A QCTO qualification offers a comprehensive and practical approach to learning, ensuring that individuals are equipped with the skills necessary to thrive in a wide range of industries. These qualifications focus on hands-on training, making graduates well-prepared for the workforce and ensuring they can immediately apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Whether you pursue a career in engineering, healthcare, IT, or trades, a QCTO qualification provides the foundation for success in technical, skilled, and managerial roles. This industry-aligned training ensures that you are ready to meet the demands of the modern job market and stay competitive in your chosen field.

Furthermore, a QCTO qualification offers long-term career benefits by providing opportunities for growth and advancement. As you gain more experience in your field, your qualifications will enable you to move into leadership, supervisory, or specialisedroles. Additionally, these qualifications are often recognisedboth locally and internationally, creating global career opportunities. Whether you aim to work for established companies, start your own business, or contribute to the public sector , a QCTO qualification helps you build the skills and confidence needed to take the next step in your career journey.

A Small Retail Business Owner runs a small retail business by procuring goods, marketing and selling products and services to customers; and managing small business finances to ensure growth and sustainability, in accordance with applicable industry legislative requirements.

Entrepreneurship and the starting of a small business remain one of the few income generation options for a large percentage of South Africans given the high unemployed figures that have prevailed in the country over the years. The wholesale and retail sector is one of the sectors in which individuals strive to set up and run own small businesses. It is for this reason that the sector initiated the process of realigning the currently registered National Certificate: Informal Small Business Practice, NQF Level 3 in accordance with the Occupations Qualification Sub-Framework (OQSF) policy requirements.

Minimum of Grade 10 (or equivalent)

• Work-Ready Graduates: The combination of theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and workplace experience ensures that learners are well-prepared for real-world job roles.
• Industry-RecognisedCertifications: A QCTO certificate is recognisedacross South Africa, giving learners a competitive edge in the job market.
• Alignment with Industry Needs: The QCTO works closely with industries to ensure that qualifications are up-to-date and relevant to current job market demands.

Occupational qualifications developed by the QCTO consist of three main components:

• Knowledge: The theoretical understanding required for the occupation.
• Practical Skills: Hands-on, applied skills needed to perform the job effectively.
• Workplace Experience: Real-world experience gained on the job.

By combining these elements, the QCTO ensures that learners are not only academically prepared but also equipped with practical skills and experience that make them highly employable.

Assessment: A unique feature of QCTO qualifications is that they require an external summative assessment. This final assessment is conducted at accredited centers and ensures that learners meet national standards before being certified. Successful learners are awarded a National Occupational Certificate, which is recognisedacross South Africa’s job market.

• Quality Assurance: The QCTO ensures that the training provided by accredited institutions meets high-quality standards, so learners receive the best possible education.
• Certification: Once a learner has successfully completed a QCTO-accredited program and passed the required assessments, the QCTO issues an industry-recognisedNational Occupational Certificate.
• Accreditation: Institutions that wish to offer occupational qualifications must meet QCTO’s stringent standards before they are granted accreditation. The same applies to assessment centers.