QCTO Accredited Occupational Qualification:
Software Developer
Full Qualification | NQF Level 5 | SAQA ID – 118707
Turn a set of business requirements into working, tested, documented software with
our Software Developer Occupational Qualification.
- Duration: 24 months
- Credits: 220
- Internationally Recognised QCTO Certificate
Understanding the Software Developer Qualification
Software Developer Overview
The Software Developer Occupational Qualification prepares staff to interrogate a specification, build a logical flow that answers it, and programme the solution in a suitable language. Learners test, implement and maintain applications against client specifications and against functional and technical requirements, which is the part of the job that separates a developer from someone who can code.
The technical spread is wide: HTML5 and open-source frameworks, Python, MVC web and mobile builds, UML modelling, databases, webscraping and cloud automation platforms. At 220 credits across fourteen practical modules and a capstone project, it is the deepest development qualification in our QCTO range.
What individuals will learn
- Computers and computing systems, including networks, connectivity and IT security
- Desktop and professional software for communicating and visualising information
- Automated web scraping as a data source
- Logical thinking and basic calculations applied to programming
- Computing theory and the principles of programming
- Software development with HTML5, open-source frameworks and libraries
- Using a cloud automation platform to create solutions
- UML as a standard modelling language for software and systems development
- Obtaining, querying, manipulating and presenting data with and without MVC
- The software development life cycle, algorithms and security in development
- Governance, legislation and ethics affecting software development
- The impact of 4IR on business and the skills it demands
- Design thinking principles applied to innovation
- Developing software in Python and building web, desktop and mobile applications
Details to know
Our occupational qualifications are conducted with maximum use of practical application of the skills acquired. After facilitator led training has taken place via the course material, group work and scenario driven exchanges, learners will have the opportunity to relate the information back to their workplace. We offer a fun and relaxed learning environment, where participants will learn from each other, gain knowledge and acquire skills that will result in improved work performance.
This qualification is designed for any individual who is, or wishes to be, part of the information and communication technology (ICT) industry. It will give students the skills they need to excel in this area of your organisation.
Learners will need competency in the following areas:
- NQF Level 4
After completing a Software Developer Occupational Qualification an individual can work in the following roles:
- Software Developer
- Applications Developer
- ICT Programmer
- Front-End Developer
- Back-End Developer
- Full-Stack Developer
- Web Application Developer
This Occupational Qualification is fully accredited with QCTO. By choosing an Occupational Qualification that is accredited with QCTO, you can ensure you obtain BEE points for your Skills Development efforts and your students receive an education that is of high quality.
Businesses that we have done staff training for:
How to make the most of a Software Developer QCTO Qualification
Why choose this Qualification?
HTML5 and open-source frameworks form the spine of the qualification. Software Development with HTML5, Opensource Frameworks and Libraries appears as a 16-credit knowledge module and again as a 16-credit practical module. Thirty-two credits on one stack means your developer leaves genuinely competent in it, rather than having been introduced to six technologies and mastered none.
Fourteen practical modules mean sustained hands-on time. Eighty-nine of the 220 credits are practical. Learners develop software in Python, work through the full development cycle, design and build web applications, desktop interfaces and mobile apps using MVC, and use a cloud automation platform to create solutions. That breadth is what makes a junior developer deployable across different projects.
Sixty-five workplace credits ending in a capstone project. Programming for Software Solution Development carries 25 credits on its own, with technical requirement analysis and modelling at 15 credits each, before a 10-credit capstone. The requirement-analysis module is the one worth noticing, because most development problems in practice are specification problems.
Software Developer NQF Level 5 Module Breakdown
Qualification Breakdown
KM-01 Computers and Computing Systems (Credits 12)
KM-02 Desktop and Professional Software to Communicate and Visualise Information (Credits 8)
KM-03 Automated Web Scraping as a Data Source (Credits 8)
KM-04 Logical Thinking and Basic Calculations (Credits 2)
KM-05 Computing Theory (Credits 2)
KM-06 Software Development with HTML5, Opensource Frameworks and Libraries (Credits 16)
KM-07 UML as Standard Modelling Language for Software and Systems Development (Credits 4)
KM-08 Obtaining, Querying, Manipulating and Presenting Data with and without MVC (Credits 6)
KM-09 Software Development Life Cycle, Programming Languages, Algorithms and Security (Credits 3)
KM-10 Introduction to Governance, Legislation and Ethics (Credits 2)
KM-11 4IR and Future Skills (Credits 2)
KM-12 Design Thinking Principles for Innovation (Credits 1)
PM-01 Use Software to Communicate and Visualise Information (Credits 3)
PM-02 Use and Manage Spreadsheets and Workbooks (Credits 3)
PM-03 Use Desktop Applications to Analyse, Visualise and Report on Data (Credits 3)
PM-04 Use a Visual Analytics Platform and Visualisation Tools to Analyse, Visualise and Report on Data (Credits 3)
PM-05 Query and Massage Data (Credits 3)
PM-06 Apply Logical Thinking and Maths (Credits 3)
PM-07 Apply Code to Use a Software Toolkit/Platform in the Field of Study or Employment (Credits 3)
PM-08 Develop Software using HTML5, Opensource Frameworks and Libraries (Credits 16)
PM-09 Design and Build Web Applications, Desktop Graphical User Interfaces or Mobile Apps (Credits 8)
PM-10 Use a Cloud Automation Platform to Create Solutions (Credits 8)
PM-11 Develop Software using Python (Credits 12)
PM-12 Apply the Development Cycle when Developing Software (Credits 16)
PM-13 Participate in a Design Thinking for Innovation Workshop (Credits 4)
PM-14 Function Ethically and Effectively in a Team (Credits 4)
WE-01 Technical Requirement Analysis and Refinement (Credits 15)
WE-02 Modelling Processes (Credits 15)
WE-03 Programming for Software Solution Development (Credits 25)
WE-04 Capstone Project (Credits 10)
Take a look at the other occupational qualifications we have on offer