Why SAQCC exists
SAQCC is a non-profit company formed by subject-matter experts to assist the
Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL) and the SETAs in establishing a
central national database of accredited training providers
authorised to issue competency certificates to employees who perform tasks that
require a competent person under South African law.
SAQCC has been mandated by the DoEL to register accredited training providers
on the department's behalf within the following SETAs:
- Quality Council for Trades & Occupations (QCTO)
- Construction Education & Training Authority (CETA)
- Transport Education Training Authority (TETA)
- Mining Qualification Authority (MQA)
- Services SETA
- Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA)
Why this matters: Without a central register, employers and the
public have no quick way to verify whether a competency certificate is genuine
or whether the training provider was accredited at the time of issue. SAQCC
closes that gap with a verifiable national database.
What is an Accredited Training Provider?
An Accredited Training Provider holds accreditation with the QCTO and the
relevant SETA for the unit standards or skills programmes it intends to deliver,
and is registered with SAQCC against those accreditations. The provider may
only use assessors who are SETA-accredited and SAQCC-approved.
What is a Registered Assessor?
A "Registered Assessor" is a person who is registered as competent within the
scope of work for which the QCTO and SETA accreditation has been issued for the
specific unit standard. SAQCC registers the Registered Assessor on its database
to perform the duties of assessment under that scope.
The areas SAQCC covers
SAQCC operates as an approved authority under the mandate of the Chief
Inspector of the Department of Employment and Labour. Practitioners working
in one or more of the areas below — on the construction, mining or
private sector — may qualify to be registered as an authorised
accredited training provider allowed to issue competency certificates to
candidates.
What providers do
- Upload learner details on the SAQCC database to obtain a certificate serial number on the system.
- Upload learners against the relevant skills programme.
- Follow the steps set out by the SETA and the guidelines of the relevant unit standard or skills programme.
- Ensure that candidates complete the skills programmes within the prescribed timeframes.
Note: SAQCC only provides the SDP with a tracking serial number. This serial number is used to verify the competency certificate that the SDP creates and issues to the learner or employer. SAQCC itself does not issue the learner's certificate — it issues and registers the serial number that makes the certificate verifiable on the national database.
Compliance for training providers
Once registered, providers maintain compliance through five ongoing commitments:
- Remain registered with SAQCC and keep accreditations current.
- Undertake training to improve competency levels.
- Engage with accreditation authorities and the DoEL.
- Report observed non-compliance.
- Assist non-compliant training providers to become compliant through SAQCC registration.
Employer awareness. If you are an employer, contractor or
sub-contractor who needs employees to hold a valid competency certificate to
perform a task, you must ensure that the operator is licensed under the OHS Act
and the Driven Machinery Regulations — and that the training provider is
registered with SAQCC.
Apply for SAQCC Registration
Verify a Certificate
