After leaving Aurora College Curtis was given the opportunity to become a Modern Apprentice, employed by Nicholson Engineering in Bluff.

Curtis has his own Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator who develops an individual Training Plan for him. This Coordinator is industry qualified and works with Curtis, as his own personal mentor/coach, to assist him in achieving the requirements for his apprenticeship qualification.

Southern Group Training is the Modern Apprentice Coordinator for engineering in Southland.

Curtis’ Training Plan outlines what unit standards are required to complete his chosen qualification then identifies, based on what work he is doing in the workplace, which unit standards Curtis should be doing at any given time.

To achieve practical competency he has to be able to complete the required practical tasks consistently well, unsupervised, in a commercial timeframe, using safe work practices.

This level of competency is gained through practical work experience on job and through a series of block courses.

The theory units are taught and assessed at weekly evening classes held at the Southern Institute of Technology.

Establishing and maintaining a good study habit is necessary if apprentices are to complete their qualification in a good time frame. Failure to do so can significantly prolong the length of time it takes to complete an apprenticeship