SAQA 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: Checkout Operator 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
118728  Occupational Certificate: Checkout Operator 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - W&RSETA 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate  Field 11 - Services  Wholesale and Retail 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  35  Not Applicable  NQF Level 02  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered  EXCO 0522/24  2022-02-03  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 this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Checkout Operator.

A Checkout Operator promotes customer loyalty while recording purchases and receiving payment and minimizing losses to the establishment.

A qualified learner will be able to:
  • Communicate with customers at the point of sale.
  • Record sales and process payments at a point of sale.
  • Cash up and control change in a retail outlet.

    Rationale:
    This qualification targets people that have first contact with customers daily in a wholesale and retail environment. In the wholesale and retail industry, customer service is of paramount importance. Very often the only person who meets the customer is the checkout operator.

    Checkout operators, or cashiers, operate tills at sales points in most large stores, recording and receiving payment for goods being purchased. They pass items over an electronic bar code reader or key in prices manually. Skilled checkout operators in the wholesale and retail industry play a crucial role in contributing to the profitability of the business through the way that they process transactions and interact with customers.

    Through this qualification a learner will get an opportunity to acquire competencies and ability to handle all transaction (receive and process payment by cash, cheques, credit cards, etc.), check daily cash counts and minimising losses, therefore this qualification provides the learner with the knowledge, understanding, skills and experience to become a checkout operator.

    The Wholesale & Retail sector has created a developmental pathway for different occupations within the sector. This qualification will aid both individual development of the learner along a path of life-long learning and social transformation through the formal acknowledgement of competencies, skills and knowledge through the attainment of a registered qualification thereby enhancing the employment prospects of learners. 
    		•

    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:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • NQF Level 1 qualification with Mathematical Literacy. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:

    Knowledge Modules
  • 523101000-KM-01 Principles of customer service, NQF Level 2, Credits 3.
  • 523101000-KM-02 Principles of recording transactions and processing of payments, NQF Level 2, Credits 3. > 523101000-KM-03 Concepts and generally accepted methods for cashing up, NQF Level 2, Credits 2.

    Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 8

    Practical Skill Modules
  • 523101000-PM-01 Communicate with customers, NQF Level 2, Credits 2
  • 523101000-PM-02 Operate Point of Sale, NQF Level 2, Credits 3.
  • 523101000-PM-03 Cash up Point of Sale and control change, NQF Level 2, Credits 2.

    Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 7

    Work Experience Modules
  • 523101000-WM-01 Processes and procedures of interacting with customers, NQF Level 2, Credits 6.
  • 523101000-WM-02 Processes and procedures of recording transactions and processing payment, NQF Level 2, Credits 8.
  • 523101000-WM-03 Processes and procedures of balancing takings and controlling change, NQF Level 2, Credits 6.

    Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 20 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Communicate effectively with customers to execute checkout operator duties and responsibilities.
    2. Record transactions and process payment accurately to minimise losses.
    3. Control change to provide the required level of customer service and to minimise losses.
    4. Cash up and balance till takings accurately so that losses and time wasting is minimised. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Correctly answer typical queries using appropriate terminology and according to the given scenarios.
  • Explain the importance of non-verbal communication in terms of how it impacts on the customer.
  • Explain the impact of personal appearance in terms of what it communicates to the customer.
  • Explain ways of making customers feel welcome in the store with examples.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Prepare the workstation with all stationery and equipment at start of day as required in a retail outlet.
  • Demonstrate the ability to secure a till when going on breaks so that the chance of shrinkage taking place is minimised.
  • Correctly record transactions on the till accurately.
  • Correctly accept all forms of payment and the correct change given where applicable.
  • Record the transactions and process the payment in a manner that minimises the chance of losses occurring.
  • Correctly handle problems encountered while recording transactions and processing payment according to generally accepted practices.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Order the appropriate quantity of change for expected sales over different times of the week/month using the appropriate stationary.
  • Explain the ability to identify in-store situations that lead to change going missing along with what should have been done to eliminate the losses.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Count and separate accurately the float.
  • Group, accurately count and correctly record the different form of payment to be handed in, on the appropriate stationary.
  • Explain the concept of pickups along with an understanding of how this takes place in a wholesale/retail environment.

    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 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. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification has been compared with similar qualifications in United Kingdom Qualifications Framework and Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications and these two countries are leaders in wholesale and retail operations to assess the suitability and the level of leaning in the qualification.

    The qualifications chosen are full qualifications thus they cover all aspects of store operations at the level whereas in the South African context is unique in its approach in that we cover only tasks for a particular occupation which deviate from the international norm but add value in terms of skills requirements in the South Africa context.

    United Kingdom
    Qualification WRR 20102 - Certificate in Retail Operations Level 2 (UK Framework).
    Careful consideration of the envisaged areas of competency included in the Checkout Operator qualification shows favourable alignment to Certificate in Retail Operations WRR20102, namely:
  • Communication in the workplace.
  • Point of sales handling procedures.
  • Terminal or register balancing (Point of Sale).
  • Customer interaction.

    Singapore
    Certificate in Retail Operations - SWSQ
    The Singapore Workforce Development Agency is a statutory board under the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and leads and drives workforce development in Singapore through a strong focus on industry driven competency requirements which is similar to what drives our South African qualifications as well through Quality Council for Trades and Occupations

    The Certificate in Retail Operations - SWSQ contains the following competencies that are also covered in Checkout Operator qualification, namely:
  • Interact with customers.
  • Perform point of sale operations.
  • Apply safety and security practices.

    Other comparisons:
    Difficulties were experienced for comparison with qualifications or training in SADC and other African countries, as material is not available. Although the USA is also considered as an area of best practice, relevant qualifications could not be sourced.

    Conclusion
    The Occupational Certificate: Checkout Operator, aligns well with international trends in terms of the competencies expected from a till operator/cashier/point of sale operator/checkout operator. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification provides opportunities for horizontal and vertical articulation options.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Occupational Certificate: Store Person; NQF Level 2.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Occupational Certificate: Sales Assistant (General) (Retail Sales Advisor); NQF Level 3. 
    		•

    NOTES 
    Qualifying for External Assessment:
    Learners must have a copy of a completed and signed Statement of Work Experience as well as proof of successful completion of the following subjects and modules or alternative programmes where applicable.

    Foundational learning competence is not a pre-requisite for the awarding this qualification.

    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 are: Checkout Operator: 523101000.

    Encompassed Trade:
    This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD:
  • None

    Assessment Quality Partner (AQP)
  • W&RSETA

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION
  • None 
    		•

    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.