Navigating the QCTO Landscape

An Overview of the QCTO

The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) plays a pivotal role in ensuring the quality and standards of occupational qualifications and learning programmes. The Occupational Learning System (OLS) has a primary goal: to respond dynamically to the real-time skill demands of the labour market. It seeks to enhance both the quantity and quality of employment opportunities, aligning learning experiences with workplace needs.

The QCTO’s mission centres around managing the Occupational Qualification Sub-Framework (OQSF). This entails setting standards, developing, and quality-assuring national occupational qualifications for individuals seeking trades occupations, and, where applicable, professions.

Navigating the QCTO Landscape:

Working with the QCTO can sometimes be challenging, especially concerning its critical responsibilities of Accreditation and Workplace Approval. Many applicants, including skills development providers and employers, express a desire to apply but often struggle due to a perceived lack of guidance. Consequently, people feel lost, and despite promises of accreditation, actual implementation remains limited.

However, important changes are underway, including:

  • A transition from assessors as facilitators to subject matter experts who facilitate integrated assessments.
  • The introduction of external assessments (a certification requirement) that evaluate learners’ actual acquired skills, following a national standard.

Your Engagement Matters:

Preparing for the transition to the new OLS involves understanding its principles and actively participating in the critical transitional year. This presents an opportunity to offer meaningful feedback and contribute to shaping the OQSF during this vital phase. Industry and labour’s engagement is crucial for the OLS to effectively address our national employment challenges. So, what are you waiting for?

To get involved, it’s important to stay informed. Let’s delve into what you can expect, with a focus on three key processes for running occupational qualifications:

  • Accreditation: This process involves potential Skills Development Providers (SDPs), excluding sole proprietors, seeking official approval from the QCTO to offer occupational qualifications, part qualifications, and skills programmes. This approval prepares learners for the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) and enables them to claim competency in an occupational qualification.
  • Implementation: Implementation pertains to how SDPs deliver programmes, encompassing facilitation, learner administration, internal assessments, and all aspects related to programme rollout, up to learner registration for the EISA.
  • Assessment: The assessment focuses on the completion of the External Integrated Summative Assessment at the programme’s conclusion. Learners must successfully pass this assessment to receive a qualification certificate.

Understanding the Accreditation Process:

Accreditation for occupational qualifications, part qualifications, and skills programmes is valid for five years from the date the QCTO grants accreditation or until the SDP faces de-accreditation due to non-compliance with the QCTO Accreditation Policy. To prepare for the accreditation application submission, thoroughly review the occupational qualification you intend to deliver.

Each Occupational Qualification and Part-Qualification adheres to the Compulsory Qualification Model, consisting of three crucial documents detailing qualification requirements:

  • Qualification document: Registered by SAQA.
  • Curriculum document: Guides learning.
  • Qualification Assessment Specifications: Guide internal and external assessments.

While these documents are available for a fee from various providers across the country, it’s essential to consider how you differentiate yourself from others who have bought accredited material. What unique value do you offer to your learners at the most competitive price? And what is the quality and context relevance of the material purchases, sometimes “goedkoop is duurkoop”.

QCTO Accreditation Focus:

In accrediting skills development providers, the QCTO emphasises two key aspects:

  • Institutional Compliance
  • Programme Delivery Readiness

How Long Does the Accreditation Process Take?

The QCTO’s accreditation application process typically takes 90 working days, commencing once all requisite supporting documents have been successfully uploaded and confirmed. Prior to the commencement of this 90-day period, several steps must be completed. This involves submitting the necessary forms through the QCTO website, waiting for email confirmation, completing the application in hardcopy format, and ensuring that all Institutional Compliance and Programme Delivery Readiness requirements are met. Subsequently, you’ll need to request access to the QCTO SharePoint platform and send an email to confirm your submission. Following this, the QCTO will initiate a comprehensive desktop evaluation of your application.

It’s important to note that there may be a waiting period in the current circumstances for those who have submitted accreditation applications to the QCTO. Please be prepared for potential delays, as the precise average processing time has yet to be officially confirmed.

How Can GH Skills Solutions Assist?

Our mission is to support you throughout this journey. That is why we continue to share practical and informative content, such as:

with the aim of guiding you on what you need to prepare for your accreditation process.

To stay updated on the latest developments from the QCTO, we encourage you to like and follow our LinkedIn page. This way, you’ll be well-informed about ongoing activities and updates.

Share the Post:

Related Posts