Accreditation Shift: How the QCTO is Transforming Practical Skills Development

In South Africa, a major shift in how we develop and certify skills is underway. The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) is now at the centre of the country’s post-school education reform — ensuring qualifications are not only accredited, but relevant to the real world of work.

What the QCTO Does

The QCTO is responsible for developing and managing occupational qualifications, assessments, and quality assurance within South Africa’s skills system. It oversees the Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework (OQSF), one of the three pillars of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), alongside SAQA and the Council on Higher Education.

It works closely with employers and professional bodies to make sure learning outcomes align with workplace needs — not just academic theory — and maintains the National Learners’ Records Database for all occupational learning.

Why This Matters Now

From 1 July 2024, all new learners must be registered under QCTO-accredited occupational qualifications. This follows the 30 June 2024 deadline — the last date for enrolling new learners on legacy SETA-based qualifications.

Existing programmes will be taught out until June 2027, after which only QCTO qualifications will remain recognised. This transition is part of South Africa’s drive to build a skills system that delivers competent, workplace-ready professionals — especially in high-growth industries like software, engineering, and digital services.

How the Role of the SETAs Is Changing

While Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) continue to exist until 2030, their focus is shifting. They will no longer manage accreditation directly but instead partner with the QCTO as:

• Development Quality Partners (DQPs) – involved in developing new occupational qualifications; and
• Assessment Quality Partners (AQPs) – ensuring standardised, high-quality assessments.

SETAs will continue to administer skills grants and learnership registrations, but QCTO will handle all accreditation, quality management, and certification of occupational qualifications.

Why Occupational Qualifications Are Different

QCTO occupational qualifications are structured around three components:

1. Knowledge/Theory – a formal classroom or online learning component
2. Practical Skills – structured, hands-on learning
3. Workplace Experience – real-world exposure in an approved environment

Each component must represent at least 20% of the total credits, and between 5%–10% must focus on soft skills such as communication, professional behaviour, personal finance, or entrepreneurship.

This approach creates a far tighter bond between learning and employability - a crucial step toward solving South Africa’s skills gap.

QCTO Transition Timeline

What This Means for Employers and Learners

• Employers gain a clearer path to developing talent that meets industry standards and is quality-assured nationally.
• Learners graduate with occupational competence — not just a certificate, but the practical readiness to work effectively from day one.
• Training providers must ensure all new programmes are QCTO-aligned and accredited, or risk their offerings becoming obsolete.

The Strategic Opportunity for the Tech Sector

For South Africa’s technology and software industries, this reform represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to align skills development with real-world demands.

As automation, AI, and cloud computing reshape the workplace, the QCTO framework provides a foundation for more practical, project-based and future-proof learning.

How Kaleidocode Is Leading This Change

At Kaleidocode and Kaleidocode Pivot, we’ve long believed that real capability comes from doing — not just studying. Our apprenticeship and graduate programmes already blend knowledge, practical skills, and workplace experience in a way that mirrors the QCTO model. We are actively working throughQCTO accreditation for our Software Engineer and Software Tester occupational qualifications, building on our proven history of producing highly employable graduates through structured, mentored learning.

If your organisation wants to align its skills development with the QCTO and build a sustainable talent pipeline, we can help.

Kaleidocode partners with corporate teams to:

• Deliver work-integrated apprenticeships aligned to occupational standards
• Coach graduates into commercial readiness faster
• Support your BBBEE and tax-incentive objectives through accredited training

Contact us at [email protected] to learn more about how Kaleidocode Pivot can help you transition confidently into the new QCTO era.