Roofing
New Zealand Certificate in Roofing Level 4
About Roofing
Roofers love working with their hands, working outdoors and putting things together. If this sounds like a great way to spend your working day, you could have a bright future as a roofer.
Why become a roofer?
Start your career with no student loan
Earn a wage from day one, and finish your apprenticeship without a massive loan hanging over your head!
Work that suits your lifestyle
Work outdoors instead of being stuck in the same office all day. As your career grows, you’ll have more freedom and flexibility in your schedule to fit in more time for the things that matter, such as family, hobbies, and interests.
A variety of experiences
No two days are the same! You’ll get the chance to work on a wide range of jobs throughout your career.
What do roofers do?
Roofers repair or install roofs using materials such as metal, membrane, tiles, and shingles. You’ll be working with other tradies, such as builders – there’s lots of teamwork involved!
A day in the life of a roofer is never boring. You get to work outdoors with your hands, facing a range of challenges. One day you might be working on a major construction project, and the next doing a smaller job on a residential property.
On any given day you could be:
- Installing a roof from scratch
- Cutting roofing materials to size and fixing roofing and cladding to buildings
- Removing old or damaged metal, tiles, and other materials from roofs
- Doing minor repairs to roof structures
- Installing spouting and guttering on roofs
Where can I go?
Once you complete your apprenticeship, you’ll be able to work independently as a roofer anywhere in New Zealand.
As you become more experienced, you’ll be able to progress to higher-level roles, such as project manager or supervisor.
Many roofers go on to start their own business, increasing both their freedom and income. Others choose to go into consulting, training, or other roles.
Is it for me?
There are some basic skills which will help you go far in your career as a roofer. You should be:
- Responsible and well-organised
- Happy working outdoors in any weather
- Physically fit (the work involves climbing and lifting)
- Able to present yourself professionally (you’ll be representing your employer and interacting with clients and other people, like members of the public).
- Good at communicating with others
- Flexible with working hours, as evening, weekend and on call is sometimes required
- Comfortable working at heights for long periods of time
- Have good balance and hand-eye coordination
Apprenticeship
It’s quicker than you think to become fully qualified
Your apprenticeship will take approximately three years to complete. Regularly working through your study and attending the block courses will help you finish on time. Download Your Journey Map.
Learning on the job
There are three main components to your training as an apprentice:
On-job learning
This is the practical learning side of your apprenticeship where you will do different roofing tasks at work. A supervisor will teach you how to do things and make sure you learn how to do them correctly. You’ll submit on-job assessment booklets and evidence (e.g. photos and drawing plans) that prove you can do these tasks.
Block courses
This is the classroom learning aspect of the apprenticeship. You’ll attend some four-day classes at ICE and learn the theory behind what you’re learning on the job.
Online learning
Online learning consists of live interactive webinars where industry experts cover the theory that supports your practical learning. You’ll also be able to access online forums to ask any questions you may have.
Strands
There are different types of roofing that you can learn. You can choose to do one type and specialise in that type alone, or you can choose to learn other types after your apprenticeship is finished.
The different types of roofing courses available at ICE are:
- Profiled Metal Roof and Wall Cladding
- Metal Tile Roof
What does it cost?
One of the best things about being an apprentice is that you’re earning while you’re learning. That means you don’t need to fork out for large student loans or work multiple jobs.
Even more good news: Since the New Zealand government is right behind getting people into trades, they help subsidise your training.
This apprenticeship doesn’t have a fixed cost because it’s based around competency. You’ll pay a weekly amount until you complete your apprenticeship.
Please note: ICE makes every effort to ensure that the information provided on this website is accurate and up-to-date. However, the information given, including fees information and the availability and structure of courses, are regularly reviewed and no warranty or representation is given about the ongoing accuracy of such information. All fees may change without notice. ICE does not accept liability for any losses or damage that happen directly or indirectly from you relying on the information on this website.
How to get started
Find an employer
The first step is to find a roofer who will take you on as an apprentice, and offer you a job. You’ll need to find an employer before you start your apprenticeship.
Sign up
Once you and your employer are ready to get started, you should give us a call on 0508 4ICEXL (0508 442395). There’s a couple of forms you’ll need to fill out together, so we’ll send these to you.
Once we’ve received and processed your documents, an ICE Account Manager will be in touch with you or your employer. They’ll run through an induction so you can kickoff your training on the right foot.