achievement of that outcome.
Structured garments, or parts of garments, are those that could have
lining, fusing, boning, wiring or shoulder pads and usually complex
methods of construction.
Unstructured garments require no additional support to the fabric and
have less complicated methods of construction.
Specific conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
Conditions
Mandatory
or Optional
1
Programme and assessment must include:
Mandatory
Select and lay up a range of fabrics
for sample making.

laying up a range of fabrics by hand to
cut samples and calculate fabric yield

drawing lay plans for specification
sheets according to organisational
requirements.
Credit 5
2
Develop garment specification sheets
for, and accurately sew and assemble
a range of complete garments and
sample garments.
Credit 55
Qualification Reference 2605
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Programme and assessment must include:

developing written garment assembly
instructions (sequencing)

completing garment specification
sheets including special instructions,
templates, applying standard minutes
and allowing for downtime

using industrial lockstitch, overlock and
speciality sewing machines, across a
Mandatory
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range of different fabrics.
3
Write a simple job breakdown for an
unstructured garment, or garment
part.
Programme and assessment must include:

Mandatory
writing a job breakdown based on
sighting a sewn sample.
Credit 5
4
Work as part of a team, applying
effective communication and
behavioural skills to meet production
requirements.
Credit 5
Programme and assessment must include:

Mandatory
coordinating interactions with
colleagues, managers and customers
to meet organisational and production
requirements.
Transition information
Replacement information
This qualification replaced the National Certificate in Clothing Manufacture
(Level 4) [Ref: 1506].
The last date for entry into programmes leading to the replaced qualification is 31 December 2017. The
last date for award of the replaced qualification is 31 December 2019, at which time it will be designated
as discontinued.
It is recommended that candidates currently enrolled in programmes who will be unable to complete the
replaced qualification by 31 December 2019 transfer to the New Zealand Certificate in Apparel and
Fashion Technology (Advanced Garment Construction) (Level 5) [Ref: 2605].
It is anticipated that no existing candidates will be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements.
However, anyone who feels that they have been disadvantaged may appeal to Competenz at the
address below. Appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Competenz, PO Box 9005, Newmarket, Auckland 1149.
Qualification Reference 2605
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
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