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: 

Higher Certificate in Retail Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
119887  Higher Certificate in Retail Management 
ORIGINATOR
Central University of Technology, Free State 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Higher Certificate  Field 11 - Services  Wholesale and Retail 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 05  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0333/25  2025-07-10  2028-07-10 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2029-07-10   2032-07-10  

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 Higher Certificate in Retail Management will provide learners with the basic introductory knowledge, cognitive and conceptual tools, and practical techniques for higher education studies in the broad field of retail management. It emphasises selected general principles together with more specific procedures and their application. This qualification signifies that the learner has attained a basic level of higher education knowledge and competence in retail management and can apply acquired retail knowledge and competence in a retail environment or the workplace.

This qualification provides learners with a broad background and understanding of the retail environment. Learners will learn about merchandising, customer service, and business communication in the retail industry. Alongside, they will learn about retail business and management principles, employment relations, and supply chain management in retail, to present them with a well-rounded skill set to function effectively in the retail industry.

Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of retail management and environment concepts, basic theories, and practices.
  • Apply various methods and procedures in developing supply chain systems projects, program logic, and design and be able to determine the effective adherence to their implementation
  • Demonstrate sound ethical behaviour and professional competence in addressing complex stakeholders.
  • Apply a range of methods of enquiry in business communication to design simple but workable communication systems.
  • Develop appropriate and reliable customer service information and data gathering processes tools, methods, and procedures.
  • Demonstrate ability to solve basic financial and accounting problems in retail.

    Rationale:
    While the general skills shortage is well documented (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) OECD, 2014; Statistics South Africa, 2014), there has been a specific increasing demand for specialised and accredited training in various sectors of the South African economy. The challenge facing the South African Wholesale and Retail sector as revealed by the Sector Skills Plan (SSP) is the low levels of education and training. As such, during the period 2013 - 2014, about 50.4% of employees in the sector had below a matric educational qualification, and only about 10.7% had higher education qualifications.

    The SSP further provides the levers required to make wholesalers and retailers competitive such as category management, supply chain management, store operations, warehousing, merchandising, pricing, communications, promotions, purchasing, planning, and marketing require progressively higher-level education and training qualifications of the workforce. This qualification will close this gap in terms of capacity building for the Sector.
    The National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS3, 2013) seeks to encourage and actively support the integration of workplace training with theoretical learning.

    The qualification was developed through extensive benchmarking and numerous engagements with relevant stakeholders such as Wholesale and Retail SETA, Chamber of Business, and other academic institutions offering the retail qualification, helping identify the uniqueness of the industry need and its target market.

    Information from pivotal occupations funding applications, analyses of the insights gained during regional meetings, as well as from employers' WSPs identified the following as the Top 10 National pivotal occupations: Sales Assistant, General Clerk, Store Person, Checkout Operator, Retail Manager (General), Service Station Attendant, Retail Supervisor, Shelf Filler, Office Cashier, and Sales Representative. The scarce skills identified are Retail Manager (General), Sales Assistant (General), Butcher, Retail Supervisor, Confectionary Baker, Service Station Attendant, Forklift Driver, Retail Buyer, Automotive Parts Salesperson, and Office Cashier.

    The qualification will be offered on a flexible, blended block release mode, to equip and upskill learners who wish to pursue retail as a career of choice. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable with equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

    RPL for access:
  • Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
  • To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

    RPL for exemption of modules
  • Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

    RPL for credit:
  • Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
  • Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • National Senior Certificate (NSC), NQF Level 4.
    Or
  • National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4.
    Or
  • Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, without endorsement. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 144 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 144 Credits:
  • Fundamental of Retail Management, 12 Credits.
  • Management of Retail Finance, 12 Credits.
  • Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management, 12 Credits.
  • Business Communication, 12 Credits.
  • Managing in a Retail Environment, 12 Credits.
  • Customer Service, 12 Credits.
  • Fundamentals of Retail Management, 12 Credits.
  • Management of Retail Finance, 12 Credits.
  • Fundamental of Supply Chain Management, 12 Credits.
  • Basic of IR & Labour Law, 12 Credits.
  • Work-integrated Learning, 24 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate a good understanding of retail management and environment concepts, basic theories and practices.
    2. Apply various methods and procedures in developing supply chain systems projects, program logic, and design and be able to determine the effective adherence to their implementation.
    3. Demonstrate sound ethical behaviour and professional competence in addressing complex stakeholders.
    4. Apply a range of methods of enquiry in business communication to design simple but workable communication systems.
    5. Develop appropriate and reliable customer service information and data gathering processes tools, methods, and procedures.
    6. Demonstrate ability to solve basic financial and accounting problems in retail. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Discuss the primary objective of retail management and elaborate on the similarities and differences between retail to other sciences.
  • Differentiate between personal selling and direct selling in the retail sector.
  • Describe the retail environment in detail.
  • Explain various elements of the retail environment.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Define supply chain management.
  • Outline the characteristics of supply chain management.
  • Describe the supply chain processes and procedures.
  • Manage processes within the retail sector.
  • Determine accomplishment of supply chain goals and objectives by using special criteria.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Explain the role of each tripartite party in employee relations.
  • Draw simple systematic steps to be followed in the dispute resolution process.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Develop terms of reference for a business communication system.
  • Explain various communication channels and their intended goals.
  • Utilise appropriate technology for various communication modes.
  • Compare and contrast the efficacy of various business communication strategies.
  • Develop a simple and friendlier complaints procedure as well as a customer feedback system.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Describe the usefulness or importance of customer service information for purpose of decision making.
  • Identify various customer service sources of data types in the retail environment.
  • Explain the advantages and disadvantages of customer service data collection.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Use the statement in calculating the profit margin.
  • Explain the purpose of profitability, liquidity, and solvency ratios.
  • Use the figures provided to compile cash-flow statements.
  • Compile a simple income and expenditure statement for this retail business.

    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
    Integrated assessment forms part of continuous assessment at the institution and takes the form of both formative and summative assessment methods. A variety of assessments both formative and summative is included in the learning guides given to learners and how they are to be executed.

    Every assessment opportunity carries a predetermined weight that takes the integration of the outcomes into account. The integrated assessment summative takes the form of a project in which the learner must select an existing retail business and evaluate how effectively each business function contributes to the success of a retail business.

    All work to be covered and assessments to be conducted are required to depart and integrate a real-life practical (retail situation) situation as well as the relevance of required decisions in an industrial setting. This practice enables the retail programme and its lecturers to achieve the required integration of assessment which means to:
  • Treat several outcomes together.
  • Treat several assessment criteria together.
  • Promote an awareness of the connections and relationships between the knowledge, processes, and skills inside the different modules.
  • Observation of real or simulated tasks, such as practical exercises, demonstrations, role plays, and presentations.
  • Evaluation of a product after a task has been completed, such as. projects, assignments, case studies, portfolios, artefacts, logbooks, and reflective journals.
  • Use a combination of assessment methods and instruments used to achieve the outcome(s).

    Formative assessments comprise written class tests, presentations, projects, and assignments. Assessment takes place in accordance with the institution's policy. The qualification implements three summative assessments during a course of the module, and one final summative assessment at the end of the module as a means of learning evaluation. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Country: United Kingdom (UK)
    Institution: Crafton Hills College
    Qualification Title: Retail Management Certificate
    The objective of this certificate is to give learners a foundation for a career in the retail management field. Some of the activities involved in retailing are selection and buying of merchandise, marketing, and product displays, selling, inventory control, customer relations and pricing. The learner usually enters the retailing field as a clerk or cashier and advances in the following manner: Assistant Manager, Manager, and Upper Management.

    The UK qualification has similar modules to the South African qualification such as:
  • Introduction to Financial Accounting.
  • Business Communication.
  • Business Management.
  • Retail Management.

    A learner receiving a certificate in this field will be able to:
  • Present and discuss contemporary business principles, practices, and organizations.
  • Discuss economic, political, and ethical issues and their impact on business policies and practices
  • Explain and apply basic accounting principles.
  • Effectively explain and apply marketing principles pertaining to a promotion, advertising, public relations, and personal
    Selling.
  • Describe and apply the economic concepts of supply and demand, competition, and product differentiation and their
    role in the free market.
  • Explain and apply the basic concepts of management and leadership.
  • Effectively explain the various concepts of human resource management including employee training, motivations,
    compensations, and labour relations.

    Country: United States of America (USA)
    Institution: Los Angeles City College
    Qualification Title: Retail Management Certificate.
    The Retail Management Certificate is an accredited business qualification that will give learners the skills they need to get started or advance their careers in the retail industry. The USA qualification may be completed within two years while working full or part-time. The South African qualification is offered in one year.

    The USA modules include:
  • Human Relations/Organizational Behaviour.
    Learn human relationship techniques and leadership skills for building strong employer-employee relations.
  • Computer Applications (Technology)
    Learn the latest software applications for business including word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation graphics.
  • Business Communication Skills for Managers. (Similar module to the South African qualification - Business Communication)
    Develop strategies for effective internal and external business communications, including verbal and nonverbal techniques, writing, and public speaking.
  • Principles of Management.
    Learn key management concepts and principles to improve business efficiency and productivity.
  • Principles of Marketing.
    Learn basic marketing strategies and techniques with regard to the product, pricing, distribution, and communication.
  • Human Resources Management.
    Be prepared to handle real employee issues. Learn the skills for human resource planning, staffing, training, compensation, and managing labour relationships.

    Country: Ireland
    Institution: National College of Ireland
    Qualification Title: Certificate in Retail Management
    The Certificate offers an accessible route to increase the productivity, efficiency and profitability of their retail stores and organisation. It also offers an attractive way in which to reward and motivate employees who demonstrate potential to progress in the company.

    The Certificate in Retail Management has simar modules to the South African qualification such as;
  • Introduction to Retail Management
  • Finance for Retail
  • Retail Operations

    All modules of the qualification are compulsory similar to the South African qualification. The Certificate in Retail Management is offered on a flexible, block release mode making all face-to-face contact sessions during each study block compulsory. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Higher Certificate in Business Management in Retail Management, NQF Level 5.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Diploma in Retail Management, NQF Level 6.
  • Bachelor of Commerce in Retail Management, NQF Level 7.
  • Bachelor of Business Administration in Retail Management, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    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.