New Zealand Certificate in Hairdressing (Level 3)
Course details
About the course
You've got style
Get ready to be a professional stylist! You’ll be based in our purpose-built salon, working with real customers, learning key techniques while you develop your customer service skills and the confidence you need to succeed.
What you will learn
This programme is equivalent to completing the first year of an industry apprenticeship and will teach you key hairdressing skills like long hair styling, colouring, blow-waving, foils, setting hair and an introduction to cutting. You’ll also learn about hairdressing products and how to sell them as well as focusing on customer service, communication and personal presentation.
You will learn a wide range of hairdressing skills at a beginner level including:
- Assisting the stylist during services
- Professional code of ethics
- Consultation procedure
- Long hair styling
- Hair products and maintenance
- Self-styling: Appropriate hair, clothing, make-up.
Workload & schedule
Our class hours are Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday with additional self-directed learning (which may be spent at NorthTec or on work experience or studying from home).
The first two terms of the programme (Semester 1) are a mixture of theory and practical focusing on four courses:
The last two terms (Semester 2) are again a mixture of theory and practical and focus on the remaining four courses:
Practical skills are first built on mannequin heads progressing to clients as you build your skills and then onto time spent in the salon working on clients in a commercial salon setting at NorthTec, skill-building and progressing towards final assessments.
Additional costs
- Students are required to wear a uniform, we recommend purchasing TWO at a cost of approximately $100.
- Black pants and closed in shoes are a requirement.
- Kit is included in the fees for year 1 students. Year 2 students are required to add items to this kit (e.g. radial brushes and clippers are two of the items).
- Basic stationery including a USB is also required
These, along with the other items, can be purchased either through NorthTec or by the students however they must be professional hairdressing brands. The GHD company also offer straighteners to students at a greatly reduced price and many students purchase these through course-related costs.
Career opportunities and pathways
- Hairdressing (apprenticeship training contracts)
- Retail sector
- Hairdressing product companies
- Hairdressing technician
- Hairdressing tutor
- Cruise ships
- Film, stage and television
- Hairdressing consultant
About the provider
Based in Hamilton, the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec), is one of the country’s largest institutes of technology. We deliver high-quality education across vocational (technical) and professional fields of study to approximately 13,000 students, across over 130 different courses.
At Wintec students are educated in a way that builds their confidence and gets them work-ready. We differ from other types of tertiary providers in the way students get the chance to put their theoretical learning into practice from the very start. You will get to work on real-life projects based on relevant topics and themes as if you were in the workplace. You will also get involved in work placements. This means that by the time you graduate, you will be confident in your skills and knowledge, and know-how to apply your learnings. Our academic staff have years of industry experience between them, which means they can guide you on your journey.
Wintec maintains collaborative relationships with local industry and iwi to identify the needs of the region and community. Fostering strong networks that our students and graduates benefit from is a high priority for us. Understanding the needs of local industry, what type of graduates they need now, and what they will need in the future is critical to assisting industry and our graduates.