Assessment is a critical part of industry training. It's how people know that you have picked up the skills you need for your role. It’s where all your hard work can be demonstrated.
There are many different ways that assessment happens in the workplace. Assessment involves the collection and recording of evidence against the requirements laid out in the qualification.
Evidence can be gathered in different ways. For example: someone in your workplace observing your normal day-to-day work; capturing information from your employer's records; having someone verify that you have picked up certain skills; and capturing verbal discussions.
Assessment and evidence collection is usually carried out in the workplace and happens over a period of time. Qualifications typically take 6-12 months, and apprenticeships take a number of years to complete.
If this is the case, you may not need to complete the training and assessments over a period of time. Instead, you will need to provide a Skills Active assessor with a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates your skills and knowledge that are relevant to the specific qualification.
To learn more about this option, read our guidelines and contact one of the Skills Active learning support advisors.
When you sign your training agreement with Skills Active, you will get access to your assessment material and you will be allocated an assessor. Assessors are qualified industry experts who work with trainees to ensure their skills and experience are recognised.
Assessors oversee the formal assessment process and are either employed and assess within their own workplace, or work independently as contractors.
As well as your assessor, your manager or supervisor will often play a big role in the assessment process; observing, recording and verifying evidence for the assessor.
They usually carry out this role where an assessor is not present while a trainee carries out tasks, or when they are better suited to observe you consistently and repeatedly performing assessment tasks.
Once you have completed your assessment tasks, and your assessor has looked at them, they will decide whether you are competent and meet the required standard, or whether you need to provide further evidence that you have the required skills and knowledge.
When your assessor has judged you competent, the credits for each unit standard you complete are sent to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority where they are added to your Record of Achievement.
When you've achieved all of the required unit standards, you will be recognised with a national qualification!
Next step? Hit repeat, and find your next qualification.
Skills Active works with the sport, recreation and performing arts industries. Our diverse industries are full of fun and fulfilling career opportunities.
Explore the wide range of exciting on-job qualifications and apprenticeships available across our active industries.