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A learnership is a structured programme, usually about 12 months long, that combines classroom learning with practical work and leads to a registered qualification. The learner, the employer and the training provider sign a learnership agreement, which is registered with the relevant SETA. Below are the types of learnership, how blended learnerships work and how to manage one – see BOTI’s SETA qualifications and learnerships.
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Add a certificate to your CV with BOTI e-learning: 142 self-paced online courses – Excel, Word, project management, customer service and more – from R595 (excl. VAT) with 6 months’ access.
See the e-learning courses
Rather have your employer pay? Here’s how to ask
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BOTI is accredited by the QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations) as a skills development provider, and is a Level 1 B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) contributor. Plan the training in your Workplace Skills Plan and count it towards your B-BBEE skills development score.
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BOTI is accredited by the QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations) as a skills development provider, and is a Level 1 B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) contributor. Plan the training in your Workplace Skills Plan and count it towards your B-BBEE skills development score.
Get a quote for your team
Learnerships provide a structured approach to learning that combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Typically spanning 12 months, learnerships are based on a three-party agreement between the learner, the employer and the training provider, registered with the SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority). Successful completion leads to a National Qualification, with partial competencies also acknowledged through earned credits.
Benefits of Learnerships
- Accessible National Qualifications: Employees can pursue national qualifications while working, thereby expanding their skill set.
- Flexible Learning: Blended delivery combines classroom or online sessions with learning in the workplace, so employees learn without long periods away from work.
- Enhanced Morale and Job Satisfaction: Recognition of experience and opportunities for upskilling contribute to higher morale among employees.
- Reduced Attrition Rates: Employees who see a route to a qualification have a reason to stay and grow with the employer.
- Investment in Employee Development: Companies who invest in training and development foster stronger employee morale and loyalty.
- Gateway to Further Development: Learnerships serve as a foundational step for individuals to pursue further personal and professional growth.
- BBBEE Scorecard Advantages: Learnership spend on black learners counts towards the skills development element of the B-BBEE scorecard; the points depend on the Codes and your verification.
- Tax allowance and grants: registered learnership agreements entered into before 1 April 2027 can qualify for the section 12H learnership tax allowance, and SETAs may fund learnerships through discretionary grants – see the learnership tax incentive.
The Significance of Learnerships
Over the past two decades, learnerships have stood as vital pathways to sustainable employment in the country.
Two primary factors drive the pursuit of learnerships in SA. Firstly, there exists a notable disparity between the skills imparted through higher and tertiary education and those demanded by industries. Often, students lack practical experience crucial for the workplace.
This dilemma has persisted, with employers seeking candidates ready to contribute immediately upon employment, while fresh graduates require hands-on learning to become truly valuable and acquire meaningful on-the-job expertise.
The motivations for pursuing learnerships in South Africa extend beyond mere skill acquisition. They serve as effective bridges between formal education and employment opportunities, benefiting both individuals and companies keen on proactive skills development. Youth unemployment is high, yet companies still struggle to fill roles because of skills shortages in many sectors.
From any perspective, this scenario represents a socio-economic challenge that learnerships were specifically designed to address. Regardless of educational background, every individual has the right to participate in their country’s economic growth and expansion.
What a learnership leads to
A learnership constitutes a structured work-based learning program leading to a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) certification, tailored to specific fields or occupations. Opportunities for learnerships span across all occupations, contingent upon finding suitable openings in one’s desired field.
Reach your skills development goals and achieve your BBBEE targets
BOTI is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider and delivers Services SETA qualifications under its Services SETA accreditation. We plan learnership programmes around your skills development and B-BBEE goals, and help you prepare the paperwork for SETA grant applications and the learnership tax allowance; the points and grants you receive depend on your verification and the SETA’s decisions.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is integrated into our learnerships, allowing individuals to gain credit for existing knowledge and skills. Our accredited courses, delivered over 12 months, minimize time away from the workplace while ensuring the acquisition of accredited qualifications.
Types of learnership
Learnerships fall into two groups, named after section 18 of the Skills Development Act[1]:
- 18.1 learnerships are for people the employer already employs, who study while they keep working.
- 18.2 learnerships are for unemployed people, who join the employer for the duration of the learnership and usually receive a learner allowance.
Learnerships also differ by field and level, from business administration and generic management to occupational certificates registered with the QCTO.
What is a blended learnership?
A blended learnership mixes delivery methods: classroom sessions, live online sessions and structured learning in the workplace, supported by a workplace mentor. It suits employers who cannot release staff for long blocks of classroom time.
How to manage a learnership
- Choose a qualification that matches a real job in your organisation.
- Sign the learnership agreement with the learner and the training provider, and register it with the SETA.
- Appoint a workplace mentor and plan the practical tasks.
- Track attendance, logbooks and portfolios of evidence, and keep the records the SETA may ask for.
- Prepare learners for their assessments, and keep your own records for B-BBEE verification and the tax allowance.
Qualifications BOTI offers as learnerships
BOTI delivers Services SETA qualifications such as the National Certificate: Business Administration Services (NQF Level 3) and the National Certificate: Generic Management (NQF Level 5). New learners can enrol on these until 30 June 2028[2]. For occupational qualifications, see the QCTO occupational certificates.
Frequently asked questions
What is a learnership?
A learnership is a structured programme of about 12 months that combines classroom learning with practical workplace experience and leads to a registered qualification. It is based on an agreement between the learner, the employer and the training provider, registered with the SETA.
What are the types of learnership?
There are 18.1 learnerships for people who are already employed and 18.2 learnerships for unemployed people, who join the employer for the duration of the learnership.
What is a blended learnership?
A blended learnership combines classroom or live online sessions with structured learning in the workplace, so learners spend less time away from their jobs.
Are BOTI’s learnerships accredited?
Yes. BOTI delivers its learnership qualifications under its Services SETA accreditation, and it is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider for occupational qualifications.
How do employers benefit from learnerships?
Learnerships build skills for real jobs, count towards the skills development element of the B-BBEE scorecard, and may qualify for SETA discretionary grants and the section 12H learnership tax allowance for agreements entered into before 1 April 2027.
Plan a learnership around BOTI’s National Certificate: Business Administration Services (NQF Level 3) course. Training runs in-house at your premises, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online. Call BOTI on 011 882 8853 or email [email protected], or request a quote.
Sources
- Skills Development Act 97 of 1998 – South African Government (gov.za), 1998.
- Pre-2009 Extended Qualifications – South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), June 2026.
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