This qualification defines the skills and knowledge required for a higher engineering tradesperson within metal, engineering, manufacturing and associated industries.

The skills associated with this qualification are intended to apply to a wide range of engineering work undertaken in the fields of refrigeration and air conditioning, casting and moulding, computer numerically controlled (CNC) programming, fluid power, heavy fabrication, instrumentation, maintenance, plant mechanics, marine electronics, mechatronics, patternmaking, robotics, toolmaking, welding and watch and clock services and repair, including post-trade work.

It provides the skills and knowledge for a person to understand and implement quality control techniques, exercise good interpersonal and communications skills, work from complex instructions and procedures, exercise discretion within the scope of responsibility, perform work under limited supervision either individually or in a team environment, be responsible for assuring the quality of their own work, provide trade guidance and assistance as part of a work team, perform non-trade tasks which are incidental or peripheral to the primary tasks and facilitate the completion of the whole task, inspect products and/or materials for conformity with established operational standards, operate lifting equipment incidental to their work and assists in the provision of training in conjunction with supervisors and trainers.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication. However, in some jurisdictions units in this qualification may require a license. Licensing information is included in the relevant units of competency.