Author: Lerato Tsebe

• An accredited assessment centre may increase its scope by applying to one or more AQPs for conducting integrated external summative assessments for additional occupational qualifications or part qualifications.
• The AQP will recommend the amendment of scope to the QCTO.

The QCTO may amend the scope, if:

• the AQP recommends the assessment centre to conduct assessment for one or more additional occupational qualifications. In such a case the generic requirements will be deemed to be met, and the extension of scope application will be restricted to the additional curriculum components; and
• the QCTO determines that an accredited assessment Centre no longer has the capacity to conduct the external summative assessments for which it has been accredited.
• In all cases of an amendment to scope, the QCTO will inform the AQP and fulfil all its responsibilities.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ROLE-PLAYERS IN THE ASSESSMENT CENTRE PROCESS

The QCTO will accredit an entity as an assessment centre for a specified occupational qualification or part qualification if recommended by an AQP and if that entity satisfies the criteria listed below.

The entity must:

• Be a juristic person registered or established in terms of South African law;
• Have a valid tax clearance certificate issued by the South African Revenue Service if applicable;
• Have a suitable and compliant MIS in accordance with QCTO specifications;
• Be safe, secure and accessible to candidates;
• Meet the relevant standards for occupational health and safety;
• Have the required physical resources (e.g.; venue; equipment, machinery or protective clothing), specified by the AQP to assess

learners’ competence regarding the occupational qualification or part qualification;

• Have appropriately qualified human resources as specified by the AQP; and
• Make provision for any other requirements specified for the relevant trade, occupational qualification or part qualification.

The QCTO will accredit an entity as an assessment centre for a specified occupational qualification or part qualification if recommended by an AQP and if that entity satisfies the criteria listed below.

The entity must:

• Be a juristic person registered or established in terms of South African law;
• Have a valid tax clearance certificate issued by the South African Revenue Service if applicable;
• Have a suitable and compliant MIS in accordance with QCTO specifications;
• Be safe, secure and accessible to candidates;
• Meet the relevant standards for occupational health and safety;
• Have the required physical resources (e.g.; venue; equipment, machinery or protective clothing), specified by the AQP to assess

learners’ competence regarding the occupational qualification or part qualification;

• Have appropriately qualified human resources as specified by the AQP; and
• Make provision for any other requirements specified for the relevant trade, occupational qualification or part qualification.

Responsibilities of Assessment Centre:

An assessment centre must;

• Assess the occupational qualification or part qualification in accordance with the standards set by the delegated AQP;

• Comply with the QCTO and AQP assessment policies and procedures;

• Conduct integrated external summative assessments in accordance with the AQP requirements;

• Adhere to standards set by the AQP in order to maintain accreditation;

• Enter into a formal agreement with the relevant AQP;

• Only allow candidates registered for assessment and assessment practitioners conducting the assessment into the assessment area;

• Ensure that candidates are not assessed or moderated by the facilitator responsible for their training; and

• Have appropriately qualified human resources to conduct assessments as specified by the AQP.

Responsibilities of MICT SETA:

• Recommend the applicant to the QCTO for consideration as an accredited assessment centre in respect of summative external assessments.
• Confirm and notify applicant of application status to be an assessment centre for qualifications and part qualifications as accredited.
• De-accredit defaulting accredited assessment centres where required due to sub-standard performance or any activities warrantying such action or end of

status term.

• Ensure standardization of the external integrated summative assessment through the development of nationally standardized assessment instruments.
• Determine criteria for accreditation of assessment centres to be able to host the external summative assessments.

• Monitor the performance of the accredited assessment centres to host and manage external integrated summative assessments.

• Report to the QCTO on the assessment centre’s performance in the form and manner required by the QCTO.

• Publish accreditation status and details of the accredited entity on MICTSETA official website.

• Distribute examination question papers to accredited assessment centres for the hosting of scheduled assessments.

• Provide a list to assessments centres of confirmed learners that are earmarked to write external assessments at each of the accredited centres.

Responsibilities of the QCTO:

• The QCTO must consider recommendations from AQPs for assessment Centre accreditation.

• The QCTO will evaluate and may verify the information on the AQP recommendations for the accreditation of an assessment Centre.

• The QCTO will make a decision as to whether to accredit the recommended assessment Centre within 30 working days of receiving the

recommendation.

• The QCTO must notify the AQP of its decision in writing and may refer the recommendation back to the AQP for outstanding information or additional information to be provided.

• If the QCTO grants accreditation of an assessment Centre, it will publish it on its official website the following information –
  • the relevant details of the accredited assessment Centre; and
  • the occupational qualifications the assessment Centre is accredited to assess.
• If accreditation is withdrawn, the QCTO must inform the AQP and assessment Centre and remove the assessment center’s details from its official website.

The QCTO will manage and coordinate the qualifications in the occupational qualifications framework in terms of their development, provision, assessment and impact. Its scope will be the development and quality assurance of fit-for-purpose occupational qualifications and unit standards as required by the labour market for work and employment purposes

A centre accredited by the QCTO for the purpose of conducting external integrated summative assessments for specified NQF registered occupational qualifications and part qualifications.

A body delegated by the QCTO to develop assessment instruments and manage the external integrated summative assessments of specific NQF registered occupational qualifications and part qualifications.

• Skills Development Providers are required to comply with the MICT SETA accreditation policy,

terms and conditions in addition to the QCTO requirements.

• All assessors and moderators that SDPs would like to use as Subject Matter Experts are required to be registered with the MICT SETA as per the MICT SETA accreditation policy.

• Upon completion of training and being deemed competent by the training provider, learners will be subjected to the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) which will be implemented by the Quality Partner (MICT SETA).

• Skills Development   Providers  are   further         encouraged     to             apply            for         assessment     centre

accreditation with the QCTO.

No.	Qualification Title	NQF level	Qualifications Credits	Qual ID
1	Occupational Certificate: Cloud Administrator	NQF Level 04	149	118699
2	Occupational Certificate: Design Thinking Innovation Lead	NQF Level 04	160	118788
3	Occupational Certificate: Design Thinking Practitioner	NQF Level 04	100	118705
4	Occupational Certificate: Software Developer	NQF Level 05	220	118707
5	Occupational Certificate: Quality Test Automator	NQF Level 05	179	118789
6	Occupational Certificate: Data Science Practitioner	NQF Level 05	185	118708
7	Occupational Certificate: Artificial Intelligence Software Developer	NQF Level 05	209	118792
8	Advanced Occupational Certificate: Extended Reality Developer	NQF Level 6	218	121296