New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills, Carpentry (Level 3)

New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills, Carpentry (Level 3)

Do you want a career in carpentry? Enrol in building and construction at Tai Poutini Polytechnic and get prepared for your apprenticeship.

About the programme

You’ll be trained in every aspect of a house build – including foundations and roofing – so you’re ready for work on the West Coast where our builders do the lot! You’ll even get to build a house alongside your classmates and get a feel for the real job.

The 34-week programme gets you ready for work. It includes three weeks’ work experience with a local West Coast builder, which can often lead to offers of apprenticeships after your training is finished.

Our tutors make sure you know how to handle yourself on a building site. You’ll learn how to use hand and power tools, understand health and safety practices on-site and become more confident and more employable on a building site.

Graduates of Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s building and construction programmes are in-demand. Local builders are busy right now and they are keen to employ graduates who have learned the basics and know how to get the job done.

If you’re looking for carpentry or building construction training, then Tai Poutini Polytechnic is right for you. You’ll learn how to become a builder and start working toward your construction, building or carpentry qualifications.

Core elements

Core elements include:
- Construction site safety
- Hand and power tools
- Construction site organisation
- Building consents and regulations
- Site set out
- Foundations
- Subfloor
- Flooring
- Framing
- Roofing - framing and roof cladding
- Exterior Cladding
- Interior linings
- Fitting of windows and doors
- Insulation
- Fitting interior joinery
- Skirtings, architraves and furnishing

Further Study Pathways

  • New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills Level 4
  • National Certificate in Construction Site Management

Career opportunities

Graduates of this programme will have the skills to pursue a career in the construction industry in a variety of positions such as Apprentice Carpenter, Hammer hand or Skilled Labourer.

Programme Structure and Workload


The construction programme runs for 34 weeks including theory and practical learning.

Entry requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • A minimum of 10 credits in each of literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy in NCEA Level 1, or be able to demonstrate suitable knowledge and skills.
  • Domestic applicants aged 20 years or above who do not meet the academic entry requirements, but who can demonstrate their skill, education and/or work experiences, may be eligible for special admission.
  • Students must be physically capable of meeting programme requirements. Applicants are also required to attend an information session where students must demonstrate their ability, interest, motivation and commitment to succeed in the programme.
  • Applicants for whom English is a second language must meet IELTS (or equivalent) Level 5 with no band lower than 5.

Additional costs

You should expect to spend approximately $500 on programme specific equipment (apron, hammer, rule, tape, pencil, square, punch set, chisel set, driver set, screwdriver set, safety glasses, ear muffs and knife). This can be covered by the course-related costs section of your student loan (if you are eligible). You can borrow up to $1,000 even if you are not drawing down the tuition fees component of your student loan, e.g. those students who are fees-free.

2024 enrolments

When you apply to study with Tai Poutini Polytechnic in 2024, you will be enrolled with Te Pūkenga, the new national network of vocational and applied education in Aotearoa New Zealand. You will learn in the same way, in the same place, and with the same people. The great news is that this enables us to share skills and knowledge across a network of passionate education providers, to better help you succeed. Enrolling in programmes that start from 2023, means that you will graduate with a Te Pūkenga qualification.

You will be offered a place subject to meeting the entry and selection requirements and the availability of places on the programme. The Polytechnic reserves the right to not accept late applications, i.e., after the programme has started. The Polytechnic reserves the right to cancel, prior to commencement, any programme which does not attract a minimum number of students. The fees shown are indicative only. Both domestic and international fees are subject to change. For further information visit here.

Get in touch

0800 800 411
International +64 3 769 9400
Email: info@tpp.ac.nz