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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

National Certificate: General Draughting 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
50022  National Certificate: General Draughting 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Manufacturing and Assembly Processes 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CETA - Construction Education and Training Authority  OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
National Certificate  Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology  Manufacturing and Assembly 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  121  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Regular-Unit Stds Based 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 9999/99  2018-07-01  2023-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

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:

Any learners, who are or wish to be involved in draughting, will have access to this qualification. This qualification is intended to serve as access to the architectural, engineering and construction industries by providing skilled draughtpersons who can produce drawings. Portability across other National Qualifications in engineering and draughting is therefore ensured.

The specific purpose of this qualification represents the skills, knowledge and understanding required by competent practitioners to:
  • Use measuring instruments and conventional drawing equipment to produce a drawing.
  • Produce a drawing for the appropriate engineering area of draughting.
  • Understand the workflow and administration procedures for the drawing office.
  • Operate a personal computer system.
  • Communicate with clients and work colleagues to enhance the quality of work and service.
  • Create a freehand drawing.

    Rationale:

    The National Certificate in General Draughting Level 3 is designed to meet the needs of those learners who enter the field of draughting.

    The General Draughting at NQF Level 3 will provide a broad base of knowledge and skills needed in the industry and will help those learners progressing along a career path who:
  • Were previously disadvantaged or who were unable to complete their schooling and were therefore denied access to Further Education and Training.
  • Have worked in drawing offices as draughtspersons for many years, but have no formal qualification in draughting.
  • Wish to extend their range of skills and knowledge of the industry so that they can become knowledgeable workers in draughting.
  • Have completed their schooling up to and including grade 12 who wish to follow a career in draughting.

    The National Certificate in General Draughting Level 3 allows the learner to work towards a nationally recognised qualification. The qualification will allow both those in formal education and those already employed in architectural, engineering and construction organisations access, due to its flexibility. It aims to develop learners who are informed and skilled in Draughting.

    The qualification focuses on the skills, knowledge, values and attitudes required to progress further in this field of learning. The intention is:
  • To provide the development of knowledge and skills that are required in all sub-sectors of Draughting.
  • To realise the potential of people in draughting.
  • To provide opportunities for people to move up career paths by being more valuable to their organisation, the economy and themselves.

    The National Certificate in General Draughting Level 3 should produce knowledgeable, skilled draughtspersons who are able to contribute to improved productivity and efficiency within the draughting industry. It should provide the means for current learners in the draughting field to receive recognition for prior learning and to upgrade their skills and knowledge base. The qualification is structured in such a way that it will expose learners to a set of core competencies to give a broad understanding of draughting. The electives will allow for specific competence in selected areas of drawing specialisation. It will also promote the notion of life-long learning. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are already competent in Mathematical Literacy and Communication at NQF Level 2.

    Recognition of prior learning

    The structure of this Unit Standard based Qualification makes the Recognition of Prior Learning possible, if the learner is able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in this draughting qualification. Recognition of Prior Learning will be done by means of an Integrated Assessment as mentioned in the previous paragraph.

    This Recognition of Prior Learning may allow:
  • For accelerated access to further learning.
  • Gaining of credits towards a unit standard.

    All recognition of Prior Learning is subject to quality assurance by the relevant accredited Education, Training, Quality, Assurance Body and is conducted by a registered workplace assessor.

    Access to the Qualification:

    Access to this qualification is open, bearing in mind learning assumed to be in place. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The qualification provides a learning pathway in a variety of specializations.

    Each of the learning pathways will include the compulsory Fundamentals of 36 Credits as well as compulsory Core of 51 Credits with a minimum of 34 Credits chosen from the Electives as follows:

    Learners must choose the following unit standards:

    Mechanical draughtsperson:
  • 12238: "Draw and interpret simple engineering drawings" Level 2, 10 Credits
  • 9885: "Read and interpret engineering drawings" Level 3, 12 Credits
  • 13298: "Produce detailed engineering drawings" Level 3, 6 Credits
  • 9526: "Manage basic business finance" Level 3, 6 Credits
  • Total: 34 Credits

    Building and Civil Construction draughtsperson:
  • 9882: "Read and interpret basic engineering drawings" Level 2, 8 Credits
  • 14580: "Read and interpret construction drawings and specifications" Level 3, 10 Credits
  • 120213: "Read, interpret and produce working civil construction drawings" Level 4, 8 Credits
  • 9526: "Manage basic business finance" Level 3, 6 Credits
  • 14430: "Supervise the procurement, use and storage of construction materials" Level 4, 10 Credits
  • Total: 42 Credits

    Electrical and Air conditioning, ventilation duct and plant draughtsperson:
  • 9882: "Read and interpret basic engineering drawings" Level 2, 8 Credits
  • 9885: "Read and interpret engineering drawings" Level 3, 12 Credits
  • 10894: "Interpret electrical circuits" Level 3, 2 Credits
  • 115242: "Draw and interpret electrical diagrams" Level 3, 3 Credits
  • 9526: "Manage basic business finance" Level 3, 6 Credits
  • 13395: "Draw free hand diagrams of typical electrical control and power circuits used in air-conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation systems and explain their operating sequence" Level 4, 10 Credits
  • Total: 41 Credits 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Use and operate a computer system.
    2. Communicate with both clients and work colleagues to enhance the quality of work and service produced.
    3. Produce drawings for an appropriate area of draughting.
    4. Use a wide variety of measuring instruments and conventional drawing equipment to produce a quality drawing.
    5. Collect data for the desired design requirements.
    6. Demonstrate an understanding of the workflow and administration procedures pertaining to a drawing office.
    7. Produce a free hand drawing in preparation for an instrument scale drawing. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1.
  • Basic computer hardware components are connected to a computer system.
  • Keyboard and mouse are used to access a computer.
  • Computer, software and peripherals are used to process information.

    2.
  • Oral and written communication is successfully engaged in a draughting environment.
  • Problems are understood and solved to enhance work and delivery of service.
  • Information required to plan and produce a drawing is communicated with clients.

    3.
  • The brief is interpreted correctly.
  • A layout for a drawing is prepared.
  • Drawings are produced according to the customer's needs.
  • Drawing produced conforms to applicable code of practice.

    4.
  • Measuring instruments and conventional drawing equipment are used to produce quality drawings.
  • Drawing equipment is used to produce a drawing according to layout requirements.

    5.
  • A data sheet for the design requirements is produced.

    6.
  • A plan for the workflow is prepared.
  • Documentation is administered in a drawing office.
  • Drawings are indexed and filed.
  • Drawings are kept safely in a storage.
  • Drawing office protocol is followed.

    7.
  • Prepare a layout for a drawing.
  • The brief is interpreted correctly.
  • A free hand drawing is produced.

    Intergrated Assessment:

    Because assessment practices must be open, transparent, fair, valid, and reliable and ensure that no learner is disadvantaged in any way whatsoever, an integrated assessment approach is incorporated into the qualification.

    Learning, teaching and assessment are inextricably lined. Whenever possible, the assessment of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values shown in the unit standards should be integrated.

    Assessment of the communication, language, literacy and numeracy should be conducted in conjunction with other aspects and should be assessed in authentic draughting contexts wherever possible.

    A variety of methods must be used in assessment and tools and activities must be appropriate to the context in which the learner is working. Where it is not possible to assess the learner in the workplace or on-the-job, simulations, case studies, role-plays and other similar techniques should be used to provide a context appropriate to the assessment.

    The term 'Integrated Assessment' implies that theoretical and practical components should be assessed together. During integrated assessments the assessor should make use of formative and summative assessment methods and assess combinations of practical, applied, foundational and reflective competencies.

    Assessors and moderators should make use of a range of formative and summative assessment methods. Assessors should assess and give credit for the evidence of learning that has already been acquired through formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience.

    Assessment should ensure that all specific outcomes, embedded knowledge and critical cross-field outcomes are evaluated. The assessment of the critical cross-field outcomes should be integrated with the assessment of specific outcomes and embedded knowledge. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The draughting and design Industry is a discipline with globally recognised best practices, standards and qualifications. This qualification and set of unit standards utilises international and locally recognised best practice and standards in draughting.

    Benchmarking was done by comparison to Unit Standards/Outcomes of learning against:
  • The New Zealand qualifications - National Certificate in Design (Draughting) (Level 2) total credit value 70.
  • New Zealand Unit Standards in Design:
    > Produce orthographic, scale working drawings.
    > Produce scale production drawings.
    > Produce scale production drawings.
    > Demonstrate knowledge of numerical data used in the draughting industry.
  • Technical And Further Education Authority (TAFEA) New South Wales was also used as a resource for international benchmarking.

    A direct comparison with each unit standard was undertaken and the best practice points were highlighted and incorporated into each unit standard. However the points incorporated were written in a South African context.

    Because of the difference in levels across the different countries, difficulty was found in making actual direct comparisons, level to level. It was found that the South African unit standards seem to contain more detail and therefore are slightly more complex and the qualification is longer in duration as they only have 70 credits.

    The work groups also referred to other facets of national and international benchmarking, which occurred continuously throughout the qualifications and unit standard writing process.

    These facets were:
  • The methods and techniques for writing standards.
  • The contents of the unit standards.
  • The levels in other countries compared to South Africa. 
    		•

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

    Horizontal articulation:
  • National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering: NQF Level 3.
  • National Certification in Polymer Composites Fabrication NQF Level 3.
  • National Certificate in Electrical Engineering NQF Level 3.
  • National Certificate in Automotive Components Manufacturing and Assembling NQF Level 3.
  • National Certificate in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Ventilation NQF Level 3.
  • National Certificate in Road Works Construction NQF Level 3.
  • National Certificate in Welding: NQF Level 3.

    Vertical articulation:
  • FETC: Computer Aided Drawing Office Practice. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Assessment of learner achievements takes place at providers accredited by relevant ETQA or any ETQA which has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the relevant ETQA in accordance with ETQA Regulations (RSA,1998b).
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this qualification must be registered as an assessor with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this Qualification must be accredited as a provider with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or by an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA, according to the ETQA's policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.
  • Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments at exit points of the Qualification, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described both in individual Unit Standards as well as the integrated competence described in the Qualification.
  • Anyone wishing to be assessed against this Qualification may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution that is accredited by the relevant ETQA. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    For an applicant to register as an assessor, the applicant needs:
  • Registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • A similar qualification at one level above the level of the qualification and a minimum of three years experience in the relevant field. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    Career pathways

    A learner could follow a career in:
  • Aeronautical Engineering
  • Surveying
  • Electronic Engineering
  • Mining Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Automotive Engineering
  • Structural steel detailing.
  • Piping and plant design.
  • Building and Civil Construction
  • Engineering and design draughting
  • Air-conditioning and ventilation design
  • Architecture
  • Town and regional planning
  • Road construction 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARDS: 
      ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
    Core  9964  Apply health and safety to a work area  Level 2  NQF Level 02  3 
    Core  13217  Collect and use information  Level 2  NQF Level 02  5 
    Core  116937  Use a Graphical User Interface (GUI)-based spreadsheet application to create and edit spreadsheets  Level 2  NQF Level 02  4 
    Core  120230  Apply the code of practice for draughting  Level 3  NQF Level 03  4 
    Core  120229  Demonstrate an understanding of drawing office procedures  Level 3  NQF Level 03  3 
    Core  120226  Demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of design  Level 3  NQF Level 03  2 
    Core  120228  Demonstrate an understanding of the process of design  Level 3  NQF Level 03  3 
    Core  9532  Demonstrate basic knowledge of computers  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
    Core  120224  Interpret and produce free hand drawings  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
    Core  120227  Plan and determine drawing requirements to produce a drawing  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
    Core  114978  Use a word processing package to produce business documents  Level 3  NQF Level 03  3 
    Core  14486  Demonstrate an understanding of measuring instruments and produce free-hand drawings  Level 4  NQF Level 04  3 
    Core  14474  Plan and schedule workflow  Level 4  NQF Level 04  3 
    Fundamental  8968  Accommodate audience and context needs in oral communication  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
    Fundamental  8971  Analyse and respond to a variety of literary texts  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
    Fundamental  9010  Demonstrate an understanding of the use of different number bases and measurement units and an awareness of error in the context of relevant calculations  Level 3  NQF Level 03  2 
    Fundamental  9013  Describe, apply, analyse and calculate shape and motion in 2-and 3-dimensional space in different contexts  Level 3  NQF Level 03  4 
    Fundamental  8969  Interpret and use information from texts  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
    Fundamental  9012  Investigate life and work related problems using data and probabilities  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
    Fundamental  7456  Use mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal, business and national issues  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
    Fundamental  8970  Write texts for a range of communicative contexts  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
    Elective  9882  Read and interpret basic engineering drawings  Level 2  NQF Level 02  8 
    Elective  120231  Demonstrate the basic understanding of the workflow  Level 3  NQF Level 03  3 
    Elective  115242  Draw and interpret electrical diagrams  Level 3  NQF Level 03  3 
    Elective  10894  Interpret electrical circuits  Level 3  NQF Level 03  2 
    Elective  9526  Manage basic business finance  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
    Elective  14580  Read and interpret construction drawings and specifications  Level 3  NQF Level 03  10 
    Elective  9885  Read and interpret engineering drawings  Level 3  NQF Level 03  12 
    Elective  13395  Draw free hand diagrams of typical electrical control and power circuits used in air-conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation systems and explain their operating sequence  Level 4  NQF Level 04  10 
    Elective  120213  Read, interpret and produce working civil construction drawings  Level 4  NQF Level 04  8 
    Elective  14430  Supervise the procurement, use and storage of construction materials  Level 4  NQF Level 04  10 


    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.