South Africa’s Shift to QCTO Qualifications: A Guide for Training Providers, Employers, and Learners
What Is the QCTO?
The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) is a statutory body established under the Skills Development Act of 1998. It governs occupational qualifications within the Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework (OQSF)—one of three pillars of South Africa’s National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
The responsibilities of QCTO:
Develops and maintains occupational qualifications.
Oversees assessments and quality assurance.
Works with industry bodies to ensure qualifications align with real labour market needs.
Manages the National Learners’ Records Database for transparency and verification.
Why QCTO Matters Now?
South Africa’s education and skills development landscape is changing fast. With the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) officially replacing SETAs for qualifications by June 2024, both training providers and employers must adapt to a new system. This shift aims to streamline qualification development, strengthen industry alignment, and ensure greater national and international credibility.
Addressing South Africa’s Skills Gaps
One of the major strengths of the QCTO model is its ability to address the country’s skills shortages. By offering shorter, stackable, and more targeted programmes, it opens doors for working adults, unemployed youth, and people in informal sectors to gain formal recognition for skills often through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
The flexibility and modularity of QCTO qualifications also make it easier to design training that’s aligned with industry demand, rather than following outdated academic models. This responsive approach instead supports both economic development and individual empowerment.
What is the difference between QCTO and SETA?
From SETA to QCTO: What’s Changing and Why
Historically, SETAs handled both quality assurance and grants for workplace-based training. Under the new structure, SETAs will still register learnerships and allocate grants, but their role shifts to supporting the QCTO as Development Quality Partners (DQPs) and Assessment Quality Partners (AQPs).
The QCTO now assumes full control of the design, registration, and quality assurance of qualifications. This simplifies the system and reduces duplication, giving employers and learners a clearer, more credible skills pathway.
SETAs will continue to play a crucial role in the skills development ecosystem, particularly in sectors where they have established expertise and experience. They will remain key to identifying sector-specific skills needs and advancing the development of relevant occupational qualifications and training programs.
How do QCTO qualifications differ from Historical qualifications?
Key Differences Between Historical and Occupational Qualifications
| Feature | Historical/Legacy Qualifications | QCTO Occupational Qualifications |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Competency-based | Competency + Practical + Workplace components |
| Industry Input | Minimal | Developed with industry stakeholders |
| Assessment | Task-focused | Modular: Knowledge, Practical, Work experience |
| Recognition | National | Nationally and Globally aligned |
Traditional “legacy” qualifications focused heavily on task completion. QCTO qualifications, by contrast, follow a three-part structure: theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and on-the-job workplace experience. This integrated model ensures that learners not only know how to perform a task but also understand why and when to apply it.
QCTO qualifications are not only more comprehensive but also more relevant to specific occupations. They prepare learners with practical, job-ready skills that meet current industry demands.
Types of QCTO Qualifications?
There are three main categories of QCTO-accredited programmes, each serving a different purpose in the learning and employment ecosystem.
1. Occupational Qualifications:
- 120+ credits
- NQF Level aligned
- Include three components: Knowledge, Practical, Work Experience
- Must incorporate 5–10% soft skills
Occupational Qualifications are comprehensive programmes, typically over 120 credits, combining knowledge, skills, and workplace experience. These qualifications are ideal for developing fully competent professionals in specific roles.
2. Part-Qualifications
- Less than <120 credits
- Focus on specific job functions
- Can stack toward full qualifications
Part-Qualifications are smaller units of learning, under 120 credits that target specific skills or job functions. They are modular and can be stacked toward full qualifications over time.
3. Skills Programmes
- Credit-bearing but not NQF-registered
- Recognised toward full or part-qualifications
- Ideal for targeted workforce development
Skills Programmes are credit-bearing and occupationally focused but not registered as full NQF qualifications. These are ideal for upskilling or reskilling employees quickly, especially in fast-changing industries.
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Quality Partners and Industry Specific Qualifications:
TETA SETA (Transport Education Training Authority):
Qualification: Clearing and Forwarding Agent | SAQA ID: 96368 | NQF Level 5 | 120 Credits
Qualification: Freight Handler | SAQA ID: 96396 | NQF Level 3 | 122 Credits
Qualification: Supply Chain Practitioner | SAQA ID: 110942 | NQF Level 5 | 180 Credits
Freight and Logistics: Programmes coming soon
Qualification: Procurement Officer | SAQA ID: 111445 | NQF Level 5 | 180 Credits
Qualification: Shipping Agent | SAQA ID: 110934 | NQF Level 5 | 240 Credits
Qualification: Supply Chain Manager | SAQA ID: 111357 | NQF Level 6 | 180 Credits
Qualification: Customs Compliance Manager | SAQA ID: 102499 | NQF Level 7 | 250 Credits
Qualification: Transport Clerk | SAQA ID: 94025 | NQF Level 4 | 121 Credits
Qualification: Supply Chain Executive | SAQA ID: 111386 | NQF Level 7 | 180 Credits
MICT SETA (Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority):
Qualification: Software Developer | SAQA ID: 118707 | NQF Level 5 | 220 Credits
Qualification: Software Tester | SAQA ID: 119438 | NQF Level 5 | 70 Credits
Qualification: Computer Technician | SAQA ID: 101408 | NQF Level 5 | 282 Credits
Qualification: Design Thinking Innovation Lead | SAQA ID: 118788 | NQF Level 4 | 160 Credits
Qualification: Design Thinking Practitioner | SAQA ID: 118705 | NQF Level 4 | 100 Credits
Qualification: Data Science Practitioner | SAQA ID: 118708 | NQF Level 5 | 220 Credits
Qualification: Cybersecurity Analyst | SAQA ID: 118986 | NQF Level 5 | 173 Credits
Information Technology: Programmes coming soon
Qualification: Cloud Administrator | SAQA ID: 118699 | NQF Level 4 | 149 Credits
Skills Programme: Java Programmer | SP-220329 | NQF Level 4 | 53 Credits
Skills Programme: JavaScript Programmer | SP-220373 | NQF Level 4 | 60 Credits
Skills Programme: Python Programmer | SP-230375 | NQF Level 4 | 60 Credits
Skills Programme: Cybersecurity Defender | SP-220330 | NQF Level 4 | 60 Credits
Skills Programme: Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) Programmer | SP-230372 | NQF Level 4 | 60 Credits
Services SETA
Qualification: Commercial Cleaner | SAQA ID: 118709 | NQF Level 1 | 120 Credits
Qualification: Project Manager | SAQA ID: 101869 | NQF Level 5 | 240 Credits
Services SETA: Programmes coming soon
Qualification: Quality Assurer | SAQA ID: 118769 | NQF Level 5 | 106 Credits
Qualification: Quality Assurer | SAQA ID: 118769 | NQF Level 5 | 106 Credits
W&R SETA (Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority):
Qualification: Retail Supervisor | SAQA ID: 99573 | NQF Level 4 | 100 Credits
Qualification: Sales Assistant (General) (Retail Sales Advisor) | SAQA ID: 99669 | NQF Level 3 | 54 Credits
Qualification: Dispatching and Receiving Clerk | SAQA ID: 99446 | NQF Level 3 | 34 Credits
Qualification: Store Person | SAQA ID: 99703 | NQF Level 2 | 41 Credits
Wholesale and Retail: Programmes coming soon
Qualification: Small Retail Business Owner | SAQA ID: 121164 | NQF Level 4 | 143 Credits
Qualification: Sales Representative | SAQA ID: 121792 | NQF Level 4 | 155 Credits
CATHSSETA (Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority):
Occupational Qualification: Kitchen Hand | SAQA ID: 110354 | NQF Level 3 | 52 Credits
Occupational Qualification: Cook | SAQA ID: 102296 | NQF Level 4 | 184 Credits
Occupational Qualification: Food Handler | SAQA ID: 110644 | NQF Level 2 | 32 Credits
ETDP SETA (Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority)
Occupational Qualification: Training and Development Practitioner | SAQA ID: 101321 | NQF Level 5 | 190 Credits
Education: Programmes coming soon
Skills Programme: Assessment Practitioner | NQF Level 5 | 20 Credits
Skills Programme: Learning and Development Facilitator | NQF Level 5 | 36 Credits
Skills Programme: Skills Development Facilitation Pracatitioner | NQF Level 4 | 150 Credits
FASSET: Recommended For Approval
Occupational Qualification: Bookkeeper | SAQA ID: 98959 | NQF Level 5 | 364 Credits
Occupational Qualification: Tax Technician | SAQA ID: 94098 | NQF Level 6 | 399 Credits
FP&M SETA: Recommended For Approval
Occupational Qualification: Apparel Pattern Maker and Grader | SAQA ID: 115455 | NQF Level 5 | 291 Credits
Occupational Qualification: Sewing Machine Operator | SAQA ID: 97238 | NQF Level 2 | 128 Credits
Occupational Qualification: Weft Knitting Machine Operator | SAQA ID: 101374 | NQF Level 2 | 170 Credits
Occupational Qualification: Pattern Grader | SAQA ID: 115509 | NQF Level 4 | 85 Credits
New Policies and Legislative Updates
QCTO has now introduced Accreditation Tariffs, signalling a shift towards a more structured and accountable accreditation process. With its transition into a fully operational phase, the emphasis is on enhancing quality, monitoring, and capacity-building for all stakeholders. This approach aims to ensure that only committed prospective Skills Development Providers (SDPs) are accredited.
Free accreditations often attract uncommitted applicants who may waste valuable time and resources, such as cancelling appointments when SMEs arrive, seeking accreditation to access SETA funding, relying on consultants without understanding processes, and adopting a “nothing to lose” mentality. This has led to the proliferation of applications that do not meet the necessary standards.
Global Recognition of QCTO Qualifications
The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) plays a significant role in ensuring that occupational qualifications are recognized both nationally and internationally. QCTO qualifications are designed to meet high standards of competence in various trades and occupations, aligning with both South African and global best practices.
These qualifications are developed in collaboration with industry experts, ensuring relevance and applicability across different sectors. As a result, QCTO qualifications are increasingly respected by employers and educational institutions worldwide, facilitating mobility and career advancement for learners in the global job market.
The External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA)
EISA is a national examination managed by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) in South Africa. It serves as the final assessment for learners pursuing occupational qualifications, ensuring they have achieved the necessary competence across knowledge, practical skills, and workplace experience.
The primary purpose of the EISA is to assess learners’ overall competence in their chosen occupation, ensuring they meet the qualification standards. This comprehensive assessment combines theoretical knowledge, practical application, and workplace experience. It is conducted under the coordination of accredited Assessment Quality Partners (AQPs) at accredited assessment centres, with oversight from the QCTO. Learners who successfully complete the EISA are awarded an Occupational Certificate by the QCTO.
What is the advantage that learners will have with the QCTO occupational qualifications?
The new QCTO model aims to provide clear learning pathways towards practice in an occupation in the actual workplace setting. It is designed to accelerate the processes for building occupational competence, so that learners can develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and work experience more efficiently.
Improving the quality and credibility of learner achievements: The new model aims to improve the quality and credibility of learner achievements, by ensuring that learners are assessed against clear standards of competence, and that their achievements are recognized and valued by employers.
Addressing the skills crisis: The new model aims to address the skills crisis in South Africa, by making the system more effective and efficient in responding to the skills needs of the labour market. It is designed to be more responsive to labour-market skills needs, including those of the informal sector and the public sector.
What does the National Qualification Framework hope to achieve with the changeover to Occupational Qualifications?
The changeover to an Occupational Qualification aims to improve the quality, relevance, and responsiveness of the skills development system in South Africa. It aims to provide clear learning pathways towards practice in an occupation in the actual workplace setting and accelerate the processes for building occupational competence, so that learners can develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and work experience more efficiently. It also aims to address the skills crisis in South Africa and provide an alternative pathway for young people and workers to access learning, work experience, and employment.
Strengthening the occupational arm of the NQF: The new model aims to strengthen the ‘occupational arm’ of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) in order to accommodate the unique learning requirements for building occupational competence. By strengthening this ‘arm’ of the NQF, the QCTO will provide an alternative pathway for young people and workers to access learning, work experience, and employment.
Assessment Centres
The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) accredits assessment centres to conduct the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) for specified occupational qualifications, part-qualifications, or trades. These include accredited trade test centres, workplaces, skills development providers, education and training institutions, and professional bodies. The EISA is a national assessment that ensures the assessment of occupational qualifications is standardised, consistent, and credible. Only QCTO-accredited assessment centres can deliver assessments for QCTO certification.
National Qualification Framework, Sub-Framework and Qualification Types
Next Steps:
Edge Training continues to align with QCTO improving our offering with various occupational full and part qualifications in industries such as Information Technology, Freight and Logistics, Wholesale and Retail, Textiles and certified as an EISA Assessment centre and continues to shape our organisation as a leading training provider ready to transition to with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations. Reach out to us and start aligning your training needs with Edge Training today!