Qualifications equip cycle skills instructors to do their role better. Here’s what is available.

Instructor on a BikeReady adult cycle skills course.

NZ Certificate in Cycle Skills Instruction

People with at least some basic experience as an instructor can work towards a specialist qualification:

New Zealand Certificate in Cycle Skills Instruction (Level 4) with strands in beginner, intermediate and advanced.

Format: This qualification is delivered and assessed on the job. It involves some study in your own time, an on-the-job assessment of your ability as an instructor, plus contact time with a learning support advisor.

Content:

You can choose one of three strands:

  • Beginner skills
  • Intermediate skills
  • Advanced skills

You will learn practical parts of an instructor's role such as:

  • Planning, conducting and reviewing cycle skills training sessions
  • Applying hazard identification and risk management
  • Running inclusive cycle skills sessions

Time to complete: Normally gained in 5 - 7 months

Usually you will enrol with the support of the cycle skills training provider you work for. The certificate can be completed while you work and is considered a hands-on practical programme.

The New Zealand Certificate programme is run by Te Mahi Ako (Skills Active), New Zealand's industry training organisation (ITO) for sport, recreation, exercise, outdoor recreation and the performing arts.

New Zealand Certificate in Cycle Skills Instruction(external link)

FAQ: How does the New Zealand Certificate in Cycle Skills Instruction relate to the BikeReady training course?

The BikeReady training course and the Te Mahi Ako (Skills Active) qualification work together in tandem ie the BikeReady course provides training, and the Te Mahi Ako (Skills Active) qualification includes assessment tasks leading to the New Zealand Certificate in Cycle Skills Instruction (Level 4). Further explanation is below:  

The New Zealand Certificate in Cycle Skills Instruction (Level 4) administered by Te Mahi Ako (Skills Active) is the only qualification in New Zealand for people working as cycle skills instructors. The qualification was developed in partnership with BikeReady and everything assessed as part of the qualification is aligned to the BikeReady Guidelines and to the BikeReady training course.

The New Zealand Certificate in Cycle Skills Instruction (Level 4) qualification is gained through ‘on-the-job training and experience’, and assessment includes written tasks and practical tasks. The practical tasks require an assessor to observe the instructor delivering a cycle skills session.

The BikeReady National Cycle Skills Instructor Course is a 3-day course that upskills instructors on current good practice for cycle skills training to meet BikeReady Guidelines. The course is not a pre-requisite for the New Zealand Certificate in Cycle Skills Instruction (Level 4) administered by Te Mahi Ako (Skills Active), but it is highly recommended that anybody enrolled in the qualification (or intending to enrol) does the BikeReady course as it will provide new instructors with training that will further their learning and help them gain practice and confidence as they work towards the qualification. 

The BikeReady course on its own is not assessed and does not give instructors a qualification.

BikeReady recommends that instructors complete both the BikeReady training AND enrol in the New Zealand Certificate with Te Mahi Ako (Skills Active). Training providers are expected to have a certain number of qualified instructors as outlined in the BikeReady Guidelines. Qualified instructors are defined as those with the Te Mahi Ako (Skills Active) qualification [either the old qualification which was called the National Certificate in Recreation and Sport (Cycle Skills Instruction) (Level 3); or the new qualification mentioned above, the New Zealand Certificate in Cycle Skills Instruction (Level 4)].