The regulations that apply to the Education and Training Quality Assurance (ETQA) bodies under the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) require that providers of education and training apply for accreditation to an ETQA. To be accredited, providers of education and training are required to be registered in terms of the applicable legislation. Legislation with regard to Higher Education and Further Education requires that all providers of education and training offering full qualifications be registered with the Department of Education.
The provider of education and training has to offer unit standards and/or qualifications that fall within the primary focus area of the Education and Training Quality Assurance (ETQA) body of the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) or Professional Body.
Requirements for accreditation:
- The requirements for accreditation are contained in the document titled Criteria and Guidelines for Providers and is available on the SAQA website.
- The programmes (and/or assessments) offered by the provider of education and training culminate in unit standards and/or qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
- The curriculum (design, content and learning materials) is aligned to the unit standards and/or qualifications.
- There are suitably qualified staff (facilitators and registered assessors).
- The learners have access to adequate learning support services.
- The assessment methods and tools used to measure the requirements for the unit standard and/or qualification are fair, valid and reliable, and are used to enhance learning.