Training an apprentice

What is required of you

Your role (or whoever you have delegated the task) will be as an evaluator to your apprentice. You'll make sure your apprentice gains the knowledge and skills required for their qualification by providing:

• adequate training and supervision
  
• a suitable range of work so your apprentice can meet the qualification requirements
  
• accurate information regarding the skills and knowledge demonstrated by your apprentice
  
• time for BCITO representatives to meet with your apprentice
  
• some of your own time to discuss your apprentice's progress with BCITO representatives.
  

How to get started

If you're looking for a new apprentice, or you have a capable candidate onboard already, get in touch. We can help you find an apprentice or give you a firsthand explanation of how apprenticeships work.

Training agreement

To start an apprenticeship, an employer and trainee both sign a Training Agreement (TAG). This is a contract that describes the apprentice and employer roles, and it forms an arrangement between you as per the Employment Relations Act (2000). The TAG also records all the details that BCITO needs in order to register the apprenticeship with NZQA and to begin recording your apprentice's progress.

BCITO training advisors

Your apprentice will be assigned a dedicated BCITO training advisor who will be their professional assessor in the workplace. The training advisor's role is to gather and consider evidence and assess your apprentice's skills and knowledge. Training advisors also assist employers to help apprentices learn, and mentor apprentices to help them progress to competent tradespeople.

Your training advisor will keep in touch with you and your apprentice periodically throughout their training through myBCITO (BCITO's online learning platform), telephone, Zoom video calls, and will complete planned site visits to assess your apprentice's progress where necessary.

Employers talk about how BCITO Training Advisors work with them and apprentices to facilitate learning.

myBCITO

When you train an apprentice you'll get access to an online learning tool that will help you monitor your apprentice's progress. With myBCITO you can:

• view your apprentice's record of practical work (images and videos they've uploaded as evidence)
• see your apprentice's online interactions with their Training Advisor
• tautoko your apprentice's progress as it happens live enabling you to plan for what they need to learn next
• search through BCITO apprentice resources and other resources that help apprentices learn, e.g. BRANZ publications.

and we'll be adding more features soon.

Assessment and qualification

All assessment is managed by BCITO– you don't need to mark any bookwork. Most apprentices are assessed onsite and through myBCITO by their BCITO training advisor. Your dedicated BCITO training advisor will undertake a formal, structured assessment process. Once your apprentice has achieved all unit standards within the qualification they will be awarded an NZQA qualification.

Apprentices in some trades may also have to attend off-job training – your BCITO training advisor will explain the exact process for your particular trade at the time of sign-up.