What are the Vocational Pathways?

The Vocational Pathways provide new ways to achieve NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3 and develop pathways that progress to further study, training and employment. Achieving NCEA Level 2 is the foundation for success in further education and the world of work. Level 3 builds upon this through shared opportunities across school, tertiary, and industry training. The Vocational Pathways provide a framework for students to show how their learning and achievement is valued in the workplace by aligning learning to the skills needed for industry.

The six Vocational Pathways are represented on every page by the colour codes below:

NCEA Levels 1and 2 Vocational Pathways were launched in 2013. This was a result of government agencies, the industry training sector, secondary and tertiary representatives and industry and employer representatives working together.

In 2015 NCEA Level 3 Vocational Pathways were also released.

Benefits of using the Vocational Pathways

THE VOCATIONAL PATHWAYS ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE TO:

• find out the standards, skills and competencies that are valued by employers in particular sectors
• find out the job or career options that are available in each sector
• identify current and future programmes of study that support their career pathways
• undertake a relevant and coherent study programme that will enable them to achieve NCEA Levels 1, 2, and 3
• demonstrate a vocational profile to tertiary providers and employers.

THE VOCATIONAL PATHWAYS ENABLE EDUCATORS TO:

• know the recommended standards valued by employers in particular sectors
• develop relevant and coherent learning programmes that enable young people to achieve NCEA Level 2 with a Vocational Pathways Award, NCEA Level 3 or equivalent, and progress towards further study, training or employment
• share a student’s individual vocational profile with parents and whanau so they can more engaged in and support their young person's learning.

THE VOCATIONAL PATHWAYS ENABLE EMPLOYERS TO:

• easily identify when students have the key skills, competencies and qualifications relevant to their sector
• identify a student’s strengths and interests that are evident in their learning achievement
• have confidence that students are achieving a foundation education which provides them with the necessary skills to participate in the workplace or move to further learning
• see developments at Level 3 to improve connections between school learning, tertiary study and industry training.

What are the Vocational Pathways made up of?

The six Vocational Pathways improve the relevance of learning for students by indicating how their learning and achievement is valued by broad sectors of the workforce. Each has been colour-coded for ease of recognition to help students and teachers plan study programmes.

Government, industry, and educational representatives selected a range of Level 1 and 2 achievement and unit standards that they believed provide a curriculum foundation in each Vocational Pathway. These are known as Recommended standards.

At Level 2, an additional category has been given to some of the Recommended standards, known as Sector-Related standards. These are standards that are closely related to the Vocational Pathway and require development of skills from, or direct experience in, an industry setting. The make-up of the pathways is important when young people are planning to achieve a Vocational Pathways Award.

At Level 3, achievement standards and Levels 3–7 qualifications have been mapped to the Vocational Pathways.

View the standards and qualifications that have been mapped to the Vocational Pathways here.

Alternatively you can browse the Levels 1 and 2 assessment standards using the standards tool. Select a pathway and then choose a level to see the mapped standards at Vocational Pathways Standards Tool.

To achieve the the Vocational Pathways Award, students must: achieve NCEA Level 2 which includes literacy (10 credits) and numeracy (10 credits) at Level 1 or above, and achieve 60 Level 2 credits from the Recommended Assessment Standards for Vocational Pathways, including 20 Level 2 credits from Sector-Related Standards for the same sector. Credits from the Recommended Assessment Standards and Sector-Related Standards must come from the same Vocational Pathway e.g Primary Industries.

Students can achieve more than one Vocational Pathways Award if they complete more than one Vocational Pathway.

Students are able to request their Vocational Pathways Award from NZQA. This will enable students, such as those currently working towards achieving a Vocational Pathway in Youth Guarantee programmes, the option to be awarded their vocational pathway.

All students have automatic access to their Vocational Pathway Awards(s).