Region

The New Zealand Certified Locator Program

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Self Assessment

The purpose of the Self-Assessment is to help you to understand what areas you will be assessed on during the Theory and Practical Assessments. If there are criteria within the Self-Assessment where you are not confident, it is in your interest not to enrol into the program until you have increased your expertise in those areas; otherwise you may find you do not pass the assessment.

Once the Self-Assessment has been successfully completed, you will be asked to formally enrol in the beforeUdig Certification process and make payment. During the enrolment process you will need to:

  • Input the serial number of the Locator you will use during the practical assessment
  • Upload your photo
  • Upload a copy of your driver’s licence

After successful enrolment, you will receive your log-in details via email and can proceed to the Theory Assessment.

Please note - all fields are required

Do you have and use everything on the Required Items list?*
Do you have and use everything on the <em>Required Items</em> list?
Please select
Do you have at least three months full time equivalent practical locating experience, which includes time working in congested areas?*
Do you have at least three months full time equivalent practical locating experience, which includes time working in congested areas?
Please select
Can you operate and care for all essential locating equipment?*
Can you operate and care for all essential locating equipment?
Please select
Do you understand AS 5488 – Classification of Subsurface Utility Information and how the quality levels may be applied in a New Zealand context?*
Do you understand <em>AS 5488 – Classification of Subsurface Utility Information</em> and how the quality levels may be applied in a New Zealand context?
Please select
Are you able to manage the scope of locating projects with each client?*
Are you able to manage the scope of locating projects with each client?
Please select
Do you know how to request underground service plans through beforeUdig and additional plans from non-member asset owners?*
Do you know how to request underground service plans through beforeUdig and additional plans from non-member asset owners?
Please select
Are you able to read and understand utility plans provided by infrastructure asset owners?*
Are you able to read and understand utility plans provided by infrastructure asset owners?
Please select
Do you understand the difference between live, abandoned and dead cables?*
Do you understand the difference between live, abandoned and dead cables?
Please select
Can you identify work hazards related to a locating task and act to control those hazards to prevent harm to yourself, co-workers, and the community?*
Can you identify work hazards related to a locating task and act to control those hazards to prevent harm to yourself, co-workers, and the community?
Please select
Can you interpret and apply a risk matrix?*
Can you interpret and apply a risk matrix?
Please select
Do you approach all locating tasks logically and methodically?*
Do you approach all locating tasks logically and methodically?
Please select
Can you identify all relevant visual surface features that would suggest the presence of underground assets in your work area?*
Can you identify all relevant visual surface features that would suggest the presence of underground assets in your work area?
Please select
Can you determine the type of underground assets where directly visible e.g. in pits?*
Can you determine the type of underground assets where directly visible e.g. in pits?
Please select
Do you understand electromagnetic fields, how they are generated, and how they apply to locating?*
Do you understand electromagnetic fields, how they are generated, and how they apply to locating?
Please select
Can you select and apply different locating techniques to successfully identify conductive and non-conductive assets?*
Can you select and apply different locating techniques to successfully identify conductive and non-conductive assets?
Please select
Do you understand the impact of choosing signal frequencies in different locating situations?*
Do you understand the impact of choosing signal frequencies in different locating situations?
Please select
Do you know how to decrease the resistance in a locating circuit if you want to improve signal strength?*
Do you know how to decrease the resistance in a locating circuit if you want to improve signal strength?
Please select
Do you understand the causes of interference on locating circuits?*
Do you understand the causes of interference on locating circuits?
Please select
Can you prevent and/or minimise the impact of interference while locating?*
Can you prevent and/or minimise the impact of interference while locating?
Please select
Can you recognise when EM interference is adversely affecting a locate?*
Can you recognise when EM interference is adversely affecting a locate?
Please select
Do you take a logical approach when your EM signal suddenly reduces or is lost during a locate?*
Do you take a logical approach when your EM signal suddenly reduces or is lost during a locate?
Please select
Can you use the direct connect method to successfully locate a service when it’s appropriate?*
Can you use the direct connect method to successfully locate a service when it’s appropriate?
Please select
Do you know how to use the inductive locating method when it makes sense?*
Do you know how to use the inductive locating method when it makes sense?
Please select
Can you successfully use the ‘inductive spillage’ method when the situation calls for it?*
Can you successfully use the ‘inductive spillage’ method when the situation calls for it?
Please select
Do you know how and when to check for air coupling and how to overcome this problem?*
Do you know how and when to check for air coupling and how to overcome this problem?
Please select
Do you understand peak and null modes and what they are telling you?*
Do you understand peak and null modes and what they are telling you?
Please select
Can you use locating equipment to obtain a depth reading?*
Can you use locating equipment to obtain a depth reading?
Please select
Do you know how to complete a passive blind search when it’s required?*
Do you know how to complete a passive blind search when it’s required?
Please select
Can you undertake an active blind search when the situation calls for it?*
Can you undertake an active blind search when the situation calls for it?
Please select
Do you understand how to use a sonde?*
Do you understand how to use a sonde?
Please select
When carrying out an EM locate, do you know how to ‘troubleshoot’ when faced with unexpected readings?*
When carrying out an EM locate, do you know how to ‘troubleshoot’ when faced with unexpected readings?
Please select
Do you understand the process of triangulation?*
Do you understand the process of triangulation?
Please select
Do you use utility naming and marking colours that are consistent with current New Zealand convention?*
Do you use utility naming and marking colours that are consistent with current New Zealand convention?
Please select
Have you fully read and agree to the terms and conditions*
Have you fully read and agree to the terms and conditions
Please select

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About beforeUdig

beforeUdig is a free online service that enables anyone undertaking excavation work to obtain information on the location of underground assets in and around a proposed dig site — helping to prevent damage, ensure safety, and protect critical infrastructure.

The service provides a one-stop communication platform for contractors, utilities, and asset owners across participating regions.

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