Programme overview
Students in this programme are in a formal apprenticeship agreement with an on-site supervisor and Unitec. The majority of your learning will take place in actual and practical work-based settings. Timetabled off-job training sessions complement workplace learning and focus on integrating your practical workplace learning experiences to make sense of complex situations.
Highlights
- Earn and learn - with our flexible study method, you will learn on campus one day per week for the first two years and one evening per week for the last two years
- Range of employment and work competencies to increase your fundamental knowledge and skills to become a well-rounded, commercially competent licensed builder
- Staff who are members of the NZCB (New Zealand Certified Builders), the Registered MB (Master Builders), the BOINZ (Building Officials Institute of New Zealand), and other industry groups
- Access to well-equipped workshops
Qualification and What Next
Once you’ve successfully completed this programme and your apprenticeship, you’ll receive the New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4) and be considered a trade-qualified carpenter. You can apply to become a member of NZCB (New Zealand Certified Builders), the Registered MB (Master Builders), and the BOINZ (Building Officials Institute of New Zealand).
Are you an employer looking to train your crew?
Do you have someone on your team who needs training, or do you want to empower your crew with the expertise required to excel in the carpentry trade, ensuring high-quality craftsmanship and increased job site efficiency? Training an apprentice lays the foundation for hardworking, loyal employees who understand your business's operations. Reduce risk, increase efficiency and profitability, and develop your team's skills to meet your standards. Win business quickly with a qualified team. Contact our carpentry team at carpentry@unitec.ac.nz
Admission requirements
For this programme you need:
1. To be working in the construction industry as an employee or contractor
2. Be supervised by someone who has qualifications and/or experience with Licenced Building Practitioner (LBP) and is prepared to support your training. Note: Unitec will arrange the training agreement between you, your employer and Unitec. The agreement will outline the responsibilities of each party to the apprenticeship, and will align with the principles in the Code of Good Practice for New Zealand Apprenticeships.
3. Have met one of the following Academic Admission requirements:
- NCEA Level 2 with a minimum of 10 Level 1 credits in English or Te Reo and 10 Level 1 credits in Mathematics, OR
- Have attained the Construction and Infrastructure Vocational Pathway for NCEA level 2, OR
- Be a graduate of a pre-apprenticeship qualification in a building and construction field such as the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills
4. If English is not your first language, you will need one or more of the following:
- Have achieved NCEA Level 3 and New Zealand University entrance
- Be able to provide evidence you satisfy our criteria for existing English proficiency
- Have achieved at least one English proficiency outcome in the last two years
Don't have NCEA? We also accept:
- A relevant qualification at Level 2 on the NZQF or above or an equivalent qualification; or
- Provide sufficient evidence to be eligible for special or discretionary admission.
For more information download the programme regulations:
Courses and timetables
For more details on the courses, please click on the course names below. Please note that our systems are updating with new course timetable information for 2025; please check back again soon.
| Courses | Credits | Aim |
|---|---|---|
| Carpentry Introduction 1 (CIBC4101) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | To enable students to select tools and equipment of the trade, identify and show an understanding of legislation, consent process and licensing, and identify building types and construction methods and have a basic understanding of each. |
| Carpentry Introduction 2 (Sem A) (CIBC4102-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To enable students to use tools and equipment of the trade, and apply appropriate health and safety legislation in everyday construction operations. |
| Carpentry Introduction 2 (Sem B) (CIBC4102-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To enable students to use tools and equipment of the trade, and apply appropriate health and safety legislation in everyday construction operations. |
| Preliminaries 1 (CIBC4103) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | To develop skills in building mathematics, planning and communication, site establishment and maintenance, and site set-out. |
| Preliminaries 2 (Sem A) (CIBC4104-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To be able to carry out building mathematics, planning and communication, and, establish and maintain sites. |
| Preliminaries 2 (Sem B) (CIBC4104-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To be able to carry out building mathematics, planning and communication, and, establish and maintain sites. |
| Interiors 1 (CIBC4105) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | To enable students to identify thermal insulation, linings and finishing trim, and carry-out building mathematics. |
| Exterior Structures 1 (Sem A) (CIBC4106-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To enable to fix and brace wall frames, and fix roof support members. |
| Exterior Structures 1 (Sem B) (CIBC4106-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To enable to fix and brace wall frames, and fix roof support members. |
| Walls and Roofs 1 (CIBC4107) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | To identify how wall and roof structures, and ceiling framing are constructed, and to perform building mathematics. |
| Joinery 1 (CIBC4108) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | To develop an understanding of the principles used to manage weathertightness issues, and install interior joinery. |
| Exterior Structures 2 (CIBC4109) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | To develop skills on construction of frames, post and portal construction, and building science. |
| Walls 1 (Sem A) (CIBC4110-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To enable to construct walls. |
| Walls 1 (Sem B) (CIBC4110-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To enable to construct walls. |
| Exterior Envelope 1 (CIBC4111) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | To apply building mathematics, and to know about roof and wall cladding. |
| Support Structures 1 (CIBC4112) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | To develop knowledge on foundations and retaining walls. |
| Support Structures 2 (Sem A) (CIBC4113-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To construct timber framed foundations and sub- floors. |
| Support Structures 2 (Sem B) (CIBC4113-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To construct timber framed foundations and sub- floors. |
| Exterior Envelope 2 (CIBC4114) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | To identify roof claddings, joinery and wall claddings. |
| Support Structures 3 (Sem A) (CIBC4115-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To construct retaining walls, and work within code and compliance processes. |
| Support Structures 3 (Sem B) (CIBC4115-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To construct retaining walls, and work within code and compliance processes. |
| Exterior Structures 3 (Sem A) (CIBC4116-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To install joinery, hardware and materials. |
| Exterior Structures 3 (Sem B) (CIBC4116-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To install joinery, hardware and materials. |
| Exterior Structures 4 (Sem A) (CIBC4117-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To construct decks, and stairs or ramps, and comply with consent and code requirements. |
| Exterior Structures 4 (Sem B) (CIBC4117-SB) | 5 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To construct decks, and stairs or ramps, and comply with consent and code requirements. |
| Support Structures 4 (Sem A) (CIBC4118-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To construct concrete floors. |
| Support Structures 4 (Sem B) (CIBC4118-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To construct concrete floors. |
| Concrete Structures (CIBC4119) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | To describe materials, building types and methods, columns, posts, beams and portals and concrete floors. |
| Interiors 2 (Sem A) (CIBC4120-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To construct ceiling frames, brace and connect roof frame to wall and install wall and ceiling linings. |
| Interiors 2 (Sem B) (CIBC4120-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To construct ceiling frames, brace and connect roof frame to wall and install wall and ceiling linings. |
| Exterior Envelope 3 (Sem A) (CIBC4121-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To install wall claddings. |
| Exterior Envelope 3 (Sem B) (CIBC4121-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To install wall claddings. |
| Exterior Envelope 4 (Sem A) (CIBC4122-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To prepare and install cavity systems, and complete openings for joinery. |
| Exterior Envelope 4 (Sem B) (CIBC4122-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To prepare and install cavity systems, and complete openings for joinery. |
| Roofs 1 (Sem A) (CIBC4123-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To construct roofs, support framing, penetrations, and finishing trim. |
| Roofs 1 (Sem B) (CIBC4123-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To construct roofs, support framing, penetrations, and finishing trim. |
| Roofs 2 (CIBC4124) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | To use building mathematics and to construct roofs, and ceilings. |
| Preliminaries 3 (CIBC4125) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | To explain site establishment and maintenance, drawings and specifications, and develop planning and communication skills. |
| Preliminaries 4 (CIBC4126) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | To know legislation, consents and licensing, and building science. Students will identify and take up opportunities for ongoing development of carpentry knowledge and skills, establish and sustain supervision systems and consistently demonstrate appropriate levels of commercial competence when undertaking carpentry tasks. |
| Exterior Envelope 5 (Sem A) (CIBC4127-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To install roof claddings. |
| Exterior Envelope 5 (Sem B) (CIBC4127-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To install roof claddings. |
| Interiors 3 (Sem A) (CIBC4128-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To install finishing trim, joinery, and hardware. |
| Interiors 3 (Sem B) (CIBC4128-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To install finishing trim, joinery, and hardware. |
| Alterations and Additions (Sem A) (CIBC4129-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To disestablish sites, plan and undertake demolition, and form penetrations in ceilings, and framed floors. |
| Alterations and Additions (Sem B) (CIBC4129-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To disestablish sites, plan and undertake demolition, and form penetrations in ceilings, and framed floors. |
| Preliminaries 5 (Sem A) (CIBC4130-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To apply knowledge of legislation, consents and licensing, drawings and specifications and site establishment and maintenance. |
| Preliminaries 5 (Sem B) (CIBC4130-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To apply knowledge of legislation, consents and licensing, drawings and specifications and site establishment and maintenance. |
| Capstone 1 (Sem A) (CIBC4131-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To self-manage on-going learning and supervise the learning of others with a responsibility to maintain the professional standards of the construction industry. They will also operate competently and unsupervised to the required safety, technical, quality and productivity standards expected in a commercial environment. |
| Capstone 1 (Sem B) (CIBC4131-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | Self-manage on-going learning and supervise the learning of others with a responsibility to maintain the professional standards of the construction industry. They will also operate competently and unsupervised to the required safety, technical, quality and productivity standards expected in a commercial environment. |
| Capstone 2 (Sem A) (CIBC4132-SA) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To operate competently and unsupervised to the required safety, technical, quality and productivity standards expected in a commercial environment. They will also supervise the learning of others with a responsibility to maintain the professional standards of the construction industry. |
| Capstone 2 (Sem B) (CIBC4132-SB) | 5.0 credits (0.042 EFTS) | To operate competently and unsupervised to the required safety, technical, quality and productivity standards expected in a commercial environment. They will also supervise the learning of others with a responsibility to maintain the professional standards of the construction industry. |
