Mike completed his secondary education at James Hargest College before entering the workforce, and in 2007 being offered an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training on secondment with Southland Sheetmetal.

The theory components of Mike’s Level 4 National Certificate are taught through weekly evening classes at the Southern Institute of Technology. Once Mike has completed the theory assessment for a unit standard he is then able to be assessed in the practical elements.

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

Mike’s Training Manager is a qualified workplace assessor and is able to undertake regular workplace assessments of Mike’s work. It is, however, Mike’s responsibility to be well prepared for the assessment of each unit standard.