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: Radio Operator |
SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
118090 | Occupational Certificate: Radio Operator | |||
ORIGINATOR | ||||
Development Quality Partner - QCTO (MANU) | ||||
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 | 190 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 03 | Regular-ELOAC |
REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
Registered | EXCO 0522/24 | 2021-03-25 | 2025-12-31 | |
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
2026-12-31 | 2029-12-31 |
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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. |
PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
Purpose:
The purpose of Occupational Certificate: Radio Operator is to enable a learner to practise as a Radio Operator. A Radio Operator operates and rectifies faults on the various types of radio equipment for communication, navigation and surveillance purposes to be utilised by different users in different contexts. A qualified learner will be able to: Rationale: Radio communications plays a major role in the rail, marine, aircraft, safety, security and other disciplines. This qualification reflects the workplace-based needs of employers and employees in industries utilising radio equipment for effective communication with stakeholders and role-players in the maritime environment. The qualification will equip learners with requisite knowledge and skills to operate and troubleshoot faults on radio equipment. The qualification is intended to close the identified skills gaps and offer opportunities to individuals who intend to work or who are already working in the above-mentioned industries as Radio Operators. The qualification will also standardise training that is currently taking place in the industry and offered in-house, and the qualification will be used to formalise it to enable learners to achieve a nationally recognised occupational certificate. Qualified learners will gain an opportunity to progress vertically to a Radiotrician qualification at NQF Level 4 and horizontally to any electrical or electronic discipline at NQF Level 3. |
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 results 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: The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is: |
RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
Y |
QUALIFICATION RULES |
This qualification is made up of the compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skills and Work Experience Modules:
Knowledge Modules: Total number of credits for the Knowledge Modules specifications: 40 Practical Skills Modules: Total number of credits for the Practical Skills modules specifications: 70 Work Experience Modules Total number of credits for the Workplace Experience modules specifications: 80 |
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
1. Operate and maintain radio equipment.
2. Perform basic fault-finding on radar and radio equipment. |
ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: Integrated Assessment: Integrated Formative Assessment: The external assessment will be a trade test as prescribed under section 26D of the Skills Development Act as defined in the Trade Test Regulations. The trade test will be conducted through a combination of a written assessment of a maximum of 3 hours, and practical tasks evaluation to be conducted at a QCTO accredited trade test centre over a period of 2 working days and assessed by the National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB) registered assessor. Integrated Summative Assessment: An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO 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. The external integrated assessment will be conducted through a trade test as prescribed under section 26 D of the Skills Development Act and defined in the Trade Test Regulations. It will be conducted through an evaluation of written and practical tasks covering critical aspects in a simulated environment at an assessment centre accredited by QCTO and conducted by an assessor registered by the National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB). The assessment will take place over a minimum of 2 days. A candidate who attempted an external assessment will be given recognition for those assessment tasks in which he/she has been found competent. |
INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
A comparison was conducted in countries with best practice aviation training and development at international and regional levels. The comparison focused on countries with qualifications frameworks, professional development programmes, learning programmes, apprenticeships and short courses. Countries selected included the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia and the United States of America. The results of the search in all the countries selected indicate that there are no qualifications focused on Radio Operators at any level.
United Kingdom (UK) City & Guilds offers a qualification in Telecommunication Systems pegged at three different levels including level 3, which should be completed over 589 guided learning hours. The qualification compares favourably with the South African Radio Operator qualification in terms of the course content although title of the City & Guilds is on telecommunications systems including radio systems. The qualification allows learners to develop and practise the skills required for working with electrical, digital and radio telecommunication systems. The level 3 course in Telecommunication Systems is offered internationally covering the following components: New Zealand: Institution: Coastguard Maritime Northern Region School. Qualification: Maritime very high frequency (VHF) Radio Operator Certificate. This certificate is offered by the Coastguard Northern Region Maritime School. This is a short course and the Certificate is based on a unit standard pegged at NQF Level 3 with 3 credits aimed at providing learners working or intending to work in the marine environment with knowledge and skills to operate a marine radio to meet the minimum legal requirement for using a VHF radio. The certificate covers the basic knowledge and skills on how to use VHF radio communication; the standard features of marine VHF radios and emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs); New Zealand VHF Radio Service providers; routine marine VHF radio calling procedures and operating techniques; marine VHF radio distress calling procedures; and marine VHF radio urgency and safety calling procedures. The course content is structured as follows: Routine Operation: 2. Safety 3. Distress & Urgency Qualification: Radar Operator Certificate The Radar Operator Certificate forms a component of the New Zealand Certificate in Domestic Maritime Operations (Restricted Limits) (Level 4). It is a short course aimed at providing learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to be competent in the use of radar to aid navigation and avoid collision. The certificate compares favourably with some modules contained in the South African occupational qualification that provide learners with competencies to safely operate radar. The modules contained in this certificate are as follows: Conclusion: The qualifications compare favourably with the South African Radio Operator qualification in terms of the course content which covers radio operation, GMDSS communications emergency related competencies in respect of search and rescue (SAR), urgency and safety communications including distress, radiotelephony calling procedures using the relevant phraseology. |
ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: |
MODERATION OPTIONS |
N/A
Assessment Quality Partner (AQP) |
CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
N/A |
NOTES |
Qualifying for External Assessment:
In order to qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of statements of results and work experience records including the Foundational Learning Competence. Additional legal or physical entry requirements: None Criteria for the accreditation of providers: Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website. The curriculum title and code is: Radio Operator: 672206-000-00-01. Encompassed Trades: This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD: Assessment Quality Partner (AQP): Related Parent Qualification: LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION |
LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS 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. |
NONE |
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. |