NATIONAL TRADE TESTING DEPARTMENT

Ongoing development efforts by the National Trade Testing Department (NTTD), to continue to review the current Occupational Skills Standards (OSS), are in line with a larger national strategy to:

a. Increase productivity;
b. Ensure that quality products are in accordance with national needs;
c. Ensure that quality products are in accordance with national priorities of economic development and manpower planning.

It is the Department’s policy to establish national standards in all the important trades, and conduct national trade tests for both institutional and public candidates on a regular basis.

As an authority responsible for skills certification, the NTTD fulfils a number of tasks enabling workers in Fiji to obtain certification for their skills. Whilst operating under the Trade Testing Regulations (1976) of the Training and Productivity Authority Act (formerly the Fiji National Training Act), the NTTD:

a. Sets the standards for certification. It does this in consultation with representatives of employers, trade unions and relevant government bodies to ensure that the standards set are relevant and specific to the needs of the industry;
b. Conducts the tests
c. Awards the Trade Test Certificates to successful candidates.

Recognition of Trade Skills

Recognition of trade skills is a way of gaining formal recognition as a tradesperson in Fiji. It allows tradespeople to have their skills fully recognised in this Country and region. On a broader outlook, the trade testing scheme awards recognition at three levels:

a. Class III - Junior Tradesman level
Electrician Trade: Candidates must have had a minimum of six years relevant work experience in the industry. All other Trades: Candidates must have had a minimum of two years relevant work experience in the industry.

b. Class II – Qualified Tradesman level
Electrician Trade: Candidates must have had an additional three years relevant work experience in the industry, after attaining Class III. All other Trades: Candidates must have had an additional two years relevant work experience in the industry, after attaining Class III.

c. Class I - Advanced or Supervisor level
Electrician Trade: Candidates must have had an additional two years relevant work experience in the industry, after attaining Class II. All other Trades: Candidates must have had an additional two years relevant work experience in the industry, after attaining Class II.

Prospective candidates are advised to contact the Department for further clarifications on equivalent eligibility and exemption criteria that are in place.

Nature of Test

Trade tests, which include both theoretical and practical components, are conducted fully in English and candidates will be expected to show by practical demonstration and a theoretical test that they have acquired the necessary skills and related knowledge of the trade.

For Class III theoretical tests only, candidates may opt between a ‘written’ or ‘oral’ test.

Trades Tested

Listed below trades established for testing:

Applying for Trade Test

Candidates intending to take a trade test are required to complete the appropriate ‘Application for Trade Test’ Form, which is obtainable from the Trade Testing Department (NTTD).

Candidates must enclose with their Application Form the following:

a. Appropriate test fee
b. Original or certified copy of their Birth Certificate
c. Written evidence from their employer/s giving the previous employment with dates and the trade in which the candidate was employed; alternatively, self-employed candidates must furnish signed statutory declarations
d. Three (3) recent passport size photos, with names and date of birth printed clearly on the back;
e. Approved Trade Test Standards Booklet fee

Candidates whose applications are accepted will be notified of the date, time and place of the test in writing as soon as the necessary arrangements for the test have been finalised. Candidates whose applications are rejected will be notified accordingly.

Before applying for a trade test, candidates are advised to ensure that they are eligible and they are aware of the requirements of the test for which they are applying, particularly that they have covered the necessary skills and required the related knowledge given in the Approved Trade Tests Standards.

Testing Programme

Candidates are advised that trade tests are conducted as per scheduled programmes; however special tests are conducted on request for individuals.

Programmes are made available through quarterly test schedules and are advertised in the press in the first weeks of January, March, June and October.

It is important that candidates promptly apply as soon as confirmed programme schedules are made available to avoid missing out; operational parameters may limit test candidate numbers at times.

Please contact the National Trade Testing Department for any queries on our tentative testing programme schedule for 2009.

Contacts: