Occupational Certificate
Higher Occupational Certificate: Business Development Officer
Accreditation
Higher Occupational Certificate: Business Development Officer, NQF Level 5, 230 credits (SAQA ID 121567). Offered by Zaio Institute of Technology as a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider under accreditation number 01-QCTO/SDP090726184208.
A nationally registered qualification, not a degree. Pass the national EISA and the QCTO issues the certificate. How to verify.
This business development course is the QCTO's Higher Occupational Certificate: Business Development Officer, taught by Zaio Institute of Technology over two years, online and live. You cover business strategy, project management, funding models and stakeholder management from the national curriculum, then Zaio modules in CRM systems, AI-powered prospecting, pipeline management and negotiation.
Entry is matric or an NQF Level 4 equivalent. Tuition is paid per year and can be financed monthly. The QCTO issues the certificate after the EISA; Zaio delivers the training and the live-pipeline practice with it.
Curriculum
22 modules
Grounding you in economic development, business strategy, project management, funding models and stakeholder management, extended with Zaio Theory (ZTBDO) modules.
6 modules
Hands-on business development execution in local economic development contexts.
5 modules
Apply your skills in real business development settings.
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 BD programmes teach you sales theory. We put you in a live pipeline with real tools and measurable results.
Registered on the NQF at Level 5 (SAQA ID 121567) and issued by the QCTO after the EISA, with the modern sales toolkit on top.
You'll build and manage a mock sales pipeline throughout the qualification — real lead lists, real outreach, real objection handling — measured on activity and conversion metrics.
Standard programmes teach you what a sales funnel is. You'll learn how to actually run one — using the same CRMs, prospecting tools and AI outreach platforms that top-performing SDRs and BDRs use daily.
Learn to think about your pipeline the way an analyst does. Reporting, forecasting, conversion analysis — the skills that get promoted into leadership.
Graduate with case studies, mock deal reports and a LinkedIn presence that makes recruiters find you.
Outcomes
Graduates work as business development officers, sales development representatives and account managers, in SMEs, corporates or local government.
Faculty
School of Business & Marketing
Teaches
Business development, marketing and design
School of Business & Marketing
Teaches
Business development, marketing and design
Tuition
Pay by year
Paid year by year as you progress, with the national EISA exam fee at the end.
Pay monthly — flexible financing
R5,363 a month
Spread across the 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
Also in this school
National Occupational Certificate
School of Business & Marketing
Start, run and grow a business: planning, money, operations and people.
With 120 Credits NQF Level 4 certification
Higher Occupational Certificate
School of Business & Marketing
Plan, create and run advertising campaigns across channels.
With 120 Credits NQF Level 5 certification
National Occupational Certificate
School of Business & Marketing
Design for brands across print, digital and motion, and graduate with a portfolio.
With 160 Credits NQF Level 4 certification
