Practical Assessments

This page provides information about the TMO & STMS practising (onsite) assessments and verified sites.

Please do not confuse these with the classroom theory courses...
  • Theory Courses - check trainees understand the theoretical knowledge before moving on to the onsite (practical) assessments.
  • Practising Assessments - apply the theoretical knowledge taught in the classroom to an onsite environment. Without completing the TMO/STMS practising assessment, the trainee cannot be signed off as competent to work as a TMO/STMS on a job in the traffic management industry.
 

Traffic Management Operative (TMO)

Prerequisites for completing the TMO Practising Assessment:
  • A current TMO Non-Practising warrant is the prerequisite to the TMO practising warrant.
  • Or a current STMS - Universal qualification
  • Or a current STMS (A/B/C) - NP qualification
 

Site Traffic Management Specialist (STMS) for Category A, B, C

Prerequisites for completing the STMS Practising Assessment:
  • STMS Non-Practising warrant for the category you require, (i.e STMS (A)/(B)/(C) NP)
  • Attendees must also be -  a practising TMO or TC (with a current warrant, or a warrant expired not more than 12 months), OR  a practising STMS (of any category or level) current or expired.

Reminder: if you were an STMS prior to April 2021, and have the old model STMS Level 1 qualification, please note that it is an NZTA requirement that you must have completed the new STMS A/B Refresher course prior to undertaking the practical assessments so you have current updated theory information. That is also the prerequisite to be able to get the new practising unit standard. 

Existing qualified STMS who have held the qualification prior to 1st April 2021 can proceed with the assessment sites only… but ask yourself the following. Are they confident and competent? i.e. will they pass the assessment? Have you looked at the Assessment book?

Reminder: Any STMS prior to April 2021 will need to complete the STMS refresher course which preps you for the assessment also so they have a new Unit Standard which is a must prior to onsite practical assessments regardless of your expiry date. IE: the STMS Refresher course is a must! An STMS Refresher course only requires you to hold a current STMS Non-practising warrant (US31962).

There are different types of onsite practical assessments that are completed:

(click to view ASSESSMENT INFO which has a few helpful slides to show the types of TTM closures you will be assessed on. In addition, this is described below
  • STMS will need to complete 2 Verified Closures on each CAT (A,B or C that they want to be qualified in). These are shown in the Assessment Trainee Booklets (US31963) for each unit standard. Generally, shoulder closures (F2.7) and others will be a lane shift like a two-lane diversion (F2.13) and on CAT A site it includes pedestrian management. 
  • TMO will need to complete 4 Verified Closures as shown in the Assessment Trainee Booklets (US31960). TMO do a mixture of tasks on CAT A and others on CAT B as indicated in US31960. Then they complete 3 more tasks which are the final 3 Assessments also shown in that booklet (install shoulder closure, inspection activity and maintain an alternating flow IE: MTC Stop/Go F214). 
TMO Connexis, Trainee Assessment Booklet (US31960)
STMS CAT A, B, C Connexis Trainee Assessment Booklet  (US31963)
Read the above, and when you feel confident and competent, then sign up and book in your assessment!

TMC Ltd provides all of the following as part of the assessments and any verified sites. 
To have success during your assessments we provide the resources
(TTM vehicle & equipment, TTM labour, mentors/assessors, and the approved TMP & site).
This is to help set you up for success as there are many variables if supplying your own vehicle or equipment. If they are not up to spec then you risk failing during pre-checks if they are not up to NZTA standard. These are all important elements of the assessments as you will read in the assessment trainee booklet in the links above for 31960 & 31963. 
  • The assessment worksite must be on a live network
  • The assessment can be completed:
    • at a worksite set up just for the assessment, or
    • at an actual worksite
  • The main difference between TMO and STMS assessments is that the TMO will be around minding and maintaining a site whereas the STMS will be around briefing crew, doing installation, risk assessments, following TMP, and removal of the site. In saying that, the TMO will however need to show competence in setting up some smaller sites IE: Install a shoulder closure site, pedestrian division on the berm and complete an Inspection activity on the shoulder (CATB) and live lane using a spotter (CAT A). 

If you are ready and have read all of the above including the Trainee Assessments then please email assess@tmcteam.co.nz

We will then provide a comprehensive information pack and much more including costs and training options to suit various learners.
Note that dates may change leading up to your assessment based on the weather, and logistics of our assessors so please block out 2 days on either side as contingency dates. Unlike classroom courses, it is important we have some flexibility for those reasons!

Our costs for the Assessments are set, please enquire. These are assessments, not training, so please consider asking about our pre-training sessions if you're not feeling competent. Resits if you fail will be charged at the same rates. 

Re-evaluate: questions to ask yourself prior to booking in.

  • Are my existing TTM staff that hold quals, using that qual right now? IE: actually in that role? Do they want to remain in that role under the new training changes? What is it they do or are wanting to do? Some may be downgrading to TMO, TTM-W if that’s their true role.
    Ask them and yourself, if they are a true STMS and if not what do they do on a daily basis. This will help check which true Qualification they actually need under the new system! They may be doomed to complete a practical assessment unless they have the competencies in that role! STMS is now the true builder with the hammer out on the road and all other roles are split off!

  • Designer, Auditors, Stop-Go workers, TC, TMO, STMS….everyone needs to think about what it is you're doing right now in the industry and match that to the new learning blocks / Quals! This will help avoid wasting time and money trying to progress in a direction you're not actually going to perform tasks in! Do not by default force or try to keep what you have now if it is not what they are actually doing in reality. 

  • Also, note that the best way to get extensive knowledge, and which we highly recommend doing, is the theory courses through the STMS-Universal to get the best understanding of the industry and what your staff will be doing. If you are in charge of staff this would be wise. IE STMS-Universal and the theory courses for CAT A, B, C etc would be a good direction to head in.