Vocational Pathways



The Vocational Pathways provide new ways to achieve NCEA Level 2. These pathways let you see how learning and achievement is valued in the workplace.  They also suggest the types of study options and jobs opportunities available to learners.

Employers can see learner strengths, abilities, interests and achievements when they look at the Vocational Pathways information.

Detailed information about the Vocational Pathways can be found here.  Assessment support materials are available for unit standards and achievement standards.

Students may choose from a variety of courses that range from one day a week or short blocks of time during the school week. Most students continue in normal classes outside of these times.
Examples of courses include:

  • Agriculture
  • Building and Construction
  • Automotive
  • Paint and Panel
  • Digital Innovation
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • ICT Innovation
  • Mechatronics
  • Hair, Beauty and Retail
  • Cafe Skills
  • Business Enterprise
  • Commercial Road Transport
  • Health
  • Sport and Exercise
  • Vet Nursing/Animal Care
  • Infrastructure Works
  • NZ Cert in Cookery
  • Cert in Makeup and Skincare
  • Cert in Tourism

The Vocational Pathways provide a framework for students to show how their learning and achievement is valued in the workplace by aligning learning with the skills needed for industry. 

Vocational Pathways Profile

The Vocational Pathways Profile is a visual graph that shows learners' achievement against the Vocational Pathways. A learner will be able to see their progress and identify where they need to raise their level of achievement. This will help learners when planning their courses for the following year.  Learners will be able to check that their course selections provide the pathways they need to achieve their goals.

Learners can see their Vocational Pathways Profile whenever they login.

Learners can also use the Profile Builder to plan a Vocational Pathway.

Vocational Pathways Award

To achieve the Vocational Pathways Award, a learner must:

  • achieve NCEA Level 2 which includes literacy (10 credits) and numeracy (10 credits) at Level 1 or above, and
  • achieve 60 x Level 2 credits from the Recommended Assessment Standards for a Vocational Pathways, including 20 x Level 2 credits from Sector-Related Standards for the same sector. Credits from the Recommended Assessment Standards and Sector-Related Standards must come from the same Vocational Pathway e.g Primary Industries.

A learner can achieve more than one Vocational Pathways Award if they complete more than one Vocational Pathway.

A learner can see any Vocational Pathways Award they have achieved through the learner login.  Achievement is recorded on the learner's Record of Achievement.

Applying for NCEA Level 2 aligned with a Vocational Pathway in a tertiary education organisation

Tertiary education organisations can develop and submit an application to offer learners the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 2 aligned with a Vocational Pathway, in a particular area(s).  For more information, see here.

Q&A: How does NCEA Level 2 compare with a Vocational Pathways Award?

To achieve NCEA Level 2, you need:

  • literacy (10 credits) and numeracy (10 credits) at Level 1 or above; and
  • 60 credits at Level 2.

To achieve a Vocational Pathways Award (in a particular sector), you need:

  • NCEA Level 2 AND
  • 60 Level 2 credits from the Recommended Assessment Standards for a particular Vocational Pathways sector e.g Primary Industries, including 20 Level 2 credits from Sector-Related Standards for the same sector e.g Primary Industries.



Further Information

Youth Guarantee website - find out more about Vocational Pathways