The landscape of skills development in South Africa is evolving. As the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) continues to establish itself as a key quality assurer and accreditor of qualifications, employers, skills development facilitators, and learners need to understand how this transition affects their compliance reporting and scorecard performance.
If you're preparing your next Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Report (ATR) submission, now is the time to review how QCTO-aligned qualifications and outcomes may influence your B-BBEE skills development scorecard. This blog post will guide you through the key changes and help you prepare for a smooth transition.
Understanding the QCTO Transition and Its Impact
The QCTO has been established to quality-assure and accredit occupational qualifications that are work-based and practically focused. Unlike the traditional higher education and general education qualification systems, QCTO qualifications are designed to meet the immediate needs of industry and the workplace.
For skills development purposes, this means your training and learnerships are increasingly being delivered against QCTO-accredited qualifications. The question employers and SDFs often ask is: does this change how I report these programmes, and will it affect my B-BBEE skills development scorecard performance?
The answer is nuanced. QCTO qualifications are still qualifications, and when delivered as part of a formal learnership programme registered with the relevant Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA), they count towards your skills development goals. However, the way you report them and the weightings that apply may differ.
What Changed in Your Skills Development Requirements
When the QCTO transition accelerated, several aspects of skills development reporting and scorecards were affected:
Qualifications Now Include QCTO-Accredited Offerings
Historically, employers reported mainly on National Qualifications Framework (NQF) qualifications delivered through registered education institutions. Now, QCTO qualifications are recognised as valid and often preferred outcomes for learnerships and occupational programmes. This is good news—it opens up more pathways for your workforce to develop relevant, job-ready skills.
The key change: ensure your WSP identifies which qualifications you are targeting, and make clear whether they are NQF qualifications, QCTO qualifications, or both.
Recognition of Practical Competence Gains
QCTO qualifications place strong emphasis on practical competence and on-the-job demonstration of skills. This means your training reports should now explicitly record not just classroom time, but evidence of competence in the workplace. Your ATR submissions need to reflect this practical element.
Changes to Learnership Registration and Reporting
SETA learnership registration requirements have evolved to accommodate QCTO qualifications. Some SETAs now offer dual-accredited programmes—those leading to both an NQF qualification and a QCTO qualification, or programmes exclusively QCTO-based. Your WSP and ATR must reflect the actual qualifications you are pursuing.
Updates to B-BBEE Skills Development Scorecard Weightings
Whilst the core elements of the B-BBEE skills development scorecard remain in place, the way certain outcomes are weighted or recognised may have shifted slightly. QCTO qualifications, when part of a registered learnership, are typically treated as favourably as NQF qualifications, but you must ensure your reporting framework reflects the current SETA and B-BBEE guidelines.
Key Areas to Check Before Your Next WSP/ATR Submission
Review Your Learnership Registrations
Before you submit your next WSP, audit which learnerships are currently active. Check with your relevant SETA (whether that is MERSETA, INSETA, MICT SETA, or another sector body) to confirm:
- Which programmes are registered as QCTO-aligned or QCTO-exclusive
- The specific QCTO qualification outcomes that apply
- Any changes to learnership entry requirements or duration
- Updated compliance conditions specific to QCTO qualifications
Verify Qualification Codes and Descriptions
In your WSP, you will declare the qualifications you plan to train towards. Ensure that:
- You are using the correct and current qualification codes (whether NQF or QCTO codes)
- The qualification descriptions match the current QCTO quality assurance register or SETA database
- You have identified which qualifications are QCTO and which are traditional NQF, so your reporting is transparent
Align Training Plans with QCTO Outcomes
QCTO qualifications are outcomes-based. This means your training content must directly support learners in achieving the stated occupational competence outcomes. When you plan your next financial year's training:
- Work with your SETA and training provider to map your workplace needs to QCTO-accredited outcomes
- Ensure your Internal Moderation, Assessment, and Verification processes align with QCTO standards
- Plan for both theoretical learning and practical workplace competence demonstrations
Confirm B-BBEE Compliance with Current Guidelines
The DHET and B-BBEE CoE have issued guidance on how QCTO qualifications should be counted in skills development scorecards. Specifically:
- Verify that your SETA has confirmed how QCTO learnership outcomes will be counted in your compliance scoring
- Check whether your current training plan will deliver the required percentage of learners to NQF Level 4 and above, as per your sector's targets
- Ensure that any employed learners in QCTO learnerships are correctly reported, as this affects your headcount and percentage calculations
Update Your Internal Training Records and Databases
Many employers and SDFs still use legacy systems that were designed around traditional NQF qualifications. Now is the time to audit your internal training records:
- Ensure your training database can distinguish between NQF and QCTO qualifications
- Verify that your Workplace Skills Plan template and ATR proforma capture QCTO-specific information
- Check that your assessment and verification records will support QCTO reporting requirements
Engage Your SETA Early
Do not wait until your WSP submission deadline to clarify QCTO changes. Reach out to your SETA's skills development advisor:
- Ask for a briefing on any QCTO qualifications relevant to your sector
- Request confirmation of how QCTO learnerships fit into the current compliance framework
- Discuss your specific learner cohorts and how they should be reported
- Seek clarity on any dual-accredited or transitional programmes your SETA is managing
Common Misconceptions About the QCTO Transition
Myth: QCTO Qualifications Do Not Count Towards My Skills Development Scorecard
Fact: QCTO qualifications, when delivered as part of a registered learnership, do count. They are recognised qualifications and contribute to your B-BBEE skills development performance. However, you must ensure the learnership is properly registered with your SETA.
Myth: I Have to Replace All My NQF Learnerships with QCTO Learnerships Immediately
Fact: The transition is gradual. Many SETAs still offer NQF-based learnerships, and both NQF and QCTO qualifications are valid. You should align your new training plans with QCTO qualifications where they exist in your sector, but existing programmes can continue as registered.
Myth: QCTO Reporting Is Much More Complex Than NQF Reporting
Fact: Reporting requirements are broadly similar. The key difference is ensuring you capture evidence of practical competence and on-the-job demonstration, which QCTO assessments emphasise. Your SETA and training provider can guide you on the additional documentation needed.
Steps to Prepare Your Next WSP/ATR Submission
Step One: Conduct an Internal Audit
Schedule a meeting with your HR, skills development, and training teams. Review:
- Current learner cohorts and their qualifications
- Active SETA learnership registrations
- Assessment and verification records
- B-BBEE scorecard performance in skills development
- Any feedback from recent SETA audits
Step Two: Map Your Sector's QCTO Landscape
Identify which QCTO qualifications exist in your sector and which are relevant to your business:
- Request the updated SETA Learnership Register
- Contact your training provider about QCTO-accredited programmes
- Ask your SETA which qualifications are being prioritised for your sector
Step Three: Draft Your Updated WSP
Using current SETA guidelines, draft your next WSP with:
- Clear identification of QCTO versus NQF qualifications
- Realistic learner targets aligned with QCTO outcomes
- Evidence of how your planned training will improve B-BBEE scorecard performance
- Contingency plans, should any qualifications be updated or withdrawn
Step Four: Prepare Supporting Documentation
Gather:
- Letters of SETA learnership registrations
- Training provider accreditation and QCTO quality assurance letters
- Assessment and verification protocols
- Internal moderation records
- Evidence of learner progress
Step Five: Review and Submit
Before final submission:
- Have your SETA's WSP/ATR template been updated?
- Are all learner data fields correctly completed?
- Have you declared QCTO qualifications accurately?
- Does your ATR clearly show the progress and outcomes of QCTO learners?
Conclusion: Stay Ahead of the QCTO Transition
The QCTO transition represents an opportunity to align your skills development investment with industry-relevant, practically-focused qualifications. However, it requires attention to reporting detail and timely engagement with your SETA.
By auditing your current learnerships, verifying your qualification codes, confirming QCTO compliance requirements, and updating your internal processes, you will ensure a smooth submission of your next WSP and ATR. More importantly, you will position your organisation to derive maximum benefit from QCTO-aligned training and strengthen your B-BBEE skills development scorecard performance.
The deadline for WSP and ATR submissions may seem distant, but the groundwork should start now. If you are uncertain about any aspect of the QCTO transition or how it affects your specific situation, do not hesitate to reach out.
FPT Academy specialises in helping South African employers and SDFs navigate SETA processes, QCTO qualifications, and B-BBEE skills development compliance. We can assist you in reviewing your current plans, identifying relevant QCTO qualifications, and preparing robust WSP and ATR submissions.
Contact us today to discuss your skills development strategy and ensure your next submission is QCTO-ready.
Learn@fptacademy.co.za or 031 493 9717
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