National Certificate in Diving (Foundation Skills) (Level 3)

The National Certificate in Diving (Foundation Skills) (Level 3) [Ref: 1321] recognises the foundation skills and knowledge required of people entering any sector of the dive industry.

Holders of this qualification will have demonstrated competence in a number of required introductory and prerequisite diving skills and experiences. Candidates may choose to advance to a variety of dive and underwater construction qualifications such as the National Certificate in Diving (Leadership) (Level 4) [Ref: 1322], the National Certificate in Aquaculture (Diving) (Level 4) [Ref: 1210], or the Australian Dive Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) Part One and Two.

This qualification can be an entry point for people working in the dive industry. The qualification structure also recognises the diversity in diving workplaces and the nature of work that they can undertake. To reflect this, the qualification includes an elective section where candidates are able to choose unit standards relevant to their workplace. The compulsory unit standards meet the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Service's Limited Certificate of Competence, which allows entry into dive sectors such as Aquaculture, and Film and Photographic. They also allow entry to further training in the Underwater Construction, Scientific, Recreational Instruction, and Dive Tourism sectors of the industry.

Cornerstone Education is a leading tertiary education provider, serving the needs of thousands of New Zealanders, from all walks of life, who want further education and training to secure a better future for themselves and their families. We have been a registered Private Training Establishment (PTE) since 1996 and are one of the largest NZQA-accredited PTEs in New Zealand.

Our vision is to inspire and enable people to develop the skills they need to succeed in work and in life. We do this by engaging with learners in creative ways which are relevant to their needs and life circumstances — the learning environment, cultural context, content, and delivery style are tailored to help and support learners of all ages achieve their dreams. Further to that, our role is also to inspire and help learners onto education and employment pathways which will meet their long term aspirations.

We deliver qualification-based training on site in Auckland, Whangarei and Tauranga, and also offer some distance learning opportunities. We are also the largest provider of government-funded workplace literacy and communication training. We provide this training to employer organisations right across New Zealand.

Cornerstone works with niche industries and communities to identify their specific training needs, develop a programme of study that meets those needs and then attract entry level students to that industry.