Category: SayPro Career Guidance Insights

• The tariff structure is as follows:

Accreditation Tariff Per Qualification	2025/2026
Accreditation	R 6 000
Additional Site or Qualification/Programme (Max 5)	R 1 300
Additional Extension Site or Qualification/Programme (Max 5)	R 1 300
Extension of scope fee	R 4 700

• Fees will be charged for both Skills Development Providers (SDP) and Assessment Centres (AC)

per Application, Per Qualification, Per Site.

• • The current agreement between NAMB and Assessment Centres/Trade Test Centre (TTC) within the Artisan Community, will remain in place where Centres sign an MoU with NAMB and release SME for site visit at own cost, and in return are not charged for accreditations.

• Council Approval: The QCTO council initially approved the charging of accreditation fees

during its 38th Council meeting held on 09th March 2016.

• Initial Implementation: Accreditation fees were first implemented for NATED programmes, set at R4,000 per programme.
• Benchmarking Results: A benchmarking study of other Quality Councils revealed accreditation

tariffs ranging from R30,000 to R150,000.

• Recent Council Discussions :In the 13th March 2024 council meeting, the QCTO approved the introduction of accreditation tariffs across the board, effective from the 2025/26 Financial Year.

Definition: Appeal is the process where parties request a formal change to an official decision. Appeals also functions as a

process for error correction as well as a process of clarifying and interpreting the decision.

Procedure on Appeals

• The assessment centre may appeal the de-accreditation recommendation to the QCTO at a cost determined by the QCTO.
  • If de-accreditation is appealed, the QCTO will convene an appeals committee to consider any representations received and will notify the AQP and assessment centre of its appeal decision in writing.

The QCTO, may on reasonable grounds, withdraw on recommendation from the relevant AQP the accreditation of an assessment centre in respect of all or a specific occupational qualification or part qualification which it is accredited to assess.

Reasonable grounds include, but are not limited to:

1. Inability to meet the accreditation criteria;
2. Assessment irregularities;
3. Failure or refusal to fulfil accreditation responsibilities;
4. Failure or refusal to comply with the relevant QCTO policies and procedures; and
5. Failure to comply with the relevant AQP requirements including but not limited to:
   1. Poor record keeping and reporting on assessments;
   1. Any fraudulent activity uncovered within the Centre
   1. Poor internal moderation; and
   1. Ineffective reporting to the AQP

• 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.