Occupational Certificate: Office Administrator (SAQA I.D. 102161; NQF Level 5; Credits: 445)

Office administrators who run resources, records, meetings, procurement and HR support to a national standard – with a QCTO certificate to show for it.

Most offices run on administrators who learned the job as they went. That holds until a tender deadline is missed, petty cash does not reconcile or nobody can find the signed contract. The Occupational Certificate: Office Administrator is the office administrator qualification that sets the national standard for this work: SAQA ID 102161, NQF Level 5, 445 credits, a full qualification registered on the Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework (curriculum 334102002).

BOTI delivers the knowledge modules (132 credits) and practical skill modules (155 credits) in 30 contact days of facilitated training: office management, business communication, protocol, records and document management, resource and tender procurement, payroll, recruitment support, Workplace Skills Plan administration, marketing and PR support, and running a small project. The work experience modules (158 credits) are completed in the learner's own office – supporting meetings, handling queries, procuring resources, helping to plan events, running a paperless office and assisting with the Workplace Skills Plan – so the evidence for the external assessment comes from real work.

Enrol by 30 December 2026. The qualification's registration ended on 30 December 2025 and it is now in teach-out: learners enrolled by 30 December 2026 have until 30 December 2029 to complete it and be awarded the qualification. BOTI remains accredited to deliver it, so speak to us before the closing date to secure places.

Why this course

What delegates will be able to do

• Manage office resources, procurement, petty cash and quotations in line with governance policies
• Communicate professionally with internal and external customers and resolve their queries
• Plan, organise and minute meetings, and coordinate travel, events and conferences
• Classify, register, track and dispose of records, and run a paperless office
• Support recruitment, selection, induction and payroll administration
• Prepare tender documentation and solicit tender offers by set procedures
• Help compile the Workplace Skills Plan from employee training needs
• Provide administrative support to a marketing or public relations division
• Plan and run a small project with a timeline and a communication schedule

Who should attend

Administrators who support management in human resources, marketing, public relations or finance, and administrators who run the office of a small organisation. SAQA lists roles such as administration officer, office coordinator, administrative assistant, client services administrator, operations support officer, planning support officer, site clerk and tender coordinator. 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

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 (158 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 the qualification by 30 December 2029.

Enrol or ask a question

Frequently asked questions

Related courses