Accreditation is the certification, usually for a certain period of time of a body or an institution, as having the capacity to fulfil a particular function within the quality assurance system set up by SAQA in terms of the SAQA Act, 1995.
SAQA accredits all Education and Training Quality Assurance bodies (ETQA’s) who in turn accredit Education and Training Providers.
Advantages of becoming an accredited provider:
- To provide quality training and development to learners
- To receive support from the relevant authority
- To be able to deliver education and training that leads to nationally registered Unit Standards and Qualifications. Accreditation therefore provides Education and Training Providers with a valuable tool with which they can market their services to potential clients.
Learners, departments and private companies who use the services of an accredited training provider are assured that the accredited training offered complies with the required standards for learning and assessment.
All learners are assured of a quality learning experience and that the credits they acquire will be nationally and internationally recognised.
Providers who qualify for accreditation with PSETA include those Providers who are not yet accredited by another ETQA and who intend to offers programmes based on the qualifications and/or unit standards that falls within the primary focus of PSETA.
If a provider is accredited by another ETQA but wish to extend scope to unit standards and qualifications falling under the primary scope of PSETA, the primary accreditation ETQA must be notified and the process of programme approval will be facilitated with PSETA by such ETQA.
Refer to PSETA ETQA policies and procedure documents for further clarity.