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: Learning and Development Advisor 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
118774  Occupational Certificate: Learning and Development Advisor 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - ETDP SETA 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate  Field 05 - Education, Training and Development  Adult Learning 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  195  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  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 Learning and Development Advisor. A Learning and Development Advisor researches, plans, designs, develops, implements, monitors, evaluates, verifies and manages the quality of learning and development interventions, to ensure management and staff acquire the required competencies to meet organisational strategic objectives.

A qualified learner will be able to:
  • Consult and guide management on the alignment of learning and development with national and organisational strategic objectives.
  • Examine and review statutory compliance, organisational policies and procedures applicable to skills development
  • Evaluate and review organisational skills development practices within the organisation.
  • Monitor and report learning and development quality continuously.
  • Evaluate the design and development of learning materials and supplementary aids for learning and development interventions.
  • Validate and report on the learning and development processes and interventions.

    Rationale:
    Learning and Development (L & D) plays a vital role in assisting organisations to provide a dynamic, effective and capable workforce to achieve organisational strategic goals and objectives. Learning and development processes are critical processes for enhancing productivity and organisational performance. The role of the Learning and Development Advisor is to ensure that investments in learning and development address business capability and individual needs are appropriate, efficient and cost-effective and aligned to support business plans.

    The qualification is aimed at learning and development professionals working at a strategic level, who are expected to evaluate the learning and development outcomes in an organisation to ensure that the learning and development interventions are aligned with business needs as well as evaluate and validate the effectiveness and efficiency of investments in learning and development.

    The qualification will develop the learner's understanding and critical analysis of organisations' learning and development related activities in terms of their effectiveness. Learners will be able to develop and implement creative L & D strategic solutions that drive organisational performance as well as monitor and perform the ongoing evaluation of training quality and advise management on ongoing improvement.

    Qualifying learners will work as independent or employed Learning and Development Advisors, supporting organisations in meeting their learning and development goals. Qualified learners will find employment in private companies and government entities. 
    		•

    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:
  • National Certificate: Occupationally Directed Education, Training and Development Practices, NQF Level 6 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

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

    Knowledge Modules
  • 242401-002-00-KM-01, Learning and Development in a Knowledge Economy, Level 7, 5 Credits.
  • 242401-002-00-KM-02, Impact of Organisational Development and Change on Learning and Development, Level 7, 6 Credits.
  • 242401-002-00-KM-03, Leading and Managing Skills Development Function, Level 8, 10 Credits.
  • 242401-002-00-KM-04, Managing Learning and Development Suppliers, Level 7, 10 Credits.
  • 242401-002-00-KM-05, Career and Succession Planning, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Talent Management, Level 6, 8 Credits.

    Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 39

    Practical Skill Modules
  • 242401-002-00-PM-01, Promote Best Practices in Learning and Development Interventions, Level 8, 24 Credits.
  • 242401-002-00-PM-02, Evaluate and Report on the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Learning and Development Interventions in an Organisation, Level 7, 25 Credits.
  • 242401-002-00-PM-03, Perform Quality Assurance on Learning Provision, Assessment and Moderation Practices, Level 7, 15 Credits.
  • 242401-002-00-PM-04, Consult, Validate, And Recommend the Appointment of Skills Development Providers For Learning And Development Provisioning And Of Accreditation, Level 7, 10 Credits.
  • 242401-002-00-PM-05, Promote Career and Succession Planning, Talent Development and Management in an Organisation, Level 6, 10 Credits.

    Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 84

    Work Experience Modules
  • 242401-002-00-WM-01, Learning and Development Improvement Processes, Level 8, 15 Credits.
  • 242401-002-00-WM-02, Learning and Development Effectiveness and Efficiency Monitoring Processes, Level 7, 16 Credits.
  • 242401-002-00-WM-03, Validation of Learning and Development Practices and Processes, Level 7, 8 Credits.
  • 242401-002-00-WM-04, Skills Development Providers' Accreditation and Appointment Processes, Level 7, 25 Credits.
  • 242401-002-00-WM-05, RPL Processes and Practices, Level 7, 8 Credits.

    Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 72 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Analyse, interpret, and apply the skills development legislation, strategy and policies to ensure organisational learning and development compliance.
    2. Evaluate the effectiveness of leadership and management of learning and development practices.
    3. Investigate and validate learning and development processes, provider and stakeholder engagement.
    4. Contribute to the organisation's branding, imaging and promotional materials for L & D marketing. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Analyse and interpret various legislative, policy and regulatory frameworks governing skills development are in terms of their application for compliance purposes.
  • Critique the National Skills Development Strategy concerning the national purpose, strategic goals and objectives and national priorities in an L & D environment.
  • Scrutinise organisational skills development plan to verify alignment to the national skills development strategy goals and objectives and priorities.
  • Analyse the organisational quality management system for best practice and regulatory compliance and make recommendations to guide and improve effective implementation.
  • Develop a learning and development strategy incorporating the organisation's learning and development missions, values, goals, and objectives, learning and development culture and learning solutions.
  • Communicate the organisational L & D strategy clearly and make it accessible to key stakeholders for implementation following organisational policy requirements
  • Explain the principles of business ethics and good governance and apply appropriate techniques/methods consistently to promote and measure conformance in line with governance, ethical and best practice quality parameters.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Justify the reasons and benefits of an organisation investing in learning and development in terms of national, organisational, and individual growth.
  • Analyse strategies to improve diversity and inclusion in learning and development and make recommendations for improvement for transformation.
  • Leadership and management practice guides to support and measure the efficiency and effectiveness of learning and future development practices
  • Promote and manage the benefits of learning and development, career development and succession planning, talent management, assessment opportunity including RPL for organisational success.
  • Analyse a typical talent management strategy of an organisation.
  • Provide synopsis evidence of how the strategy guides recruiting and hiring, retention, performance management, career development, and learning and development
  • Manage and address the learning and development projects in planning, budgeting, funding sources, risks and change management, effective delegation and improved productivity evidenced by ROI at organisational and employee levels.
  • Apply and evaluate various learning solutions in an organisation and justify the selection of the preferred methodology.
  • Conduct the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the organisational L & D plan and analyse the results to determine the achievement of learning and development goals and objectives.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Investigate and validate the appointment of skills development providers for legislation, policy and regulatory compliance.
  • Identify, analyse, classify potential risks and consequences of non-compliance and recommend remediation for improvement to mitigate penalties and losses.
  • Investigate and validate current and future learning and development methodology and digital applications for regulatory compliance.
  • Validate digital and blended learning systems for regulatory compliance.
  • Identify and justify roles and responsibilities of internal and external stakeholder involvement in learning and development to improve learning and development best practice.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Highlight and define the needs and preferences of the learning and development community to inform marketing content.
  • Learning and development marketing initiatives comply with legislative requirements.
  • Formulate and communicate learning and development marketing content to the relevant personnel.
  • Monitor and analyse marketing feedback to determine the relevance of the marketing products, branding and imaging and revised content is compiled for improvement.
  • Appraise learning and development marketing and promotional materials and media format and evaluate and revise the content to ensure relevance, credibility and promote user-friendliness.
  • Analyse corporate identity guidelines to determine the inclusion of learning and development brand positioning.

    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 
    The international comparison was done with the CIPD Learning and Development qualifications offered by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) which is one of the UK's largest providers of HR and L & D training and other specialist qualifications accredited by other awarding bodies and professional bodies for businesses and individuals. The CIPD is the only HR and L & D professional body that can award Chartered status to individual HR and L&D professionals and has more than 145,000 members around the world and has signed an agreement with the Australian HR Institute enabling mutual recognition for individuals holding corresponding professional grades in both institutions. The qualifications are Regulated Qualification Frameworks regulated by the Ofqual, Qualifications Wales and the Council for Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (CCEA). The CIPD qualifications are the most widely recognised professional qualifications in the field of Learning and Development and are also offered in Asia, Middle East and Ireland.

    United Kingdom
    The comparison was done to consider relevant qualification components including programme content and structure, duration, learning outcomes, modes of learning and assessment. The qualifications are pitched at Level 5 (Intermediate Diploma Level 5) with 42 credits which include 210 guided learning hours, self-study, preparation and assessment and can take 18 to 2 years to complete depending on the study centre and mode of delivery. The CIPD Advanced qualification in Learning and Development at Level 7 with a duration of 24 months to complete.

    There is no qualification set at Level 6 that is offered at the same level as the South African qualification according to the UK Framework level standard. However, the content and structure of the CIPD qualifications at Level 5 and 7 compare favourably with the South African qualification with greater emphasis placed on core knowledge, skills and behaviours by L & D professionals focusing more intensively on analysis and application of learning and development knowledge in the industry-based environment.

    The content covered in the CIPD Level and Level 7 compares favourably with the South African qualification, i.e., some modules are covered in Level 5 and some in level 7 as there is no CIPD L & D qualification set at level 6 to be compared with the level 7 South African qualification in terms of Framework level standard.

    Conclusion
    The CIPD qualifications in learning and development at Levels 5 and 7 compare favourably with the South African qualification also incorporate the latest trends. 

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

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Advanced Diploma in Human Resources Management, NQF Level 7.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Adult and Community Education and Training, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    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 including Foundational Learning Competences.

    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: Learning and Development Advisor: 242401-002-00-00.

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

    Assessment Quality Partner (AQP)
  • Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority.

    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.