Home / Accredited / QCTO Occupational Certificates / Occupational Certificate: Management Assistant (SAQA I.D. 101876; NQF Level 5; Credits: 316)
Quick Look Course Summary:Occupational Certificate: Management Assistant (SAQA I.D. 101876; NQF Level 5; Credits: 316)
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Length: 30 day(s)
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Price (at your venue): 1 Person R 81,689 EX VAT 3 Person R 49,466 EX VAT 10 Person R 34,276 EX VAT
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Certification Type:Accredited
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Locations & Venues: Off-site or in-house. We train in all major city centres throughout South Africa.
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Occupational Certificate: Management Assistant (SAQA I.D. 101876; NQF Level 5; Credits: 316)
Assistants who run a manager's meetings, travel, documents, resources and special projects professionally – with a national NQF Level 5 qualification behind them.
A good management assistant protects a manager's time and the organisation's image; a weak one costs both. Meetings go unprepared, travel goes wrong and documents leave the office looking careless. The Occupational Certificate: Management Assistant (SAQA ID 101876, NQF Level 5, 316 credits) is the management assistant qualification that sets the national standard for professional administrative and secretarial support to one or more managers.
A Management Assistant coordinates the work of assigned staff, keeps the manager supplied with current information before meetings and acts as gatekeeper for the manager and the organisation. With experience, they can work as a senior or executive secretary and manage special projects under good governance. The qualification is registered on the Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework (curriculum 334302001) and does not include legal or medical secretary specialisations. BOTI delivers the knowledge modules (106 credits) and practical skill modules (75 credits) in 30 contact days of facilitated training. The work experience modules (135 credits) are completed in the learner's own workplace: supporting management meetings, handling queries, planning events, procuring resources, preparing trip itineraries and supervising clerical staff.
Enrol by 30 December 2026. The qualification's registration ended on 30 December 2025 and it is in teach-out: learners enrolled by then have until 30 December 2029 to complete and be awarded it. BOTI remains accredited to deliver it.
Why this course
For your organisation
- Meetings and workshops planned and supported from the meeting pack to the minutes
- Professional, courteous relations with internal and external stakeholders
- Resources, travel and trip itineraries managed within your administration policies
- Special projects planned and administered, and accurate, well-designed business documents
- A national NQF Level 5 qualification in which 135 of the 316 credits are earned in your own office
For your delegates
- A full NQF Level 5 qualification certified by the QCTO
- Practical skills applied to the manager and office they already support
- A route into senior secretary, executive assistant and supervisory roles
- Recognition of prior learning (RPL) where they already have the experience
What delegates will be able to do
- Organise meetings and produce accurate meeting documentation and minutes
- Create trip itineraries and coordinate travel for managers
- Apply office protocol, deportment and etiquette with internal and external stakeholders
- Determine, acquire and allocate resources for the secretarial unit
- Design and produce complex business documents using computerised information processing
- Manage documents and records, and run a paperless office
- Support the recruitment, selection and induction of secretarial staff
- Plan and manage a small project
- Coordinate and direct the work of clerical staff
Who should attend
Personal assistants, secretaries, executive secretaries and management assistants who support one or more managers, and administrators preparing for these roles or looking to strengthen their administrative skills. SAQA notes that the field also opens specialist, management and supervisory roles for secretaries and assistants, including managing the organisation's image on social media. Entry requirement: an NQF Level 4 qualification with Communication; recognition of prior learning (RPL) can give access to learners who do not hold it, and there are no additional legal or physical requirements. Each learner needs a workplace where the work experience modules can be completed.
Course outline
Days 1-30 – Facilitated training: knowledge modules (106 credits) and practical skill modules (75 credits)
Knowledge modules: records, information processing and office standards
- KM-01 Document management and record-keeping (NQF 5, 15 credits)
- KM-02 Computerised information processing (NQF 5, 25 credits)
- KM-03 Resource and procurement management (NQF 5, 5 credits)
- KM-04 Social media and digital literacy (NQF 4, 5 credits)
- KM-05 Office protocol, deportment and etiquette (NQF 4, 10 credits)
- KM-06 Business communication and customer services (NQF 5, 8 credits)
Knowledge modules: work standards, documents, meetings and projects
- KM-07 Ready for work standards (NQF 4, 5 credits)
- KM-08 Basic business calculations (NQF 4, 5 credits)
- KM-09 Apply end user computing (NQF 3, 6 credits)
- KM-10 Business documentation and design (NQF 4, 10 credits)
- KM-11 Meeting administration (NQF 4, 10 credits)
- KM-12 Introductory project management (NQF 4, 2 credits)
Practical skill modules
- PM-01 Create a trip itinerary (NQF 5, 15 credits)
- PM-02 Address protocol requirements (NQF 5, 5 credits)
- PM-03 Determine, acquire and allocate resources for the secretarial unit (NQF 5, 10 credits)
- PM-04 Design and develop complex text documents (NQF 5, 5 credits)
- PM-05 Manage a small project (NQF 5, 10 credits)
- PM-06 Support the recruitment, selection and induction of secretarial staff (NQF 5, 10 credits)
- PM-07 Apply communication and effective customer relationships (NQF 5, 10 credits)
- PM-08 Organise meetings (NQF 5, 10 credits)
In your workplace: work experience modules (135 credits)
Work experience in the learner's own office
- WM-01 Perform administrative and meeting support functions to support management (NQF 5, 12 credits)
- WM-02 Apply ready for work standards to everyday work activities (NQF 5, 25 credits)
- WM-03 Handle customer and client queries and liaison in an office (NQF 5, 8 credits)
- WM-04 Assist in planning and coordinating at least two special events or conferences (NQF 5, 20 credits)
- WM-05 Procure and allocate resources (NQF 5, 15 credits)
- WM-06 Manage a paperless office (NQF 5, 20 credits)
- WM-07 Apply supervisory skills to coordinate and direct clerical staff activities (NQF 5, 20 credits)
- WM-08 Prepare a trip itinerary (NQF 4, 15 credits)
Assessment and certification
Internal assessment and workplace evidence
- Assignments, projects, practical assessments, simulations, written assessments and portfolios
- BOTI assesses each knowledge and practical skill module against the internal assessment criteria in the QCTO curriculum and records the result on a statement of results
- Completed work experience activities recorded as proof of work experience
External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA)
- Conducted through the QCTO's Assessment Quality Partner
- Focuses on the qualification's five exit level outcomes and their assessment criteria
- Entry needs statements of results for all required modules and proof of work experience
- Learners found competent receive their certificate from the QCTO
How it is delivered
30 contact days of facilitated training, 08:30-16:00, in person at your offices anywhere in South Africa, at BOTI's venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online. One learner or a group of up to about 20. The work experience modules (135 credits) run in the learner's own workplace alongside their job, so the full qualification takes longer than the contact days. Learner material is included. New learners must be enrolled by 30 December 2026 and must complete by 30 December 2029.
What our clients say
“Throughout both interventions, BOTI demonstrated a high level of professionalism, subject matter expertise, and commitment to quality training delivery. Their ability to effectively manage virtual learning environments and engage participants contributed significantly to the success of the programmes.”
“The training was presented through an interesting and easy-to-use online platform, and we were impressed by its quality.”
“[The organisation] confirms that BOTI delivered the contracted services over the 24-month period, and we have no hesitation in recommending Business Optimization Training Institute (Pty) Ltd to any organisation seeking a similar e-Learning or skills development solution.”
Frequently asked questions
Can we still enrol new learners?
Yes, until 30 December 2026. The qualification is in teach-out: learners enrolled by then have until 30 December 2029 to complete it. No replacement occupational certificate has been registered, so speak to us before the closing date, or ask about BOTI's accredited programmes that stay open for enrolment after 2026, such as the Further Education and Training Certificate: Business Administration Services (SAQA ID 61595, NQF Level 4, open for enrolment until 30 June 2028).
Is this an accredited qualification?
Yes. It is a full occupational qualification registered by SAQA (ID 101876, NQF Level 5, 316 credits), and BOTI is accredited by the QCTO to deliver it under accreditation 07-QCTO/SDP210524100635. The QCTO issues the certificate once the learner is found competent in the external assessment.
What are the entry requirements?
An NQF Level 4 qualification with Communication. Recognition of prior learning (RPL) can give access to learners who do not meet the formal requirement. There are no additional legal or physical requirements.
Can you run the contact days at our offices?
Yes. The contact days can run at your premises anywhere in South Africa, at BOTI's venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online. The work experience modules are completed in the learner's own office, supporting their own manager.
How many learners can we enrol?
From one learner to a group of about 20 per class. The price per learner drops as the group grows – see the price table, or ask us for a quote.
How does it compare with BOTI's other office qualifications?
The Occupational Certificate: Office Administrator (NQF Level 5) covers the wider office, including tenders, payroll and marketing support; the Occupational Certificate: Office Supervisor (NQF Level 5) is for people who supervise office staff. For practical skills without a qualification, ask about the non-accredited Executive Assistant Personal Assistant and Administrator Training Development Course.
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