New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills – Carpentry

Summary

Become knowledgeable about the basic principles and practices for general construction, including calculations, communications, health and safety, site-safe passports, first aid, and hand power tools. 
In the first four weeks (30 credits) of this programme, you’ll develop the essential skills required for a career in the building industry. For most of this programme (additional 90 credits), you’ll focus on the carpentry strand. If you want to become a builder, this is the ideal study path before entering a carpentry apprenticeship and/ or employment; most employers prefer apprentices with some prior training. In carpentry, you’ll learn the pre-apprenticeship skills needed to become a carpenter in a practical on-site building project by building a house.

This is the NZQA-aligned standard across New Zealand in pre-apprenticeship carpentry training. Once completed, you can cross-credit practical hours of carpentry apprenticeship training as you continue your training to become a trade-qualified carpenter in the New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry.

Highlights

• Build a house from start to finish.
• Practical projects using a variety of hand tools, portable tools, and machines
• Learn in Unitec’s purpose-built trades building, Mataaho, with new, top-of-the-line machinery.
• Designed to prepare students who haven’t had previous tertiary training for employment in the building industry or building-related trades
• Obtain basic trade skills for anything from DIY jobs to pre-apprenticeship carpentry skills in preparation for employment and/or apprenticeship.
• Work in teams and on collaborative projects similar to what you’ll undertake when in the workforce

Qualification and what next

Once you’ve completed this programme, you’ll receive the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills. From here, you can enter the workforce as an apprentice carpenter or assistant in the building industry. You can also go on to further study in your apprenticeship with the New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry.

Learn more about the Building and Construction apprenticeship.

Career Options

• Apprentice carpenter,
• Assistant tradesperson,
• Journeyman

Annual Tuition Fees

Domestic/NZ students

$7,000

(Approximate fees only - includes GST but excludes the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF) levy. Your final study costs depends on a number of factors including the courses you select to study. View options for funding your study and fees-free eligibility)

International students

This programme is not open to international students - check our international study options instead.

Semester Dates

Sem 1 2026: 23 Feb – 28 Jun

Sem 2 2026: 20 Jul – 22 Nov

For course and class timings, refer to the specific course webpage.

For StudyLink purposes, please ensure your application states your earliest course start date.

Downloads and resources

Programme regulations - New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills – Carpentry Order a personalised brochure Scholarships and awardsStudent LifeFor Māori studentsFor Pacific studentsFor International students