Launch your career with an apprenticeship

Apprenticeships are the best way to kick-start your career in a number of exciting and challenging industries. With apprenticeships, you earn while you learn - receiving all the benefits of full-time employment (gaining experience, new skills and wages) while working towards a formal qualification. Apprenticeships are a critical part of New Zealand's tertiary education sector and the backbone of MITO's industry training. An apprenticeship helps you increase your career prospects and get more satisfaction from your job.

All about apprenticeships

What exactly is an apprenticeship?

As an apprentice, you are someone who is both in an employment agreement with an employer as well as in a training agreement with the employer and MITO. In real terms, that means you are regarded as an employee - and get paid - while at the same time working towards a national qualification.

Benefits to being an apprentice:

• You can combine your interest in motor vehicles and industrial textiles with work and an education
• You earn money while you learn
• You learn skills 'hands-on' in your workplace
• You gain a recognised qualification, which looks great on your CV
• If you're already working, your current skills may be cross credited towards your qualification
• You increase your career prospects and get much more satisfaction from your job
• You get personal help and support throughout your apprenticeship from your employer and your local MITO Customer Services Manager.

What does an apprenticeship involve?

The great thing about a MITO apprenticeship is that you learn at your own pace and can fit the study in with the demands of your job. However, it's important to remember that you need to commit to doing a certain amount each week, outside of work hours.

A MITO apprenticeship combines both on-job (practical) and off-job (theory) training:

• You learn your practical skills on the job, from your employer or supervisor
• You learn the theory by correspondence. MITO links you up with a polytechnic that sends you the relevant material - you do home study assignments and send them to the polytechnic for marking.

You're also entitled to up to 40 hours off-job training every year - either to learn practical skills for work that's not usually done in your workplace, or to help you with your theory work. You do your off-job training through either evening tutorials or block courses.

Unit standards

Your learning is based on 'unit standards' - common standards against which all apprentices are measured. Unit standards spell out exactly what you need to know and be able to do in a specific area.

Your workplace will be provided with a Training Manual, which has detailed information on each unit standard, including:

• what you must achieve
• any units you need to have completed beforehand
• the tools and equipment you need
• what you need to do to pass the unit (practical)
• what you need to know to pass the unit (theory)
• how the unit is assessed.

Unit standards are packaged into 'National Certificates' which are registered on New Zealand's National Qualifications Framework. These are nationally and internationally recognised qualifications, so you can take them with you wherever you go.

Keeping track of your study

When you start studying, you'll be given your own personal Record of Achievement book, which outlines the unit standards you need to achieve. You'll be able to keep track of your training and record your achievements.

Your CSM will visit you at least once every three months to help you stay on track and will prepare goal sheets for upcoming assessment.

How long does it take?

An average apprenticeship takes around three years. However, how long it takes is really up to you - you choose your own study pace. We recommend you do at least one home study assignment a fortnight - and remember, the faster you achieve your qualification, the less training fees you'll have to pay.

How do I get my previous qualifications/experience recognised?

If you have old (pre-unit standards) qualifications, or qualifications from overseas, you may be able to get them recognised towards a National Certificate by applying for Recognition of Prior Learning.

Alternatively, if you're currently working in the industry, you may be able to get your current skills recognised towards a National Certificate by applying for Recognition of Current Competence. If you would like more information about our credit transfer policy please see the Credit Transfer Policy document.