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What is an Industry Training Organisation?
An Industry Training Organisation (ITO) is an organisation that oversees training and qualifications for a particular industry.

What is ESITO?
ESITO is the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation. ESITO has a membership of around 100 companies, representing all sectors of the industry - generation, transmission, distribution and utilisation.

What is a Unit Standard?
A unit standard describes what you need to know or be able to do to be competent in a particular skill area. Each unit standard has a credit value. When you are assessed as being competent in a unit standard, you gain these credits. Unit standards are packaged into national certificates and national diplomas, which are registered on New Zealand’s National Qualifications Framework. To achieve a national qualification, you must complete successfully the required number of credits. These are nationally and internationally recognised qualifications, so you can take them with you wherever you go.

What is a National Qualification?
National qualifications are made up of unit standards. Qualifications are set at different levels depending on how difficult they are. There are three kinds of national qualifications:

• National Certificates - Levels 1 – 4
• National Diplomas - Levels 5 – 6
• Degrees and Postgraduate Programmes - Levels 7– 10

What is the National Qualifications Framework (NQF)?
All unit standards and national qualifications developed by ESITO are registered on the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Other Industry Training Organisations also register their unit standards and qualifications on the NQF. As you achieve unit standards, they are listed on your “Record of Learning”, held on a NZQA national database. Credits may be accumulated over a number of years and from a variety of training providers, until a qualification is completed.

What have unit standards got to do with qualifications?
A qualification is made up of a set of unit standards. The industry advisory group for each sector decides which standards make up the electricity supply qualifications. There are three industry advisory groups:

• Generation
• Distribution
• Utilisation

How do I keep track of the unit standards that I achieve?
All the unit standards for which you have gained credit are recorded on your personal “Record of Learning”. You can look at your Record of Learning on the NZQA website. As an ESITO trainee, you can also check your progress on the trainee login area. Contact ESITO if you have misplaced your PIN number to access your information.

Do I have to do more training if I already have all the skills and knowledge that are set out in the unit standard?
Many experienced workers have the skills and knowledge that are specified in the standards, but no formal recognition of their skills. You can apply to be assessed against the unit standards. Please ask your employer to assist, or contact ESITO for advice.

Can I be credited with the registered unit standard if I'm assessed as competent for most of the required elements but miss out on one of the performance criteria?
No, to gain credit for a unit standard you must meet all the requirements. But in most cases, you won’t need to repeat the whole assessment. Instead, you can ask to be reassessed for the element you missed when you are ready.

Do I have to achieve my qualification within a certain timeframe?
No, time is not usually an issue under the new qualifications system. However, if you are in a Training Agreement with your employer, you might have to get a minimum number of credits over a time period. This sort of detail will be written in your training agreement, and you would need to discuss with your employer about it. There is more information about training agreements on this website.

What are Modern Apprenticeships?
Modern Apprenticeships are a work-based education initiative for young people. Modern Apprentices complete an apprenticeship training programme. They also get extra training and support to help them complete their national qualification.

What do I do if I want to work in the electricity supply industry in New Zealand but I have overseas qualifications?
Contact the Electrical Workers’ Registration Board, www.ewrb.govt.nz, to find out how to apply for registration or a practising licence based on qualifications and experience gained outside New Zealand.