| Qualification: | Certificate |
| Level: | 3 |
| Dates: | 2026 Semester 1: 26 January to 27 November |
| Duration: | 44 weeks full-time |
| Location: | |
| Credits: | 125 |
This programme, commonly known as Cert Ag includes a range of fundamental practical skills alongside the underpinning theory that will set you up for a career in a multitude of career opportunities in the primary sector. You will have at least 10 weeks of work experience on farms throughout Otago and Southland, learning from experienced host farmers, as well as theory and practical work at Telford’s campus and Telford farm.
This 44-week programme includes the NZ Certificate in Agriculture (Farming Systems) (Level 3) and the NZ Certificate in Primary Industry Operational Skills (Level 3) qualifications.
The programme will give students the knowledge and skills to:
The programme contains the following:
OPTIONAL
The Community Course to train working dogs can be completed alongside this programme
This programme is NOT eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.
International Fees can be found here.
Graduates may be employed in a range of pasture and livestock management roles, operating vehicles and equipment with limited supervision. For example: shepherd, dairy farm assistant or general farmhand.
Under 20 years:
• Must be 16 years of age at time of course commencement.
• Should have attained NCEA Level 2.
• Applicants under 20 years of age who have not attained NCEA Level 2 must submit evidence of ability to succeed; examples of of ability to succeed include provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at level 2 or above in a related discipline; employment in the related sector for three months or more; written testimonial/referral.
Over 20 years:
• Applicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme.
Interviews for all applicants
Applicants may be required to attend an interview, or if they live some distance from the campus, complete a telephone interview, and must produce copies of applicable certificates or evidence of prior achievements before interviews.
Recommended
• It is advisable to be working towards obtaining your restricted driver’s license.
Applicants should have a level of physical fitness suitable for farm work.
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following:
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA), or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL); or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, AustraliaÂ, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of a Bachelor ‘s Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment.
Certificate at Level 3
This programme pathways to the Massey Diploma in Agriculture offered at Telford and to further study at other tertiary institutes.