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This guide to online short courses in South Africa explains the three ways to study online with BOTI, the main subject areas, and how to check whether an online course is accredited before you enrol. If you want a short, live online session for your team, BOTI’s 3-hour online masterclasses cover topics such as Excel, Power BI, Copilot, POPIA and business communication.
Courses on this topic at BOTI today
- Self-paced e-learning: 142 online courses with a certificate
- Live 3-hour online masterclasses
- Live online courses for teams: 300+ courses
At your offices anywhere in South Africa, live online or at a BOTI venue.
Browse all 300+ BOTI coursesGet a quote for your teamLearning on your own? Self-paced e-learning from R595 (excl. VAT) · Ask your employer to pay
What are online short courses?
An online short course teaches one practical skill, or a small set of related skills, without the time commitment of a full qualification. You take part over the internet from home or the office, either live with a facilitator or in your own time. Online short courses run from a three-hour session to a few days, and they are built so that you can use what you learn at work straight away. For a broader overview of short courses, in class or online, see what short courses are and the areas BOTI covers.
Short courses online suit working adults who need to close a specific skills gap, employers who want staff in different offices to learn the same skill together, and people who want to try a subject before they commit to a longer qualification. Nobody has to travel, so an online course also works well for teams spread across South Africa.
Three ways to do an online short course with BOTI
BOTI’s catalogue has more than 450 courses, including 142 self-paced e-learning courses. Online, they come in three formats:
| Format | Length | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live online course | Most run for 1 to 3 days | A facilitator teaches the group in real time; delegates join from home or the office | Full course content, questions and practice with a facilitator |
| 3-hour online masterclass | 3 hours | One focused topic, taught live online | Busy staff and managers who need one skill quickly |
| Self-paced e-learning | Your own pace | You work through the course in your own time; each course comes with a certificate | People whose hours make a scheduled class difficult |
Live online courses
BOTI’s courses run in three ways: in-house at your premises anywhere in South Africa, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online. On a live online course a facilitator teaches in real time, so delegates can ask questions, work through exercises and discuss examples from their own work. Most courses run for one to three days, and a few technical courses run longer, such as the five-day Python Programming Training. Delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
3-hour online masterclasses
A masterclass covers one focused topic in three hours, live online. It suits people who cannot be away from work for a full day, and teams that want a shared learning session on one subject. Examples include:
- Excel Power Session: XLOOKUP, PivotTables and Dynamic Arrays
- Power BI Foundations: Build Your First Live Report
- Copilot in Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams
- POPIA for Every Employee: Handling Personal Information Safely
- Effective Business Communication: Emails, Reports and Presentations That Land
- Time Management and Focus in a Hybrid Workplace
- Customer Service Excellence: Turning Complaints into Loyalty
Masterclasses are grouped by theme: AI at work, people and communication, personal effectiveness, HR and labour law, and business acumen and customers. Like BOTI’s other short courses, masterclasses are not accredited.
Self-paced e-learning with a certificate
BOTI’s e-learning library has 142 self-paced courses. You work through each course in your own time, and each course comes with a certificate. E-learning suits people whose working hours make a scheduled class difficult, and employers who want staff to cover the same material without taking everyone away from work at once. The certificate shows that you completed the course; it is not an accredited qualification.
Popular subjects for online short courses
BOTI’s short courses are grouped by subject. These are the main areas, with examples of courses in each. To see everything in one place, browse all BOTI short courses and corporate training programmes.
Computer skills, Excel, data and programming
Computer courses run from first steps to data analysis and code. Examples are Excel Beginners (1 day), Data Analytics Fundamentals with Excel and Power BI (3 days), Power BI Basics (3 days) and Getting Started with SQL Server: SQL Querying (2 days). For programming, the two-day Python Short Course is a practical start for beginners. Basic online security is covered in the one-day Cyber Security Awareness Training. See all computer and office software courses.
Artificial intelligence at work
AI courses show staff how to use AI tools in everyday work: Introduction to AI for the Workplace (1 day), Prompt Engineering Essentials (1 day) and AI Tools for Everyday Productivity (1 day). See all artificial intelligence courses.
Leadership and management
For new supervisors, team leaders and managers: Supervisory Skills for Team Leaders (2 days), Management and Leadership Development Training (2 days), Middle Manager Development Training (3 days) and the masterclass Emotional Intelligence for Leaders. See all leadership and management courses.
Communication and business writing
For anyone who writes, presents or speaks for the organisation: Business Writing Skills for Function and Purpose (1 day), the Report Writing Course (3 days) and the masterclass Presenting with Impact: Confident Online and Boardroom Presentations. See all communication and business writing courses.
Office administration and personal assistants
For administrators, secretaries, PAs and office managers: the Office Management Training Course (1 day), Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant and Administrator Training (2 days) and Chairing a Meeting with Confidence and Keeping Good Minutes (1 day). See all administration and office support courses.
HR, labour law and compliance
For HR teams, line managers and every employee who handles personal information: POPIA Basic Training (2 days), Employment Equity Fundamentals Training (2 days) and the masterclasses Labour and Employee Relations: Discipline and Grievances Done Right and Interviewing Skills: Competency-Based Interviews That Reduce Bias. See all human resources, labour and employment equity courses.
Projects, finance and graphic design
Project Management Fundamentals (2 days) and the masterclass Basic Project Management: Plan, Deliver and Keep Teams on Track introduce project work; see all project management, agile and process improvement courses. Managers who need to read the numbers can take Finance for Non-Financial Managers Training (2 days); see all finance courses. For design work, Graphic Design Fundamentals Training (2 days) is listed with the other graphic design and CAD courses.
BOTI’s short courses are not accredited. They are delivered as professional skills programmes, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
Certificate or accreditation: how to tell the difference
Most online short courses end with a certificate, but a certificate is not the same as accreditation. Before you enrol, make sure you know which one you are getting.
- A certificate of attendance or completion shows that you took part in or finished a course. It is useful evidence for a CV or a training record, but it does not carry credits on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
- Accredited learning leads to a qualification or part-qualification registered on the NQF, or to a QCTO skills programme, and the provider must be accredited to offer that specific programme. For occupational qualifications, part-qualifications and skills programmes, the provider is accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), and the QCTO issues the certificate.
How to check whether an online course is accredited
- Ask which registered qualification, part-qualification or skills programme the course leads to, and for its SAQA ID or programme code.
- Ask to see the provider’s accreditation letter, and check that it names that programme and is still valid. QCTO accreditation lasts five years from the date it is granted, and the QCTO can withdraw it.
- Look up the qualification on SAQA’s register at regqs.saqa.org.za and note its last date for enrolment. Older (pre-2009) qualifications are being phased out, and the dates differ from one qualification to the next.
- Ask how the final assessment works. Occupational qualifications and part-qualifications end in an External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA); QCTO skills programmes end in a Final Integrated Supervised Assessment (FISA).
- Treat “SETA-accredited” with care. Providers apply to the QCTO for accreditation of occupational qualifications and skills programmes; the term fits only older SETA qualifications that are still in their teach-out period.
BOTI is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider and a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor. Its accredited programmes are listed under accredited courses: QCTO occupational certificates, QCTO skills programmes and SETA qualifications.
Short course, skills programme or qualification?
A short course is the quickest way to learn one skill. If you need credits towards a qualification, or the qualification itself, you need an accredited programme instead. The three options compare like this:
| Short course | QCTO skills programme | Occupational certificate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Three hours to a few days | 8 to 60 credits | 120 credits or more for a full qualification |
| Status | Not accredited; no NQF credits | Recorded by the QCTO; its credits count towards a qualification | Registered on the NQF |
| Final assessment | Not assessed for NQF credits | Final Integrated Supervised Assessment (FISA) | External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) |
| What you receive | A BOTI certificate of attendance | A certificate issued by the QCTO | An Occupational Certificate issued by the QCTO |
Some occupational certificates close to new learners soon. BOTI’s Occupational Certificate: Office Administrator (SAQA ID 102161) and Occupational Certificate: Management Assistant (SAQA ID 101876), both at NQF Level 5, take new enrolments only until 30 December 2026.
How to choose an online short course
- Start with the outcome. Write down what you or your team must be able to do after the course, then compare course outlines against that list.
- Choose the format. A live online course gives the most depth and time with a facilitator, a masterclass covers one topic in three hours, and e-learning fits around your own hours.
- Be realistic about time. Three hours, one to three days, or a few hours a week at your own pace: choose what you can give without falling behind at work.
- Check the level. Many computer courses come in beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, so start where your skills are now.
- Ask what certificate you will get. Is it a certificate of attendance, or a certificate issued by the QCTO? If a course is described as accredited, ask for the programme code and the accreditation letter.
- Ask the cost questions up front. Is the fee per person or for the group? Does it include course material, the certificate and any exam fees? Is VAT included? What happens if a delegate cannot attend on the day?
- Check the technical set-up. Ask which online meeting tool the session uses and whether delegates need a webcam, a headset or particular software installed.
How employers fund staff training
Employers registered for the Skills Development Levy (SDL) pay 1% of payroll every month through SARS. Part of that levy can come back as a mandatory grant: the employer submits a Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and an Annual Training Report (ATR) to its SETA by 30 April each year and must be up to date with its levy payments. The mandatory grant is 20% of the levy paid, and money that is not claimed moves to the SETA’s discretionary funding by 15 August.
Short courses fit into this cycle: plan them in the WSP, then report the training that took place in the ATR. SETA discretionary grants mainly target PIVOTAL programmes, which are learning programmes that lead to a qualification or part-qualification on the NQF. Skills development spend also counts on the B-BBEE scorecard. The SETA decides every grant application, so BOTI does not promise grants or B-BBEE points; your Skills Development Facilitator (SDF) can confirm what applies to your organisation.
Talk to BOTI about online training
Tell us what you or your team need to be able to do, how many people need training and which format suits you, and we will recommend a course. Phone 011 882 8853 or email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Which online courses are accredited in South Africa?
An online course is accredited only when it leads to a registered qualification, part-qualification or QCTO skills programme and the provider is accredited to offer it. For occupational qualifications and skills programmes, providers apply to the QCTO, and that accreditation lasts five years. Many online short courses are not accredited and give a certificate of attendance instead, which suits skills-only goals.
How do I check if an online training provider is accredited?
Ask the provider to show its accreditation or registration certificate, and check which qualifications or skills programmes it covers and until when. QCTO accreditation of a Skills Development Provider lasts five years and can be withdrawn. For older SETA qualifications, also check the last date for enrolment on the qualification’s SAQA record at regqs.saqa.org.za, because dates differ per qualification.
What is the difference between a short course and a skills programme?
A QCTO skills programme is a set learning programme of 8 to 60 credits, recorded by the QCTO, that builds credits towards a qualification and ends in a Final Integrated Supervised Assessment (FISA). A non-accredited short course focuses on one practical skill; at BOTI, delegates receive a certificate of attendance. Choose a skills programme for credits and a short course for a quick, specific skill.
Can I do IT short courses online in South Africa?
Yes. Many IT short courses run online, including programming, data and office software. BOTI, for example, runs Python programming, Excel, Power BI and SQL Server courses online, in-house at your premises, or at its venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg. These are non-accredited short courses, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
How long do online short courses take?
It depends on the format. BOTI’s online masterclasses take three hours, most of its live online courses run for one to three days, and its self-paced e-learning courses fit around your own hours, so you set the pace.
Do online short courses come with a certificate?
At BOTI, yes. Delegates on live online courses receive a BOTI certificate of attendance, and each course in the e-learning library comes with a certificate. These certificates show that you completed the training; they are not accredited qualifications. For a certificate issued by the QCTO, choose a QCTO skills programme or occupational certificate instead.
If programming is the skill you want, BOTI’s Python Short Course: Introduction to Programming with Python is a practical, instructor-led introduction for beginners. It is not accredited, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance. It runs online, in-house at your premises, or at our venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg.