ACCREDITED SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROVIDER
QCTO Accreditation refers to formal recognition by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) in South Africa that a training provider is capable of delivering occupational qualifications aligned with the Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework (OQSF). For the health and safety industry, this accreditation is particularly beneficial, as it ensures that safety training meets national quality standards and equips learners with competencies that are relevant to the workplace.
QCTO is a statutory body established under the Skills Development Act (SDA) of 1998. It oversees the design, implementation, assessment, and certification of occupational qualifications in South Africa. Training providers offering occupational certificates (e.g., Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner) must be accredited by the QCTO to ensure they meet rigorous standards.
South Africa’s NQF is managed by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), which has signed mutual recognition agreements and is a member of global quality assurance networks, including:
- INQAAHE – International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education
- SADC Qualifications Framework (SADCQF) – for recognition within Southern Africa
- UNESCO – South Africa is part of UNESCO’s global convention on qualifications recognition
Impact: This framework allows QCTO qualifications to be benchmarked or compared with international qualifications for equivalency evaluations in countries like the UK, Australia, and Canada—especially for migration, study, or employment purposes.
