The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) is a Framework on which standards and qualifications, agreed to by education and training stakeholders throughout the country, are registered. It came into being through the South African Qualifications Authority Act (No. 58 of 1995, Government Gazette No. 1521, 4 October 1995), which provides for ‘the development and implementation of a National Qualifications Framework’. The structure of the NQF is outlined below:

NQFLevel Band Qualification Type

8

7

6

5

Higher

Education 

and 

Training
  • Post-doctoral research degrees
  • Doctorates
  • Masters degrees
  • Professional Qualifications
  • Honours degrees
  • National first degrees
  • Higher diplomas
  • National diplomas
  • National certificates

Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC)

4

3

2

Further 

Education 

and 

Training

 National certificates
General Education and Training Certificate (GETC)

1

General
Education 
and 
Training

 Grade 9 | ABET Level 4

National certificates