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As at October 2026, this QCTO transition update explains how legacy unit-standard qualifications differ from QCTO occupational qualifications and skills programmes, which enrolment dates now apply, and what the change means for learners and employers. Whether you are planning your own studies or an intake for your team, compare BOTI’s accredited qualifications and skills programmes, from QCTO occupational certificates to legacy SETA qualifications.
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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.
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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
QCTO transition insights and updates for 2026
The main changes so far:
- Final extensions for legacy qualifications. A Directive published on 17 June 2026 (Government Gazette 54858)[1] granted final, qualification-by-qualification extensions of 6 to 24 months for selected pre-2009 qualifications listed by SAQA[2].
- Qualifications already awarded stay valid. The Minister confirmed in June 2026 that every qualification already awarded remains valid and recorded on the National Learners’ Records Database (NLRD)[3].
- More occupational qualifications. The Minister’s June 2026 briefing put the number of occupational qualifications and part-qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) at 948.
- SETAs are still here. There are 21 SETAs, licensed until 31 March 2030. SETA rationalisation was announced in the State of the Nation Address on 12 February 2026, with options going to Cabinet in the 2026/27 financial year, so the landscape may change.
What is the QCTO?
The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) is the quality council for occupational qualifications, trades and skills programmes in South Africa. Established in 2010 under the Skills Development Act, it manages the Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework (OQSF), the part of the NQF that covers occupational qualifications from Level 1 to Level 8. The QCTO develops occupational qualifications, accredits Skills Development Providers (SDPs) and assessment centres, runs the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) and issues Occupational Certificates and trade certificates. The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) oversees the NQF as a whole and registers qualifications on it.
From SETA to QCTO qualifications: what changed
Under the old model, each SETA had an Education and Training Quality Assurance body (ETQA) that accredited training providers against unit-standard, pre-2009 qualifications in its sector. These are now called legacy or historically registered qualifications.
Under the QCTO model, a provider that wants to offer an occupational qualification, part-qualification or skills programme applies for accreditation directly to the QCTO. The QCTO runs accreditation in partnership with its Quality Partners, which include the SETAs, the National Artisan Moderation Body and professional bodies, under signed service level agreements. QCTO accreditation lasts five years from the date it is granted, and the QCTO can withdraw it.
For training providers, it means that a provider accredited by a SETA for a legacy qualification may finish teaching the learners already enrolled until the qualification’s teach-out ends, when that SETA accreditation lapses. To offer the replacement programmes, it needs QCTO accreditation.
There was no single switchover date: realignment, which converts a legacy qualification into an occupational one, happens qualification by qualification. So “SETA accredited” is accurate today only for legacy programmes still in their teach-out window; for everything else, look for QCTO accreditation.
Legacy unit standards vs occupational qualifications
Unit standards served learners well by breaking learning into manageable units. The QCTO model aims to bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace doing.
- Structure: legacy qualifications were built from standalone unit standards. Every occupational qualification combines three components: knowledge (theory), practical skills and work experience.
- Assessment: legacy learners were usually assessed unit standard by unit standard through a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE). Occupational programmes keep the provider’s formative and internal summative assessments but end in one integrated final assessment of whether you can do the job.
- Focus: the focus has shifted from specific competency tasks to holistic occupational proficiency.
Occupational qualifications, part-qualifications and skills programmes
- Occupational qualification: 120 credits or more, registered on the NQF. It ends in the EISA and a QCTO Occupational Certificate.
- Part-qualification: fewer than 120 credits, registered on the NQF as part of a qualification. It also ends in the EISA and a QCTO Occupational Certificate.
- Skills programme: 8 to 60 credits, recorded by the QCTO on its database rather than registered as a qualification. It builds credits towards a full or part-qualification and ends in a Final Integrated Supervised Assessment (FISA).
Legacy qualifications: enrolment dates differ
Pre-2009 qualifications reached their registration end date on 30 June 2023. The default rule, set by a Ministerial Determination of 24 December 2020, was last enrolment by 30 June 2024 and last achievement by 30 June 2027. Since then, extensions have been granted qualification by qualification:
- 3 June 2024: a Directive (Government Gazette 50742) extended the last date for enrolment by one to two years for 374 listed qualifications.
- 13 December 2024: Guidelines (Government Gazette 51771) let SAQA and the QCTO extend dates case by case, for no longer than two years.
- 17 June 2026: the final Directive (Government Gazette 54858) granted 6 to 24 months for selected pre-2009 qualifications, up to 36 months for regulatory unit standards and up to 12 months for listed trades, and no enrolment extensions for NATED programmes[1].
There is no single national cut-off. Before you enrol or plan an intake, check the qualification’s record on SAQA’s register for its last date for enrolment and its last date for achievement.
BOTI’s Services SETA qualifications: enrol-by and complete-by dates
- National Certificate: Generic Management (NQF Level 5) and Further Education and Training Certificate: Generic Management (NQF Level 4): enrol by 30 June 2028; complete by 30 June 2031[2].
- National Certificate: Business Administration Services (NQF Level 2), the same certificate at NQF Level 3, and the Further Education and Training Certificate: Business Administration Services (NQF Level 4): enrol by 30 June 2028; complete by 30 June 2031[2].
- National Certificate: New Venture Creation (SMME) (NQF Level 2): enrol by 30 June 2028; complete by 30 June 2031[2].
- Further Education and Training Certificate: New Venture Creation (NQF Level 4): enrol by 30 June 2027; complete by 30 June 2030[2].
- National Certificate: IT End User Computing (61591): closed to new learners on 30 June 2026[4]; enrolled learners only.
Enrolling before the last date for enrolment secures your place in the SETA system, and you then have until the last date for achievement to finish. All of them are listed under SETA Qualifications.
What the QCTO transition means for learners
- A qualification you already hold stays valid, and if you are enrolled on a legacy qualification you can finish within its teach-out window.
- For new study, choose a programme that the provider is QCTO-accredited to offer, and expect theory, practical skills and work experience. The QCTO issues the certificate, not the provider.
- A skills programme is a smaller step: its credits count towards a full or part-qualification.
What it means for employers
SETAs still run the levy-grant system. The Skills Development Levy is 1% of payroll[5], and the mandatory grant, 20% of the levy, depends on submitting your Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Report (ATR) by 30 April and being up to date with levy payments[6]. Discretionary grants mainly target PIVOTAL programmes, which lead to qualifications or part-qualifications on the NQF[7], so for grant-funded training both the programme and the provider’s accreditation matter. No grant is guaranteed.
- Before you contract a provider, check that its accreditation letter names the exact programme and is still valid.
- Skills development spend counts on the B-BBEE scorecard, but no scorecard points can be promised in advance.
- Your skills development facilitator (SDF) prepares and submits the WSP and ATR. BOTI’s Skills Development Facilitator (SDF) Training Course is for staff taking on that role.
QCTO courses at BOTI: programmes and enrolment dates
BOTI is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider. Each programme has its own last date for enrolment, shown below.
QCTO skills programmes
- Occupational Skills Programme: Assessment Practitioner (SP-220320, NQF Level 5, 20 credits): enrol by 2 March 2028.
- Occupational Skills Programme: Work Based Learning and Development Practitioner (SP-220322, NQF Level 5, 30 credits): enrol by 2 March 2028.
- Occupational Skills Programme: Time Study Clerk (SP-220331, NQF Level 4, 35 credits): enrol by 11 March 2028.
QCTO occupational certificates open beyond 2026
- National Occupational Certificate: Sales Representative (SAQA ID 121792, NQF Level 4): enrol by 30 January 2030[8].
- National Occupational Certificate: Retail Supervisor (SAQA ID 121316, NQF Level 4): enrol by 14 November 2029[9].
- Occupational Certificate: Entrepreneur (part-qualification, SAQA ID 124485, NQF Level 3): enrol by 3 June 2031[10].
- Occupational Certificate: Quality Assurer (part-qualification, SAQA ID 118769, NQF Level 5): enrol by 3 February 2028[11].
Occupational certificates closing to new learners in December 2026
Occupational certificates have end dates too. These seven take new learners only until the end of December 2026, and learners who enrol in time have until the end of December 2029 to complete:
- Occupational Certificate: Office Administrator (SAQA ID 102161, NQF Level 5): enrol by 30 December 2026[12].
- Occupational Certificate: Management Assistant (SAQA ID 101876, NQF Level 5): enrol by 30 December 2026[13].
- Occupational Certificate: Office Supervisor (SAQA ID 118740, NQF Level 5): enrol by 31 December 2026[14].
- Occupational Certificate: Project Manager (SAQA ID 101869, NQF Level 5): enrol by 30 December 2026[15].
- Occupational Certificate: Retail Chain Store Manager (SAQA ID 103150, NQF Level 5): enrol by 30 December 2026[16].
- Occupational Certificate: Dispatching and Receiving Clerk (SAQA ID 99446, NQF Level 3): enrol by 30 December 2026[17].
- Occupational Certificate: Learning and Development Advisor (SAQA ID 118774, NQF Level 7): enrol by 31 December 2026, the date on its SAQA record[18].
QCTO project manager qualification
The QCTO Occupational Certificate: Project Manager (NQF Level 5, 240 credits) takes new learners until 30 December 2026[15]. BOTI is also accredited for the Project Management Facilitator skills programme (SP-250710, NQF Level 6, 60 credits), which takes new learners until 11 July 2031. To see how the QCTO route compares with international project management certifications, read our project management course comparison.
The skills-first alternative: short courses without credits
One of the biggest insights we’ve gained at BOTI is that for many professionals, the skill is the goal, not the credit. If you or your team do not need NQF credits, BOTI’s non-accredited short courses teach the workplace skill without a qualification’s portfolio and final assessment. They carry no NQF credits; delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
Summary table: legacy vs QCTO at a glance
| Feature | Legacy system (SETAs) | QCTO system |
|---|---|---|
| Who accredits the provider | The SETA, until the qualification’s teach-out ends | The QCTO, with its Quality Partners, for five years at a time |
| Last date for enrolment | Differs per qualification (most of BOTI’s Services SETA qualifications: 30 June 2028[2]) | Each programme has its own (see BOTI’s list above) |
| Last date for completion | Differs per qualification (most of BOTI’s Services SETA qualifications: 30 June 2031[2]) | Each programme has its own last date for achievement |
| Final assessment | Usually a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) per unit standard | FISA for skills programmes; EISA for qualifications and part-qualifications |
What to do now
- Check the SAQA record of any legacy qualification you are considering for its last dates for enrolment and achievement.
- Already enrolled? Plan to finish well before the last date for achievement.
- Choosing new training? Pick a QCTO programme and a provider accredited for it.
- Employers: plan intakes in your WSP by 30 April[6], and watch for news on SETA rationalisation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the QCTO transition?
It is the move from the old model, in which SETA quality-assurance bodies (ETQAs) accredited providers against unit-standard qualifications, to the QCTO system. For occupational qualifications, part-qualifications and skills programmes, providers now apply for accreditation directly to the QCTO, and the 21 SETAs act as QCTO Quality Partners. Legacy qualifications are being phased out qualification by qualification.
What is the last date to enrol on a legacy SETA qualification?
There is no single national date. In June 2026 the Minister granted final, qualification-by-qualification extensions of 6 to 24 months for selected pre-2009 qualifications[1], so check each qualification’s SAQA record. BOTI’s Services SETA qualifications in generic management, business administration and new venture creation take new learners until 30 June 2028, or 30 June 2027 for the Further Education and Training Certificate: New Venture Creation[2].
Is my legacy qualification still valid after the QCTO transition?
Yes. The Minister confirmed in June 2026 that every qualification already awarded remains valid, recognised and recorded on the National Learners’ Records Database (NLRD)[3]. Learners already enrolled on a legacy qualification may finish within its published teach-out window, so check the last date for achievement on the qualification’s SAQA record.
What is the difference between FISA and EISA?
The External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) is the single national final assessment for QCTO occupational qualifications and part-qualifications. It is taken at a QCTO-accredited assessment centre and leads to a QCTO Occupational Certificate. The Final Integrated Supervised Assessment (FISA) is the decentralised final assessment for QCTO skills programmes, set, run and moderated by the accredited provider under QCTO rules.
Do SETAs still exist after the move to the QCTO?
Yes. There are still 21 SETAs, and their current licence period runs to 31 March 2030. They collect and pay out levy grants, receive employers’ Workplace Skills Plans and Annual Training Reports by 30 April[6], fund learnerships and act as QCTO Quality Partners. Government announced SETA rationalisation in February 2026, with options going to Cabinet, so watch for changes.
BOTI is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider. Its QCTO Skills Programmes and QCTO Occupational Certificates each show their last date for enrolment, and its Services SETA qualifications take new learners until 30 June 2028 (30 June 2027 for the Further Education and Training Certificate: New Venture Creation)[2]. Training runs in-house at your premises, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or online. Call 011 882 8853 to plan your next intake.
Sources
- Directive on the implementation of transitional arrangements for pre-2009 qualifications (Government Gazette 54858) – Minister of Higher Education and Training, 17 June 2026.
- Pre-2009 Extended Qualifications – South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), June 2026.
- Government announces transitional arrangements to advance modern occupational qualifications – SAnews, 11 June 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 61591: National Certificate: Information Technology: End User Computing – SAQA, 2026.
- Skills Development Levy – South African Revenue Service (SARS), 2026.
- Mandatory Grants – Health and Welfare SETA (HWSETA), 2026.
- Grants Policy 2025/26 – merSETA, 2024.
- SAQA qualification record 121792: National Occupational Certificate: Sales Representative – SAQA, 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 121316: National Occupational Certificate: Retail Supervisor – SAQA, 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 124485: Occupational Certificate: Entrepreneur – SAQA, 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 118769: Occupational Certificate: Quality Assurer – SAQA, 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 102161: Occupational Certificate: Office Administrator – SAQA, 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 101876: Occupational Certificate: Management Assistant – SAQA, 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 118740: Occupational Certificate: Office Supervisor – SAQA, 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 101869: Occupational Certificate: Project Manager – SAQA, 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 103150: Occupational Certificate: Retail Chain Store Manager – SAQA, 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 99446: Occupational Certificate: Dispatching and Receiving Clerk – SAQA, 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 118774: Occupational Certificate: Learning and Development Advisor – SAQA, 2026.
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