Looking for a computer course to upskill your staff? BOTI’s accredited basic computer course is a practical, hands-on five-day programme covering computer fundamentals, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Accredited through the MICT SETA, delivered in-house or on-site across South Africa.

This page is for HR, L&D and operations managers who need to build genuine digital competency across a team, not just tick a training box. Whether you are onboarding new staff, closing a skills gap flagged in a TNA, or strengthening your Workplace Skills Plan, this computer course gives employees the everyday computing skills the modern workplace demands.

What This Computer Course Covers

This comprehensive five-day programme introduces participants to the essential Microsoft Office applications within a professional business context, with a strong emphasis on practical digital competency development. Delegates work through real-world workplace examples, so the basic computer skills they learn transfer straight back to the desk.

Duration: 5 days.

Key learning outcomes: By the end of the course, participants can operate a personal computer with confidence, use advanced word processing features, create and use bulleted and numbered lists and tables, apply spreadsheet fundamentals, build presentations, and manage email effectively.

Accreditation: MICT SETA Aligned

This computer course is accredited through the MICT SETA, aligned to Unit Standards 7547, 7570, 116937, 117923 and 7571 within the End User Computing body of standards. Please note: these unit-standard qualifications are migrating to the new QCTO system — accredited enrolment is available now, so please confirm current accreditation when you book. Delegates who successfully complete the programme receive a certificate reflecting the relevant SETA accreditation. Accreditation matters: it means the training is delivered against recognised unit standards via the relevant SETA, which supports your skills-development reporting and gives delegates a credential that holds weight beyond your organisation.

Computer and End-User Computing Training

End-user computing (EUC) training is the broader skills family this computer course sits within, and it is what most South African employers actually mean when they ask for “basic computer training.” End-user computing is about giving every staff member, regardless of role, the practical ability to use a computer productively: managing files, creating documents, working with data in spreadsheets, producing presentations and handling email and the internet safely.

BOTI’s basic computer course delivers exactly this. The five days above map directly onto the recognised EUC building blocks, and the unit standards the course is aligned to are drawn from the same body of standards used in the National Certificate: Information Technology: End User Computing qualification. For teams that need a fuller credential, this course is an ideal foundation before progressing to a full end-user computing certificate.

For an L&D buyer, end-user computing training is one of the highest-leverage investments you can make. It:

• Lifts baseline productivity across every department, not just IT.
• Reduces the hidden cost of staff who avoid digital tools or make avoidable errors.
• Standardises competency, so reporting, formatting and data handling are consistent across the team.
• Feeds directly into your Workplace Skills Plan and Annual Training Report.

Because the training is competency-based and delivered with real workplace examples, you are not paying for theory your people will forget. You are paying for skills they will use the next morning.

Basic Computer Skills for the Workplace

The gap between “can use a phone” and “can work productively on a workplace computer” is wider than most managers expect. New hires, frontline staff moving into admin roles, and long-serving employees who never received formal training all benefit from a structured basic computer course built around workplace tasks.

Here are the core basic computer skills this programme builds, and why each one matters at work:

• Computer fundamentals — understanding hardware and software so staff can troubleshoot small issues themselves and use equipment efficiently.
• Word processing — producing professional, correctly formatted documents, tables and reports that reflect well on your organisation.
• Spreadsheets — labelling data, building formulas and running everyday calculations, the foundation of accurate record-keeping and basic reporting.
• Presentations — turning information into clear slides for internal meetings, training and client-facing work.
• Email and internet — communicating professionally, managing attachments and keeping mailboxes and folders organised.

These are the skills that determine whether an employee needs constant support or works independently. For teams in admin, finance, operations, reception, sales support and customer service, this computer course turns “I’ll ask someone” into “I’ll handle it.”

Training can be tailored to your sector and the systems your team uses day to day, so the basic computer skills delegates practise mirror their actual workflow. If you are unsure which staff need it, a quick Training Needs Analysis (TNA) will pinpoint the gaps, and we can map them onto the right modules.

Who Should Attend

This computer course is suitable for any individual seeking to improve their computer skills, and it is especially valuable for:

• New employees who need standardised onboarding in digital tools.
• Administrative, reception and support staff.
• Operational and frontline teams moving into roles with more computer-based work.
• Long-serving employees who have never had formal computer training.

No advanced prior knowledge is assumed; the programme starts from fundamentals and builds up.

Delivery, Group Sizes and Pricing

BOTI delivers this course off-site or in-house across all major South African city centres, including Johannesburg (Sandton), Pretoria (Centurion), Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). In-house and on-site delivery means we train your team together, on your premises or a venue of your choice, which is usually the most cost-effective and least disruptive option for groups.

Request a quote or a free 15-minute callback. Tell us how many delegates and where, and we will send a customised quote — and you can also have the full outline emailed to view at your convenience.

Why BOTI

BOTI (Business Optimization Training Institute) is an accredited South African corporate training provider offering more than 450 courses. We work with leading organisations including Sasol, Glencore and the City of Johannesburg, and we specialise in practical, benefit-led training delivered for teams.

Participants on this course have reported enhanced PowerPoint proficiency, formula mastery and the practical advantage of hands-on learning built around real workplace examples.

What Delegates Say

Past participants highlighted improved confidence with PowerPoint, a solid grasp of Excel formulas, and the value of learning through real-world, hands-on workplace examples rather than abstract theory.

Related Courses and Resources

• Explore the full IT & Computer Skills training cluster to see related programmes.
• Progress your team further with the National Certificate: Information Technology: End User Computing.
• Build on these foundations with dedicated Microsoft Excel training and Microsoft Office skills courses.
• Not sure where the gaps are? Download our free Training Needs Analysis (TNA) template to map your team’s skills before you book.
• Ready to plan? Visit our booking and quote page to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this computer course accredited?
Yes. It is accredited through the MICT SETA, aligned to Unit Standards 7547, 7570, 116937, 117923 and 7571. Please note these unit-standard qualifications are migrating to the new QCTO system — accredited enrolment is available now, so please confirm current accreditation when you book. Delegates receive a certificate reflecting the relevant SETA accreditation on successful completion.

How long is the basic computer course?
The programme runs over five days, covering computer fundamentals, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

Can the course be delivered at our offices?
Yes. BOTI delivers off-site or in-house across all major South African city centres, including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha. In-house delivery for your team is usually the most cost-effective option.

Do delegates need prior computer experience?
No advanced knowledge is required. The course starts with computer fundamentals and builds up to office applications, making it suitable for beginners.

Does this count towards our skills development reporting?
Because the training is accredited against recognised unit standards via the relevant SETA, it supports your Workplace Skills Plan and Annual Training Report. Note these unit-standard qualifications are migrating to the new QCTO system, so please confirm current accreditation when you book. This is general guidance; your skills development facilitator can confirm how it fits your specific plan.

Ready to Upskill Your Team?

Give your staff the practical computer skills the modern workplace runs on. Request a quote or book a free 15-minute callback and we will tailor this computer course to your team, your location and your goals, and send you the full outline to review at your convenience.

Request a quote / 15-minute callback