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Call us on 0800 222 733NCEA and getting into training and jobs
Find out how many NCEA credits you'll need to do an apprenticeship, get a job or join the defence forces.
What NCEA credits do I need to get an apprenticeship?
- Many apprenticeships don’t have any NCEA requirements.
- Some industry training organisations (ITOs) recommend studying NCEA maths and English to at least Level 1 or 2.
- Employers and the Modern Apprenticeship scheme usually require you to have studied subjects relating to the trade you want to get into.
- It’s best to contact the relevant ITO to find out about specific NCEA requirements for the trade.
What if I don’t have NCEA Level 1?
If you want to leave school at 16 and haven’t completed NCEA Level 1, some polytechs offer introductory level courses starting at Level 1 or 2. Other names for these are entry-level, pre-trade or foundation courses.
These courses don’t guarantee an apprenticeship at the end. You still need to find an employer willing to take on an apprentice.
What NCEA credits do I need to get a job?
- No matter what industry you choose, employers look for the right attitude
If you want to get a job straight out of school, think about staying until you complete NCEA Level 2. With NCEA Level 2, you will have the foundation skills needed for many jobs.
When applying for jobs it is a good idea to summarise your NCEA results in your CV. You can do this by:
- putting the results an employer would most like to see at the top of your CV
- listing credits towards NCEA, even if you haven’t completed a full NCEA
- listing any specialist national certificates you have achieved, or partly achieved
- highlighting any merit or excellence achievement standards.
What if I don’t have it?
Remember, an employer is looking for the ability to learn. If you need help with basic literacy and numeracy and you have left school, Literacy Aotearoa, polytechs, private training providers, and wānanga have teachers and courses that can help you.
What NCEA credits do I need to get into the defence forces?
- Maths, English and science are useful for getting into the defence forces
This depends on the type of training you want to do. It is best to look on the defence forces’ websites for more details.
- To get into the defence forces you need to sit an aptitude test. Level 1 maths, English and science will help you to answer the questions.
- For basic roles in the NZ Army and Royal NZ Navy you need at least eight credits in English and eight credits in maths at Level 1.
- For the most basic role in the Royal NZ Air Force you need 12 credits in English and maths at Level 1.
- Officer roles require University Entrance.
What if I don't have NCEA?
If you have left school with no NCEA credits in English or maths at Level 1, you can do a polytech, wananga or private training foundation literacy and numeracy course. You can also gain NCEA credits by correspondence through The Correspondence School.