Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Civil Works (Level 4) with strands in Earthworks,
Road Construction, Concrete (non-structural), and Road Maintenance
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
4
Credits
75-90
NZSCED
030999
Engineering and Related Technologies > Civil Engineering > Civil
Engineering not elsewhere classified
DAS classification
452
Engineering and Technology > Infrastructure Works
Qualification developer
Infrastructure ITO
Next review
December 2019
Approval date
February 2015
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the infrastructure
works industry with individuals who have attained the skills and
knowledge to safely construct and maintain civil infrastructure on
a range of dynamic and variable work sites with limited
supervision.
Graduates will benefit from having a qualification that recognises
the specialist skills to build and maintain good quality civil
infrastructure which is vital to New Zealand’s economic
development and prosperity.
Outcome Statement
Graduate profile
Qualification Reference 2688
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:

implement safety and quality assurance requirements during
civil works

interpret civil works plans

apply materials testing and compaction techniques

protect and maintain drainage systems, and apply drainage
management techniques

apply a range of problem-solving and communication skills
relevant to civil works operations.
Graduates of the Earthworks strand will also be able to:

apply earthworks methodology for civil works.
Graduates of the Road Construction strand will also be able
to:

construct road pavement layers and install retaining
structures, safety barriers and roadside furniture.
Graduates of the Concrete (non-structural) strand will also
Page 1 of 7
be able to:

place and finish concrete and install and maintain nonstructural concrete infrastructure.
Graduates of the Road Maintenance strand will also be able
to:
Education pathway

undertake cyclic and emergency works

undertake pavement repairs and apply reconstruction and
stabilisation methods to road maintenance tasks

maintain signage, road furniture and guardrails

undertake routine maintenance and repairs to bridges and
other structures.
This qualification builds on the New Zealand Certificate in
Infrastructure Works (Level 3) [Ref: 2523], and the New Zealand
Certificate in Plant and Equipment (Level 3) [Ref: 2521].
It can lead to the New Zealand Certificate in Civil Infrastructure
Trades (Civil Works) (Level 4) with strands in Earthworks, Road
Construction, Concrete Works (non-structural), and Road
Maintenance [Ref: 2725] and the New Zealand Certificate in
Infrastructure Works (Site Supervision) (Level 4) [Ref: 2617].
Employment pathway
Graduates of this qualification will likely be employed in the
Infrastructure Works industry. Likely contexts of work would be:

Urban sub-divisions

Industrial development

Marine developments

Rural development

Forestry development

Land Authority Infrastructure Development Projects

Forestry network maintenance

Infrastructure facility maintenance

New Zealand Transport Authority and Land Authority
Roading Networks and Projects.
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
This qualification will be awarded by the accredited organisation
with whom the graduate has been enrolled.
The certificate will display the logos of the NZQF and the
accredited organisation.
Evidence requirements for
assuring consistency
Each TEO is responsible for deciding what specific evidence it
will provide to demonstrate how well its graduates meet the
graduate profile outcomes at the appropriate threshold.
The following is core evidence that may be provided for
consistency reviews:
Qualification Reference 2688
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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
Internal and external moderation processes and results
relating to the assessment of graduate outcomes.

Feedback and actions taken by the TEO in response to
feedback.

Programme completion data and course results.

Post graduate surveys (which must include survey of
graduates and employers).

Any other relevant evidence.
For more information on evidence for consistency relating to this
qualification, contact the Quality Assurance team at
info@connexis.org.nz>; and refer to Guidelines for approval of
New Zealand qualifications for listing on the New Zealand
Qualifications Framework at www.nzqa.govt.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 recognition policies and procedures.
Credit transfer will be automatic where assessment standards
are used for assessment within programmes of study or training
leading to this qualification.
Recognition of current competence (RCC) acknowledges the
skills and knowledge from work and experience, or from courses
of study undertaken. Assessment of RCC may be conducted by
an assessor appointed by Infrastructure ITO, or an organisation
with consent to assess.
Minimum standard of
achievement and standards for
grade endorsements
Achievement of all core components of this qualification, and at
least one of the four strands.
There are no grade endorsements for this qualification.
Entry requirements (including
prerequisites to meet regulatory
body or legislative requirements)
It is recommended that people achieve the New Zealand
Certificate in Infrastructure Works (Level 3) [Ref: 2523], or
demonstrate equivalent knowledge and experience, before
attempting this qualification.
Qualification conditions
Overarching conditions relating to the qualification
Conditions for programme
structure
Included below are mandatory conditions which have been
agreed by industry to reflect best practice and must be included
in the programme. Further optional conditions have been
included to assist in fulfilling the requirements of the graduate
profile outcomes.
For more detailed guidelines for programme development
(including unit standards able to be used to meet the mandatory
and optional conditions), contact the qualification developer at:
qualifications@connexis.org.nz
Qualification Reference 2688
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
Page 3 of 7
Conditions for programme
context
TEOs offering programmes leading to this qualification must
maintain currency with amendments to, and replacements of,
relevant legislation, regulations, rules, and Australia/New
Zealand standards.
Other conditions
Programmes leading to the award of this qualification must
include traffic management training.
Specific conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
Conditions
1
Implement safety and quality
assurance requirements
during civil works.
Credits 14
2
3
4
Working safely and being aware of environmental
implications and quality is critical for all civil works
activities.
Must include:

environmental implications and controls

health, safety, environmental and quality
requirements.
Interpret civil works plans.
Must include:
Credits 5

location of various works on site

survey set-out requirements

levels and positional requirements.
Apply materials testing and
compaction techniques.
May include:

field samples
Credits 10

radiation for the purpose of nuclear density
meter (NDM) operation; NDM transportation,
operation, storage, and record keeping
requirements

compaction of civil construction materials and
reasons for compaction; the origins and
applications of civil construction materials;
material testing devices; basic soil mechanics
with regard to compaction.
Protect and maintain
drainage systems, and apply
drainage management
techniques.
May include:

road drainage systems, structures and
connections; and maintenance

subsoil drainage systems and piped culvert
drainage systems

installation of pipe culverts for road
construction.
Credits 15
Qualification Reference 2688
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
Mandatory
or
Optional
Mandatory
Mandatory
Optional
Optional
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5
Apply a range of problemsolving and communication
skills relevant to civil works
operations.
Must include:

a range of problem-solving methods and
techniques to solve issues related to day-today civil works activities
Credits 6

communicating and liaising with the general
public and others affected by worksite
activities; communication must include the
nature and extent of works.
Mandatory
For the Earthworks Strand
6
Apply earthworks
methodology for civil works.
Must include:

processes of bulk earthmoving and bulk
earthmoving considerations for a specific site

nature of different soil types; bulk excavation;
placement of earthwork materials; and dust,
erosion and run-off control on earthworks

subgrade; the shaping and protecting of
subgrade; methods of improving weak
subgrade; compaction equipment used on
subgrade; and shaping of the final surface

installation of earth retaining structures.
Credits 30
Mandatory
For the Road Construction Strand
7
Construct road pavement
layers and install retaining
structures, safety barriers
and roadside furniture.
Must include:

materials used during road formation; material
compaction; and testing

soil stabilisation, and methods of soil
stabilisation

subgrade; the shaping and protecting of
subgrade; methods of improving weak
subgrade; compaction equipment used on
subgrade; and shaping of the final surface

construction of retaining walls

fitting rails or wire and attachments for guard
rails or wire rope barriers, and roadside
furniture.
Credits 40
May include:

Mandatory
Optional
installation of traffic service poles, signage,
sign gantries; posts or sleeves.
For the Concrete (non-structural) Strand
8
Place and finish concrete and
install and maintain nonstructural concrete
Qualification Reference 2688
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
May include:

Optional
concrete mix design and manufacture;
concrete admixtures; methods of calculating
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infrastructure.
Credits 25
quantities of concrete;

placing and finishing concrete

exposed aggregate concrete

curing of concrete

constructing concrete vehicle crossings

preparing for and constructing kerb and
channel

checking for defects and carrying out remedial
work on concrete.
For the Road Maintenance Strand
9
Undertake cyclic and
emergency works.
May include:
Clearing of:
Credits 15

ice, snow, trimming and removal of roadside
vegetation.
Maintenance of:

10
Undertake pavement repairs
and apply reconstruction and
stabilisation methods to road
maintenance tasks.
Maintain signage, road
furniture and guardrails.

pavement failure in sealed and unsealed
roads caused by water, subgrade shape, and
traffic; and restoration techniques such as
stabilisation, mill and mix, and excavation

minor concrete works

repair of unbound pavement layers

repair of chip-sealed surfaces

restoration of pavements using stabilisation
techniques.
May include:

installation and refurbishment of traffic signs
and delineators

traffic service poles, signage, and roadside
furniture

inspection of road safety barrier systems.
Credits 10
12
Undertake routine
maintenance and repairs to
bridges and other structures.
road subsoil drainage, road drainage
structures, manual cleaning and repair of
open drainage systems, piped stormwater
drainage systems in the road reserve.
May include:
Credits 10
11
Optional
May include:

Optional
Optional
Optional
maintenance of road bridge surface and
furniture.
Credits 5
Qualification Reference 2688
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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Transition information
Replacement information
This qualification replaces the:
National Certificate in Civil Plant Operation (Level 3) [Ref: 1325]
National Certificate in Infrastructure Works (Bulk Earthmoving) (Level 3)
[Ref: 1094]
National Certificate in Infrastructure Works (Level 2 or 3) [Ref: 1326]
People currently working towards the replaced qualifications may either complete the requirements for
that qualification by 31 December 2018 or transfer to this qualification.
The last date for entry into programmes leading to the replaced qualifications is 31 December 2015.
It is the intention of Infrastructure ITO that no existing trainee should be disadvantaged by these transition
arrangements. Any person who considers they have been disadvantaged may appeal to the
Infrastructure ITO.
Republication information
Version 1 of this qualification was republished in October 2015 to update the Education Pathway.
Qualification Reference 2688
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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