Study options
Occupational Certificates: what they are, and the nine you can study at Zaio
An Occupational Certificate is a nationally registered South African qualification on the National Qualifications Framework, developed for a specific occupation, quality-assured by the QCTO and made up of knowledge, practical and workplace modules ending in a national exam (the EISA). Zaio Institute of Technology, a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider, offers nine at NQF Level 4 and 5.
The qualification
What is an Occupational Certificate?
An Occupational Certificate is a national qualification built around a job. Where a diploma or degree is organised around a field of study, an Occupational Certificate is organised around what a person in a specific occupation has to know and be able to do. It is registered with the South African Qualifications Authority on the National Qualifications Framework, quality-assured by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, and delivered by providers the QCTO has accredited.
Every one has three parts: knowledge modules, assessed by exam; practical skills modules, assessed through workbooks and observation; and workplace modules, completed with an employer or on site. It ends with the External Integrated Summative Assessment, a national exam. Pass it and the QCTO issues your certificate. The college does not.
The levels
Occupational Certificate meaning: the levels explained
The level tells you how advanced the qualification is. An Occupational Certificate at NQF Level 4 is at the level of matric. At NQF Level 5 it is one level above matric, the same level as a Higher Certificate. A diploma is Level 6 and a bachelor’s degree Level 7. An Occupational Certificate is not a diploma and not a degree, and we never describe it as either.
Side by side
Occupational Certificate vs bootcamp vs diploma
| Occupational Certificate | Bootcamp | Diploma or degree | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered on the NQF | Yes, Level 4 or 5 | No | Yes, Level 6 or 7 |
| Who issues it | The QCTO, after the national EISA exam | The provider | The university or college, under the CHE |
| Length | 18 months to 2 years | 9 weeks to 7 months | 3 to 4 years |
| Entry | Matric or NQF 4 (Grade 10 for some Level 4 certificates) | None | Matric with a diploma or bachelor's pass |
| Workplace component | Built in | Portfolio projects | Varies |
| At Zaio | Nine certificates | Six bootcamps | Not offered |
The certificates
The nine Occupational Certificates at Zaio
School of Technology
- Occupational Certificate: Software DeveloperSee the certificate
NQF Level 5 · 220 credits · SAQA ID 118707 · 2 years
- Occupational Certificate: Artificial Intelligence Software DeveloperSee the certificate
NQF Level 5 · 209 credits · SAQA ID 118792 · 1.5–2 years
- Occupational Certificate: Data ScienceSee the certificate
NQF Level 5 · 185 credits · SAQA ID 118708 · 1.5 years
- Occupational Certificate: CybersecuritySee the certificate
NQF Level 5 · 173 credits · SAQA ID 118986 · 1.5 years
- Occupational Certificate: Cloud AdministratorSee the certificate
NQF Level 4 · 149 credits · SAQA ID 118699 · 18 months
School of Business & Marketing
- Higher Occupational Certificate: Business Development OfficerSee the certificate
NQF Level 5 · 230 credits · SAQA ID 121567 · 2 years
- National Occupational Certificate: Entrepreneurial Business ManagerSee the certificate
NQF Level 4 · 120 credits · SAQA ID 124447 · 12 months
- Higher Occupational Certificate: AdvertiserSee the certificate
NQF Level 5 · 120 credits · SAQA ID 121447 · 12 months
- National Occupational Certificate: Graphic Media DesignerSee the certificate
NQF Level 4 · 160 credits · SAQA ID 122663 · 12–15 months
Zaio Technology (Pty) Ltd, trading as Zaio Institute of Technology, is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider. Accreditation is granted per qualification, not per institute, so each certificate page carries the number from the letter covering that qualification along with its SAQA ID, and you can check both on the register yourself. How to verify.
Due diligence
How to check any Occupational Certificate
- Ask for the provider's QCTO accreditation number. Ours is on this page and on every certificate page.
- Ask for the SAQA ID of the exact qualification. Ours is on every certificate page.
- Search that ID on the SAQA register. The registered title, NQF level and credits should match what the provider told you.
- Ask what you receive at the end and who issues it. For an Occupational Certificate, the QCTO issues it.
Questions
Occupational Certificates, answered
What is an Occupational Certificate?
A nationally registered South African qualification built around a specific occupation, registered on the NQF, quality-assured by the QCTO, made up of knowledge, practical skills and workplace modules, and ending in a national exam (the EISA) after which the QCTO issues the certificate.
Which NQF level is an Occupational Certificate?
It depends on the qualification. Zaio's are at NQF Level 4 (the level of matric) and NQF Level 5 (the level of a Higher Certificate).
Is an Occupational Certificate the same as a diploma?
No. A diploma is NQF Level 6. An Occupational Certificate at Level 5 is one level below a diploma and one above matric; it is a registered occupational qualification, not a diploma.
How long does an Occupational Certificate take?
At Zaio, 18 months to two years, including the workplace modules and the EISA.
How do I get an Occupational Certificate?
Enrol with a QCTO-accredited provider, complete the knowledge, practical and workplace modules, pass the EISA, and the QCTO issues the certificate.
Admissions
Not sure which one fits?
An advisor will tell you honestly which certificate suits where you are, or whether a bootcamp is the better route.
- QCTO-accredited Occupational Certificates
- Live online, with hubs in Cape Town and Durban
- Tuition from R19,950 upfront, or R1,950 a month financed