All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY |
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: |
Occupational Certificate: Chemical Plant Operator |
SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
102156 | Occupational Certificate: Chemical Plant Operator | |||
ORIGINATOR | ||||
Development Quality Partner - CHIETA | ||||
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
- | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
Occupational Certificate | Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology | Manufacturing and Assembly | ||
ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
Undefined | 487 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 04 | Regular-ELOAC |
REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
Reregistered | EXCO 0425/24 | 2019-09-11 | 2025-12-30 | |
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
2026-12-30 | 2029-12-30 |
In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise. |
This qualification replaces: |
Qual ID | Qualification Title | Pre-2009 NQF Level | NQF Level | Min Credits | Replacement Status |
78529 | Further Education and Training Certificate: Chemical Operations | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 140 | Complete |
78528 | National Certificate: Chemical Operations | Level 3 | NQF Level 03 | 120 | Complete |
78527 | National Certificate: Chemical Operations | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 135 | Complete |
PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Chemical Plant Operator. A Chemical Plant Operator operates a chemical plant remotely, and controls and monitors the quality of the end-product. A qualified learner will be able to: Rationale: This qualification is for people working in the chemical operations industry who want to progress in the chemical operations industry. The qualification reflects the workplace-based common or non-specific needs that a learner requires in the chemical operations industry, before progressing to learning at a higher level. Typical learners are operating personnel working in chemical processing plants such as fertilisers, pesticides, petroleum and detergents. The chemical processing industry is well established in South Africa, and its success is dependent upon the efficient production of chemical products. Achievement of this objective is largely dependent upon the competence of the people who operate chemical processing equipment. An adequate number of people with these skills are needed to ensure that the chemical production units in South Africa operate productively. The second group of learners will be school leavers, who want to pursue a career in chemical operations and who will be new entrants into the sector. Competence in chemical process operations requires appropriate general, chemical-specific technical and other knowledge and its application; as well as expertise in operating production equipment and controlling a chemical process. This knowledge and expertise can form a basis for further learning particularly in the production/operational, engineering and supervisory aspects of chemical operations and similar industries in the chemical and other sectors. |
LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: |
RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
Y |
QUALIFICATION RULES |
This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge and Practical Skill Modules:
Knowledge Modules: Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 105. Practical Skill Modules: Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 142. This qualification also requires the following Work Experience Modules: Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 240. |
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
1. Start-up and shut-down equipment within design parameters.
2. Start-up and shut-down an operating system according to sequence, priority, up-stream and down-stream requirements, conditions and influences. 3. Start-up, shut down, control and monitor the process within design parameters defined by conditions, systems and raw material availability and product specifications to achieve safe, reliable and stable operations utilising team collaboration. 4. Optimise the product quality by using sampling and analysis of the sampling results to continuously adjust operating variables. 5. Communicate effectively to assess risks and respond to emergencies, and abnormal conditions enhance safe operating conditions and report effectively. 6. Apply environmental considerations and safe disposal of waste or non-conforming product. 7. Conduct trouble shooting and participate in root cause analysis to develop recommendations to alleviate unsafe working conditions/acts as a member of a team. |
ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7: Integrated Assessment: Integrated Formative Assessment: The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated external summative assessment. Integrated Summative Assessment: An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant Quality Council for Trades and Occupations Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. |
INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
The comparison was done against the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) from Britain, the Australian and New Zealand Qualifications Frameworks.
United Kingdom: A comparison with the British qualification was included because the British chemical industry is very well developed and the NVQ is an educational structure comparable to the. An internet search revealed that the City and Guilds Level 4 NVQ in Chemical, Pharmaceutical, and Petro-Chemical Operations focuses on providing Technical Support training. The qualification contains compulsory core units consisting of safety, teamwork, work handover; three compulsory units related to technical support; and a choice of five elective units from a range with a high quality component, emergencies, energy optimisation and problem solving. Australia: The Australian processing industry is a similar size and sophistication as the South African industry. For this reason, a comparison with the Australian qualification was included, as well as the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) being an educational structure comparable to the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). An internet search of the AQF revealed that the Australian Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology contains compulsory core units on communication, safety, quality and work procedures which are also included in the previous levels. (These five units do not have to be repeated if completed previously). The qualification consists of 26 units, but if the core units have been completed previously, the learner only has to complete 21 units in total. At least five units have to be chosen from a range of technical and operational units with the emphasis on control and supervision. The rest of the qualification is made up of units from other training packages, or the learner is allowed to choose elective unit standards in domains that are comparable to what is required for the local qualification, e.g. lead teams, implement operational plans, and process supervision. New Zealand: Research in the NZQA showed that a Certificate in Energy and Chemical Plant (Process Operation) (Level 4) is registered. This qualification allows for optional strands in Refrigeration, Steam Generation, Ancillary Operations, Geothermal, Waste Management and Co-Generation. The basic Process Operation qualification contains 9 compulsory core unit standards consisting of 1 workplace communication unit standard and 8 processing operations and safety unit standards, totalling 58 Credits. If the learner wants to gain competence in one of the strands mentioned above, a further range of elective unit standards specific to that area of specialisation has to be chosen. The content of this qualification is similar to that contained in the Level 3 Modules of the South African qualification, namely: communication, safety, quality control and equipment operation, monitoring, and maintenance. The main difference between this qualification and the South African Level 4 qualification is that the learner is not trained to take up the control of a process in a chemical plant. Both local and international qualifications place a high emphasis on safety with a range of unit standards relating to hazards, emergencies and environmental protection included. Conclusion: Based on the findings outlined above, it is concluded that the South African occupational qualification compares favourably in terms of content and complexity of the above qualifications. |
ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
Horizontal Articulation:
Vertical Articulation: |
MODERATION OPTIONS |
N/A |
CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
N/A |
NOTES |
Qualifying for external assessment:
Additional legal or physical entry requirements: Criteria for the accreditation of providers: This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD: Part Qualifications: |
LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification. |
NONE |
PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: |
This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here. |
1. | SAPITI (SOUTH AFRICAN PAINT INDUSTRY TRAINING INSTITUTE) |
2. | SCIENTEC EDUCATION AND TRAINING (PTY) LTD |
All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |