Occupational Certificate
Occupational Certificate: Artificial Intelligence Software Developer
This AI engineer course is the QCTO's Occupational Certificate: Artificial Intelligence Software Developer, taught by Zaio Institute of Technology over 18 months, online and live. You cover the national curriculum in mathematics, machine learning and deep learning, then Zaio modules on large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, agents, Cursor-based coding and cloud deployment, and finish with deployed AI systems and the national EISA exam.
Entry is Grade 12 with English and Mathematical Literacy, or an NQF Level 4 qualification. Tuition is paid per year and can be financed monthly. The QCTO issues the certificate.
Curriculum
23 modules
Grounding you in the mathematics, theory and language of AI while extending well beyond the standard scope with Zaio Theory (ZTAI) modules.
11 modules
Every practical module has you shipping working AI systems on real datasets.
3 modules
Apply your skills in real-world AI solution design, testing and deployment.
Every module, and what it is worth in credits
In the 2027 learner prospectus. Read it here, or download the PDF.
Tools you will use
How the time is spent
Part 1
Theory modules (runs with Part 2, theory exam)
Part 2
Practical training (workbook, observation and assessment)
Part 3
Workplace modules (external or onsite, observation and logbook)
External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA)
The difference
Most AI programmes stop at what a neural network is. Zaio's modules have you building AI products with real users before you graduate:
The qualification is registered on the NQF at Level 5 (SAQA ID 118792) and issued by the QCTO after the national EISA exam. Zaio's modules on top are what let you take a business problem and ship a working AI solution.
You'll leave this programme having built and deployed multiple working AI systems — chatbots, RAG apps, agents, computer vision demos — with real users testing them.
From LangChain and MCPs to fine-tuning and multi-agent frameworks, you'll master tools that most AI engineers only touch years into their careers.
Learn Python, cloud deployment, vector databases and modern MLOps alongside classical ML. You leave fluent in both the theory and the toolchain.
Graduate with a public GitHub, deployed demos and a technical writeup for each project. Employers can see and test your work before the interview.
Outcomes
Graduates work as AI application developers, machine learning engineers and AI-focused full-stack developers, or lead AI adoption inside existing teams.
Faculty
Co-founder and software engineer
Teaches
Full stack, AI and cloud
Full-stack developer and multimedia artist
Teaches
Full stack and AI
Tuition
Pay by year
Paid year by year as you progress, with the national EISA exam fee at the end.
Pay monthly — flexible financing
R5,650 a month
Spread across the 1.5–2 years you are studying. Financed through Manati, up to 100% of tuition, so you can start without paying it all upfront. Approval is theirs, and every cost is confirmed in writing before you enrol.
Ready to start
Who can apply
Takes about five minutes.
FAQ
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