New Level 5 engineering qualification now ready for sign-ups

The new Level 5 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering is registered on the NQF and new trainees can be signed into the qualification from July 1st, 2010.

This higher level qualification will replace the eight separate Level 5 national certificates currently in use across the wider mechanical engineering sector, with total credits required down to 78 from a range of 100-110 credits.

"This qualification will be particularly attractive and beneficial to qualified trades people looking to move into supervisory level or a technical expert or process champion. It's not a course anyone can ‘just' enrol in - it is specifically for qualified trades people," said Competenz Industry Manager Bill Sole.

The qualification is structured in three parts:

The first is core compulsory unit standards, to be completed by every person looking to achieve the National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 5). This section contains skills identified by industry as relevant to all engineering trades people working at an advanced level.

Second is an compulsory elective section which allows for a wider choice of applied study in the areas of mechanical engineering, business and management. It's expected that trainees completing this qualification will be either looking to leave the shop floor and move into a supervisory role or looking to be recognised as a technical expert or process champion. Trainees will therefore be able to choose units standards with either a supervisory or technical focus, or a mix of both.

Specialisation occurs in the third section. It's comprised of five strands which reflect the major sectors of work within the mechanical engineering industry and will provide engineers flexibility through electives in one of the following fields: Engineering Fabrication, General and Maintenance Engineering, Mechanical Services, Precision Engineering and Fire Protection.

These unit standards will be delivered and assessed mostly on-the-job with the employer having direct influence in the trainee's choice of unit standard.

"We have developed assessment guides and model answers for those units we expect to be in the greatest demand," explained Bill.

The new qualification has been developed after a review of the existing suite of Level 5 qualifications serving the mechanical engineering industry.

There was a unanimous feeling these qualifications were generally not well received within industry and with less than satisfactory completion rates. Industry also said the qualification did not meet their needs for advanced trade qualifications.

In order to gather as much information and supporting evidence as possible Bill implemented an extensive consultative process with all relevant sectors which included Engineering-Fabrication, Engineering Machining and Toolmaking, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Maintenance and Diagnostics in Mechanical Engineering and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

According to Bill, a number of common themes and issues emerged during the consultation phase which supported the demand for an advanced trade qualification which ‘further developed the technical, business and overall leadership' skills of our workforce'.

"It soon became apparent that these needs would be best served by offering a single Level 5 qualification, with strands to meet the differing needs of the sector," said Bill.  Completing the qualification should be achievable within an 18-month timeframe, and is structured to allow flexibility to the worker/learner.


Click here for more information on the National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 5).