National Certificate in Baking (Plant Baking) (Level 4) with strands in Bread, Biscuit, Cake, and Pastry

This qualification is designed to enable Plant Baking apprentices to gain recognition for the specialist skills and knowledge required to produce products in large volumes, using automated bakery equipment, which consistently meet exceed industry standards and the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

The compulsory section of this qualification comprises standards covering health and safety, food safety, baking legislation, baking science, characteristics and processes of flour technology, and personal presentation skills.

Four strands in Bread, Biscuit, Cake, and Pastry allow candidates to specialise in their chosen discipline within the Plant Baking industry.

Core Elective A requires 80 credits for industry specific standards from the domains for Baking; Baking - Biscuit; Baking - Bread; Baking - Cake; and/or Baking - Pastry.

Core Elective B allows for a range of skills such as quality management, computing, controlling machinery, setting up, shutting down, and isolating machines, developing people and providing customer service, to support varied roles within the baking industry.

The qualification can be achieved in the course of a three-year apprentice programme. People who have completed the National Certificate in Baking (Level 3) [Ref: 0589] and wish to progress to working in Plant bakeries, will already have significant credits towards this level 4 qualification.

This qualification shares credits with other baking trade qualifications at level 4:
. National Certificate in Baking (Craft Baking) (Level 4) [Ref: 0590];
. National Certificate in Baking (Instore/Franchise) (Level 4) [Ref: 1267].

Ara Institute of Canterbury is recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading tertiary institutes. Specialising in applied, vocational and professional training, it offers more than 150 courses from foundation to postgraduate level. 

Ara caters to a diverse range of learners; from school leavers and career changers to professionals wanting to upskill and individuals seeking to re-enter the workforce.

All Ara students benefit from the Ara Advantage: relevant courses, taught by inspirational mentors in real-life learning environments. Almost every Ara programme includes work-integrated learning. Work placements, apprenticeships, industry-based projects and internships ensure students are work-ready when they graduate.

Across its six campuses, Ara’s dedicated tutors and non-academic staff support students throughout their study journey. A comprehensive range of student services - such as financial assistance, learning support, health and wellbeing services, accommodation, childcare and student events – contributes to the success of every student.

It also has six additional small community hubs which deliver free digital upskilling and personal development courses.