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ODETDP stands for Occupationally Directed Education, Training and Development Practices: the work of the people who plan, facilitate, assess and manage learning in the workplace. In South Africa the name also belongs to a group of legacy ETDP SETA qualifications that were not extended in June 2026[1], and BOTI’s National Certificate: ODETDP is now open only to learners who are already enrolled. This guide explains what the ODETDP qualification is, who can still finish it, and what trainers, assessors, facilitators and skills development facilitators can enrol for now.
If you searched for the ODETDP qualification, the sections below explain where the ETDP SETA’s legacy ODETDP qualifications stand now and which QCTO-accredited skills programmes are the current route for assessors and workplace learning practitioners. For shorter, focused options, compare our train-the-trainer and ETDP courses, which include facilitation skills, train-the-trainer and skills development facilitator training.
What does ODETDP mean?
ODETDP is short for Occupationally Directed Education, Training and Development Practices. ETD (education, training and development) practitioners are the people who run an organisation’s learning: trainers and facilitators, assessors and moderators, learning material designers, coaches and mentors, and the skills development facilitators (SDFs) who plan the organisation’s training and report on it to its SETA. “Occupationally directed” means the learning is aimed at doing a job competently, not at general education.
The field covers five areas of practice:
- Facilitation: planning and facilitating learning for groups and individuals.
- Learning design: analysing needs and designing learning programmes and material.
- Assessment and moderation: assessing learners against outcomes and moderating assessments fairly.
- Coaching and mentoring: supporting learners in the workplace.
- Skills development management: running the ETD function, the Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Report (ATR), and the quality of training providers.
What is the ODETDP qualification?
There is no single ODETDP qualification. The name covers a group of the ETDP SETA’s legacy qualifications, SAQA IDs 50331, 50333 and 50334. They are pre-2009 qualifications, built from unit standards under the older SETA system rather than as QCTO occupational qualifications.
BOTI’s catalogue lists one of them: the National Certificate: Occupationally Directed Education, Training and Development Practices (SAQA ID 50334, NQF Level 5)[2], which runs over 30 contact days in 9 to 12 months. It is open only to learners who are already enrolled. They complete it as an accredited qualification; new learners take one of the QCTO skills programmes described below.
Where the ODETDP qualifications stand in 2026
Pre-2009 qualifications such as these reached their registration end date on 30 June 2023. Since then, enrolment has been extended for some of them, qualification by qualification: under a ministerial Directive in June 2024, guidelines in December 2024 and, finally, the Directive gazetted on 17 June 2026 (Government Gazette 54858)[3]. That final Directive granted extensions of 6 to 24 months for selected pre-2009 qualifications, as listed on SAQA’s website[3]. SAQA’s June 2026 list marks the ODETDP qualifications ‘No’: they were not extended.[1]
Dates differ for every legacy qualification, so the qualification’s own record on SAQA’s register is the authority for its last date for enrolment and last date for achievement. If you already hold an ODETDP qualification, it stays valid: when the Minister announced the final arrangements in June 2026, he confirmed that every qualification already awarded remains valid, recognised and recorded on the National Learners’ Records Database (NLRD)[4]. If you are part-way through, you may finish within the teach-out window published for your qualification.
ODETDP at NQF Level 7
If you searched for ODETDP at NQF Level 7, the senior learning and development qualification in BOTI’s catalogue is the Occupational Certificate: Learning and Development Advisor (SAQA ID 118774, NQF Level 7, 195 credits)[5]. It is a QCTO occupational certificate that ends in an External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA). SAQA’s record gives 31 December 2026 as its last date for enrolment[5], so ask us to confirm intake dates before you plan around it.
The current accredited route: two QCTO skills programmes
For new learners, the accredited route into ETD practice now runs through the QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations). The QCTO quality-assures the occupational system: it accredits Skills Development Providers, records skills programmes on its database and issues the certificates. BOTI is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider for two skills programmes that cover two core areas of ODETDP practice: assessing learners, and facilitating learning in the workplace. For how the QCTO and the SETAs divide the work, see SETA vs QCTO accreditation explained.
| Assessment Practitioner | Workplace-Based Practitioner | |
|---|---|---|
| QCTO code | SP-220320 | SP-220322 |
| NQF level and credits | NQF Level 5, 20 credits | NQF Level 5, 30 credits |
| Entry requirement | NQF Level 4 with Communication | NQF Level 4 with Communication |
| Contact days | 5 | 5 |
| Workplace period | 4 to 6 weeks assessing real candidates, recorded in a logbook | 8 to 12 weeks facilitating a real work-based learning process, recorded in a logbook |
| Final assessment | FISA: a written brief or case study, pass mark 60% | FISA: a practical assessment with verbal questioning, no written paper |
| Certificate | Issued by the QCTO | Issued by the QCTO |
| Last date for enrolment | 2 March 2028 | 2 March 2028 |
Both programmes end in a Final Integrated Supervised Assessment (FISA), which BOTI sets, runs and moderates under QCTO rules. They are skills programmes, not full qualifications: the QCTO records them rather than registering them as qualifications, and their credits count towards a full or part-qualification. BOTI’s QCTO accreditation for both programmes (SDP141024140856) is valid to 10 October 2029.
Which one? Choose the Assessment Practitioner skills programme for people who assess learners, such as in-house assessors and trainers who sign off competence. Choose the Workplace-Based Practitioner skills programme (QCTO title: Work Based Learning and Development Practitioner) for mentors, workplace coordinators, SDFs and training managers who run learnerships, internships and other learning on the job. All of BOTI’s QCTO skills programmes are listed under QCTO skills programmes.
Shorter, non-accredited ETDP courses
Not everyone who trains needs credits. If your aim is a confident in-house trainer, a sound assessment practice or a well-run Workplace Skills Plan, a short course may be enough:
- Train the Trainer Essentials Course (1 day): for managers and subject experts who train their own teams.
- Train the Trainer (Facilitator Training) Course (3 days): for people building a career in facilitation.
- Facilitation Skills Training Course (2 days): planning a facilitated session and guiding a group to decisions.
- Assessor Skills Training Course (3 days): using pre-designed assessment instruments to judge competence fairly, validly and without bias.
- Moderator Skills Training Course (3 days): moderating assessments so that assessment decisions can be trusted.
- Design and Develop Effective Learning Material Training (3 days): planning and developing learning material and assessment instruments.
- Skills Development Facilitator (SDF) Training Course (3 days): planning and reporting on an organisation’s training, including the WSP and ATR.
These courses are not accredited. They are delivered as professional skills programmes, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance. Delegates who later want credits can move on to the QCTO skills programmes: Facilitation Skills and Train the Trainer lead on to the Assessment Practitioner programme, and the SDF course to the Workplace-Based Practitioner programme.
Entry requirements
For both QCTO skills programmes the entry requirement is an NQF Level 4 qualification with Communication. Learners also need access to a workplace for the workplace period: candidates to assess on the Assessment Practitioner programme, or a real work-based learning process to facilitate on the Workplace-Based Practitioner programme. Employers enrolling their own training staff already have that workplace in place; individuals without a current training role should speak to us before enrolling.
Duration, online and part-time options
Each skills programme has 5 contact days, followed by the workplace period: 4 to 6 weeks on the Assessment Practitioner programme and 8 to 12 weeks on the Workplace-Based Practitioner programme. The final assessment follows once all modules are complete. Neither programme runs as one continuous block, because the contact days are combined with practice at work, so both suit people who are employed.
Contact days run in-house at your premises, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or online. If you searched for an ODETDP diploma by distance learning, the enrolment rules above apply to every legacy ODETDP qualification, certificate or diploma. On the QCTO skills programmes, you can attend the contact days online and complete the workplace period where you work.
ODETDP course prices and funding
Fees depend on the programme, the number of learners and the delivery format, and in-house delivery for a group usually lowers the cost per learner. Each course page shows its price. For a group, call 011 882 8853 or email [email protected] with your headcount, preferred format and location, and we will quote.
Employers often ask how to pay for ETD training. As general information only: employers pay the Skills Development Levy at 1% of payroll[6], and an employer that submits its WSP and ATR by 30 April, and is up to date with its levy payments, can claim back a mandatory grant of 20% of its levy[7]. SETAs also award discretionary grants, mainly for programmes that lead to qualifications or part-qualifications on the NQF[8]. Your SETA decides on grants, so confirm what applies with your SDF or SETA before you budget on them.
Why BOTI
BOTI (Business Optimization Training Institute) is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider and holds Services SETA accreditation (12582) for legacy qualifications. For ETD practitioners we offer the two QCTO skills programmes above, the short train-the-trainer and ETDP courses, and the National Certificate: ODETDP for learners already enrolled. We tell you plainly which programmes carry credits and which lead to a certificate of attendance. For the wider picture, see our guide to QCTO accredited qualifications.
Frequently asked questions
What does ODETDP stand for?
Occupationally Directed Education, Training and Development Practices. It is the field of work of trainers, facilitators, assessors, moderators, learning designers, coaches, mentors and skills development facilitators, and the name of a group of legacy ETDP SETA qualifications (SAQA IDs 50331, 50333 and 50334).
Can I still enrol for the ODETDP qualification?
The ETDP SETA’s ODETDP qualifications (SAQA IDs 50331, 50333 and 50334) are legacy, pre-2009 qualifications, and SAQA’s June 2026 list of extended qualifications marks them ‘No’[1]. BOTI’s National Certificate: ODETDP (50334) is open to already-enrolled learners only. Check each qualification’s SAQA record for its last dates for enrolment and achievement. For new learners, the accredited route is the QCTO Assessment Practitioner (SP-220320) or Workplace-Based Practitioner (SP-220322) skills programme.
What is the difference between the ODETDP qualification and the Assessment Practitioner skills programme?
The ODETDP qualifications are legacy unit-standard qualifications, and BOTI’s National Certificate: ODETDP (50334) is open to already-enrolled learners only. The Assessment Practitioner skills programme (SP-220320, NQF 5, 20 credits) is QCTO-accredited and takes new learners until 2 March 2028: learners complete a workplace period assessing real candidates, the programme ends in a final integrated supervised assessment, and the QCTO issues the certificate. It covers assessment only; people who also run learning on the job can add the Workplace-Based Practitioner programme (SP-220322).
Who should do an ODETDP course?
Two groups look for one. Employers want to build the skills of their internal trainers, facilitators, assessors and skills development facilitators. Individuals want a career in education, training and development, as trainers, facilitators, assessors, moderators, coaches or skills development facilitators. New learners now choose between BOTI’s short, non-accredited ETDP courses and the two QCTO skills programmes, which need access to a workplace because they include assessing real candidates or facilitating real learning.
Do the QCTO skills programmes include workplace practice?
Yes. After 5 contact days, Assessment Practitioner learners spend 4 to 6 weeks assessing real candidates, and Workplace-Based Practitioner learners spend 8 to 12 weeks facilitating a real work-based learning process. Both record the work in a logbook. The short ETDP courses run for 1 to 3 days and end with a BOTI certificate of attendance.
Is the ODETDP course accredited?
It depends which programme you mean. BOTI’s short ETDP courses are not accredited, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance. The National Certificate: ODETDP (50334) is an accredited legacy qualification, open only to learners already enrolled. For new learners, the accredited route is the QCTO Assessment Practitioner (SP-220320) or Workplace-Based Practitioner (SP-220322) skills programme, after which the QCTO issues the certificate.
How much does an ODETDP course cost?
There is no single price. Each course page shows its price, and in-house delivery for a group usually lowers the cost per learner. For a group quote, call 011 882 8853 with your headcount, format and location.
Can I do it online or part-time?
Yes for the contact days: BOTI runs them in-house at your premises, at its venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or online. The workplace period of the QCTO skills programmes takes place where you work, alongside your job.
If you need an accredited route, BOTI offers the QCTO Assessment Practitioner skills programme (SP-220320, NQF 5, 20 credits). It combines contact days with a workplace period in which you assess real candidates, ends in a final integrated supervised assessment, and the QCTO issues the certificate. Enrolment is open until 2 March 2028.
Sources
- Pre-2009 Extended Qualifications – South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), June 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 50334: National Certificate: Occupationally Directed Education, Training and Development Practices – SAQA, 2026.
- Directive on the implementation of transitional arrangements for pre-2009 qualifications (Government Gazette 54858) – Minister of Higher Education and Training, 17 June 2026.
- Government announces transitional arrangements to advance modern occupational qualifications – SAnews, 11 June 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 118774: Occupational Certificate: Learning and Development Advisor – 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.