National Accredited Technical Education Diploma (NATED) courses offered by TVET colleges
NATED courses offered by TVET colleges
A description of NATED courses and examples of NATED programmes
| Course type | National Accredited Technical Education Diploma (NATED) | |
| Description | (NATED courses are also referred to as ‘N’ courses or Report 191 courses) This qualification is for students who are particularly interested and talented in an occupational/vocational area who want to develop competencies in the chosen area. This qualification develops the students’ technical and theoretical knowledge, and the workplace knowledge and skills required in their chosen occupational/vocational area. It will enable them either to study further or to be employed and productive in the sector at entry level and/or second tier level.The design of the qualification is such that it enables learners to progressively obtain the qualification by completing the related N4, N5 and N6 courses in a particular vocational/ occupational area, either separately with breaks between, or in one extended study period of a year or 18 months. This theoretical part of the programme must be followed by a minimum of 18 months’ practical application of knowledge in a workplace for the student to be awarded the National N Diploma, Level 6. |
|
| Fields of study | NATED courses are offered in the following fields: (Engineering Studies range from N1 to N6 while Business and Utility Studies range from N4 to N6.)
|
|
| Duration | Total duration is 3 years or 3 years and 6 months, depending on the programme. Each level (from N1 to N6) is completed over a trimester (about 3 months) or over 6 months, depending on the programme. The knowledge and theory is completed over approximately 18 months, with a further 18 months for the practical workplace application. |
|
| Qualification | The ‘National N Diploma’ on NQF Level 6 (360 credits) is awarded to students who have completed the N6 plus the required 18 months’ practical experience in the workplace. The National N6 Certificate on NQF Level 5 is awarded to students who have completed the N6, without the 18 months’ work experience in the workplace. |
|
| Progression | Students with a National N Diploma are eligible to enrol for a Bachelor’s Degree, subject to the admission requirements of the higher education institution for the particular field of study. The National N Diploma articulates horizontally with a similar Diploma or Advanced Certificate at Level 6. Access to higher education requires the completion of the N4 certificate. The N4 plus the necessary language is thus equivalent to the National Senior Certificate (Matric) with university admission. Four N3 subjects may be combined with the Business Languages (at Home or First Additional language level) in order to be awarded the National Senior Certificate. Umalusi (the national quality assurance body for general and further education and training) standardizes the N1 – N3 on behalf of the Department of Higher Education and Training. It certifies N3 to allow for its combination with two languages in order to enable candidates to receive the National Senior Certificate. |
|
| Admission Requirements | Grade 9 for admission to N1 Grade 12 for admission to N4 |
|
Examples of three NATED programmes
| Programme title | National N Certificate: NATED – N1-N3 | National N Diploma: Financial Management – N4-N6 | National N Diploma: Mechanical Engineering – N4-N6 |
| About the programme | This is the traditional apprentice path to becoming an artisan. After completing N2, the apprentice will also be required to complete the institutionalised modular training or Competency Based Modular Training (CBMT). These modules are facilitated in 3 to 4 blocks of 10 weeks (each block being a level). After successful completion and workplace experience, the apprentice may apply for the trade test. | The Financial Management Diploma is offered to students who want to enter the world of finance as their career. This course provides training for computerised accounting specialists who use their skills to perform a variety of accounting applications aided by computer technology. | The programme involves the design and development of machinery, ranging from simple mechanisms up to more complex machines. Mechanical Engineers use an understanding of core concepts such as thermodynamics and kinetics (application of heat and mechanical power) to create and analyse a wide variety of machines and processes. |
| Admission requirements |
|
Possession of a National Senior Certificate with Grade 12 Accounting is a requirement for admission, and applicants may be asked to complete an assessment. | An appropriate National Certificate N3 Engineering Studies; or a National Senior Certificate, with at least three subjects which are applicable to the subjects chosen by the candidate for the programme; or an equivalent qualification. |
| Career opportunities | Students will be able to take up a position as an apprentice or learner technician to gain the necessary industrial experience to be able to take a trade test in the chosen trade. | Students are trained to work with accountants in large companies or to do the bookkeeping of smaller concerns (e.g. bookkeeping to trial balance, or work as Debtors Clerk, Creditors Clerk, etc.) | Mechanical engineer, Design engineer, Materials scientist, Draughtsman, Fabricator or Process controller/technician. |
| Course content (Subjects) |
N1 Certificate
N2 Certificate
N3 Compulsory Subjects
|
N4
N5
N6
|
|
| Duration | Each N-certificate level is one trimester (i.e. 12 weeks) | Each level takes 6 months’ full time to complete (total of 18 months to complete the theory) and then 18 months’ practical. Generally it takes 3 years to qualify for a National Diploma. | 11 weeks for each N-level for the institutional part of the programme |
| Qualification | A National N Diploma in Financial Management is awarded on successful completion of this programme. | National N Diploma, NQF Level 6, 360 credits (after completing the 18-months’ practical work experience) |
NATED programmes registered as part-qualifications
The NATED or ‘N’ programmes are now registered on the NQF as part-qualifications on the SAQA website under “Registered qualifications and unit standards”: http://regqs.saqa.org.za/. The table below provides three examples of the ‘N’ programmes registered as part-qualifications.
| ID No. | Qualification Title | NQF Level | Min. credits |
| 66874 | National Certificate: N4 Financial Management | Level 5 | 60 |
| 66954 | National Certificate: N5 Financial Management | Level 5 | 60 |
| 66998 | National Certificate: N6 Financial Management | Level 5 | 60 |
The purpose of the N4 National Certificate in the table (ID no. 66874) explains the nature of the part-qualification, which is aimed primarily at giving learners the technical, theoretical knowledge, practical skills and workplace knowledge and skills required in their chosen occupational/vocational area. The design of the part-qualification is such that if taken sequentially with related N-courses i.e. N4+N5+N6, it enables learners to work towards the National N Diploma which they would obtain once the required practical work component has been completed.
National N Diploma: Financial Management (ID no. 67040, Level 6) describes how the N4, N5 and N6 build towards this Diploma: “The design of the qualification is such that it enables learners to progressively obtain the qualification by completing the related N4, N5 and N6 courses in a particular vocation/occupational area, either separately with breaks between, or in one extended study period of a year or 18 months and then to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the workplace for an extended period. The N4+N5+N6, regardless of the manner in which they are completed, must be followed by or integrated with the relevant 18 or 24 months of practical workplace learning for the learner to be awarded the National N Diploma, Level 6.”
What are the entry requirements into universities of technology for students with NC (V) or NATED qualifications?
Which UNISA and other qualifications are offered by TVET colleges?
UNISA qualifications offered by TVET colleges
Twelve TVET colleges signed an agreement with the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 2012 to offer Higher Certificates in four areas: Accounting Sciences, Banking, Economic and Management Sciences and Tourism Management on NQF Level 5, and the Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Development: Foundation Phase on NQF Level 7. This partnership was supported by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) as a move to expand the programme offerings at TVET colleges and to make further learning opportunities accessible to students who would otherwise have been denied access to higher education.
The following colleges were granted provisional approval by DHET to provide certain higher education qualifications.
| Provinces | |
| Eastern Cape | |
| East Cape Midlands TVET College (Uitenhage) |
|
| Port Elizabeth TVET College |
|
| Gauteng | |
| Ekurhuleni East TVET College |
|
| Western TVET College (Randfontein) |
|
| KwaZulu-Natal | |
| Umfolozi TVET College (Richards Bay) |
|
| Limpopo | |
| Letaba TVET College (Tzaneen ) |
|
| Mpumalanga | |
| Gert Sibande TVET College (Ermelo) |
|
| Flavius Mareka TVET College (Sasolburg) |
|
| Western Cape | |
| College of Cape Town |
|
| False Bay TVET College (Cape Town) |
|
| NorthLink TVET College (Cape Town) |
|
| West Coast (Malmesbury) |
|
Other qualifications offered by TVET colleges
Some colleges offer qualifications that are registered on the National Qualifications Framework other than the NC (V) and NATED Diploma, for example: National Certificate in Payroll Administration Services Level 4, National Certificate in Craft Production Level 2, National Certificate in Enterprise Management Level 4 and National Certificate in Early Childhood Development Level 1.
How are TVET colleges involved in learnerships, apprenticeships and trade tests?
Click here for information on learnerships and apprenticeships offered by TVET colleges, as well as trade tests conducted by colleges that are accredited as ‘Decentralised Trade Test Centres’.
Skills programmes and short courses offered by TVET colleges
TVET colleges offer a wide variety of skills programmes on a full- or part-time basis, for example in Meeting Procedures, Receptionist and Telephone Skills, Welding, Upholstery, Labour Relations and various computer courses. Skills programmes are formally assessed and students will be able to gain credits towards registered qualifications for most of these programmes.
TVET colleges also offer short enrichment programmes that address specific needs in industry or in the community. They are generally not formally assessed so students only receive certificates of attendance for such courses. Examples are Bricklaying and Plastering, Pottery, Tourist guiding, Childcare, Welding, Tractor maintenance, Removal of alien vegetation and Afro hairdressing.
Click here for more detailed information on Skills Programmes.
Programmes in entrepreneurship offered by TVET colleges and other organisations
The section on the NATED programmes indicated that entrepreneurship is covered in some of these programmes offered by TVET colleges. Most of the skills you develop through NATED and other TVET programmes will enable you to start and run your own business. You should not only see these studies as a way to get a job; use the skills to create your own job, and to employ others to work with you.
Click here for more information on the wide range of formal and informal programmes on entrepreneurship that are available for free or at minimal cost. Many of them are available on the internet and others are provided by Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), government agencies and private organisations.
National Senior Certificate (NSC) offered to adults at TVET colleges
Some colleges also offer Adult Education and Training (AET) programmes for persons wishing to achieve a National Senior Certificate, or to facilitate access to TVET courses. These are usually delivered in partnership with Adult Learning Centres, which are being replaced by Community Colleges. Click here for more information on Adult Education and Training and Community Colleges.