There are two NZQA unit standards to complete to become a registered Child Restraint Technician.
Unit Standard 26556 (Online and/or In Person Training)
The first Unit Standard, 26556, requires you to demonstrate knowledge of child restraints to provide advice for installation, rental or sale. This is called the “knowledge competency”. To complete this you will undertake theory based training. This includes:
an initial call or meeting (online or in person) with your trainer/assessor,
completing an online video-based training course,
reading through and understanding the child restraint technician training manual,
viewing videos demonstrating a variety of car seat installation processes.
Once you have completed these steps above, you will meet with your trainer/assessor. This meeting can take place in person or online, depending on your location.
Following this meeting, you will be required to complete the theory assessment paper. This is an “open book test” which means it can be completed while using your training manual and video resources for reference.
Your trainer/assessor will mark this paper and provide feedback for any amendments required. You are given 3 opportunities in total to achieve a pass, as follows:
Initial completion of paper and first feedback/comments from trainer/assessor.
Returning 1st set of amendments.
Returning 2nd set of amendments.
Unit Standard 26556 is a standalone qualification. Once you have achieved a pass, you are qualified to select child restraints for rental or sale and provide advice for installation. This first stage is appropriate if you only need to know how to select and advise on child restraints, rather than install them.
Unit Standard 26557 (In Person Training)
Once the knowledge competency has been passed you can then complete the second stage, which is called the “practical competency”. This will involve:
hands-on in-person training on the installation of a variety of car seats,
a period of self-driven practice on a wide range of car seats of different standards and stages,
a one-hour practical assessment during which you are required to correctly install and advise on a variety of car seats.
Once you have successfully achieved this unit standard, you will be qualified to select approved child restraints for installation, rental or sale, and install them.
Having completed and passed these two unit standards (26556 and 26557), you will be a qualified Child Restraint Technician.
To maintain the qualification, your practical competency (Unit Standard 26557) will need to be reassessed every two years.
If you have any questions, or would like to train to become a CRT, email Danielle at this link below or call on 021 271 8663.