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: Small Business Consultant |
SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
118741 | Occupational Certificate: Small Business Consultant | |||
ORIGINATOR | ||||
Development Quality Partner-Services SETA | ||||
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 | 244 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 05 | 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 operate as a Small Business Consultant. A Small Business Consultant consults and guides in business development. A qualified learner will be able to: Rationale: Small Business Consulting is an essential service in the socio-economic and technological development of the country and requires unique skills to create an enabling environment for growth and sustainable businesses. Various professional bodies such as the Institute of Business Advisors South Africa (IBASA) and Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) have been consulted in respect to this qualification and have emphasised the need for this assistance in the industry where it will be providing an efficient and effective support service to businesses and, therefore, have an important role in job creation and drivers of growth thereby adding to the economic development and ensuring businesses receive the necessary support early on. This qualification recognises the competence, knowledge and skills required to advise in the management and development of business ventures. The development of competence in this field can lead to better service delivery, sustainability and the promotion of job creation and security. The qualification supports the objectives of the NQF in that it gives the learner access to a nationally recognised qualification that acknowledges the skills and knowledge that he/she has acquired. It will, therefore, ensure that the quality of education and training received by learners in the sector is enhanced and of a world-class standard. The target market for this qualification includes school leavers and will allow those in formal education, those already employed in organisations in the small business consulting industry, and those in public and private small business consulting practice, access to a qualification that can be used as a benchmark to gauge their competence against local and international standards. Learners will find employment within the private sector, public sector, non-governmental organisations, non-profit organisations, small, medium and micro enterprises, sole proprietors, and may have an opportunity for self-employment. These roles may vary from business analyst, business consultant, business advisor, business advisory specialist, business advising consultant, small business consultants, small business advisors, engagement consultants, or maybe more specialist roles such as strategy consultants, human resources consultants, operations consultants, financial advisory consultants or risk and compliance consultants. The business will obtain an objective consulting service where these consultants can recognise and identify problem areas, discover inefficiencies and redundancies, and provide legitimate solutions that can assist the business to get back on track. By these businesses providing a new or better service well, they help themselves and the community in which they operate to create jobs and make the community sustainable and resilient. This, in turn, stimulates economic growth, create jobs and addresses high levels of unemployment. |
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 by 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 compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:
Knowledge Modules Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 93 Practical Skill Modules Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 55 Work Experience Modules Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 96 |
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
1. Appraise personal capabilities for performing business consulting.
2. Examine due diligence and compliance with relevant legislation. 3. Evaluate business performance, business owner and activities. 4. Provide strategic and operational consulting service. 5. Establish and implement change management structures. 6. Entrench project implementation approach. 7. Identify and clarify key improvement elements in the value chain. |
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 Providers 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 to issue this qualification. The External Integrated Summative Assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. |
INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
This qualification was compared with international qualifications from New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The two countries contain indications of best practice that could be used for comparison in the development of the Small Business Consultant qualification.
New Zealand The Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) is a New Zealand Government tertiary institution that has been accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NQZA). All the qualifications taught at the EIT are registered with the NZQA. The Institute offers a New Zealand Diploma in Business at NQF Level 5 and with 120 credits. This qualification provides a firm understanding of the business environment along with the most valuable attributes that are required in the modern business era. It differs from the South African qualification in that it focuses on two major streams; namely; accounting and leadership and management. The Small Business Consultant needs to be multi-skilled and knowledgeable in a wide variety of aspects of business which is covered in this qualification. The unit standards cover aspects such as: United Kingdom (UK) The Institute of Consulting (IC) in the United Kingdom offers the Diploma in Business Support at NQF Level 5 with 45 credits. The IC's consultancy qualifications are accredited on the UK Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF) and the European Qualifications Framework, meaning one's qualification will be fully recognised throughout the UK and Europe. This qualification gives the learner the skills to understand the importance of communication skills in business support relationships, understand the business support process and how to conduct and develop oneself as a business support advisor. The core units within this qualification are focused on developing effective business support relationships with clients, enabling the client to analyse the business and implement change, developing business support networks, reflective practice and development in business support and monitoring the business support service. It differs from the South African qualification in that, it only has few core focus areas where the small business consultant qualification has a multi-faceted curriculum that covers a wider range of business aspects. The unit standards cover aspects such as: Conclusion This qualification is more comprehensive than the New Zealand Diploma in Business as well as the United Kingdom (Institute of Consulting) Diploma in Business Support as it covers more competencies that are required by the qualified Small Business Consultant. While all these qualifications are pitched at an NQF Level 5, this qualification comprises 242 credits while the New Zealand qualification has 120 credits, with the UK qualification at 45 credits. The complexity of this qualification is far more than comparative qualifications as it deals with much more facets of business thereby providing theory, practical and workplace experience in providing the context and the interrelated relationship of each. |
ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
This qualification provides opportunities for horizontal and vertical articulation options.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: |
NOTES |
Qualifying for External Assessment:
To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required knowledge and practical modules by means of statements of results and a record of completed work experience. Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements: 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: Small Business Consultant: 242101-000-00-00 Encompassed Trade: This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD: Assessment Quality Partner (AQP) 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. |