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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Higher Certificate in Human Resource Practices 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
91728  Higher Certificate in Human Resource Practices 
ORIGINATOR
The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Higher Certificate  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Human Resources 
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  SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

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:
The Purpose of this qualification is to educate and qualify learners to take up entry level positions in human resource and payroll administration related jobs. The qualification aims to provide learners with the knowledge and skills needed to administer and conduct various human resource functions including payroll administration, against the background of labour legislation and statutory requirements.

The qualification requires learners to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical human resource and payroll administration skills and the application of these skills. The core focus of the qualification is on human resource management and payroll administration which is taught in the modules: Human Resource Practice 1A and 1B, Pastel Payroll and Payroll Administration.

Supporting modules are required to provide the background against which human resource and payroll administration are applied in business. These modules include, inter alia, Business Management and Office Administration. Business Communication and Introduction to Personal Computing will further prepare the learner to meet the generally accepted requirements of employees in modern business practice. Industrial Relations and Labour Law will provide the background against which the core focus of the programme is applied in the workplace.

The WIL (Workplace Integrated Learning) component of the programme requires the linking of all the key elements logically and demonstrated competence thereof in a simulated case study project, to refine the application of skills learned across the programme as a whole.

The curriculum contributes to the achievement of the intended outcomes by introducing basic concepts that provide the foundation and the application of theoretical skills to a broad range of practical contexts.

Rationale:
Qualifying learners will be prepared to take up positions in any modern business or office environment or industry in a variety of entry level jobs related to human resources and payroll administration. This qualification will also prepare learners to pursue further studies in human resource practices. This qualification seeks to enable school leavers who do not qualify for entry into Diploma or Degree studies the opportunity to enrol for higher education studies.

The practical nature of this qualification will enhance employment prospects and will benefit employers seeking to employ knowledgeable and productive employees at the outset. In addition to an essential human resources and payroll administration skills set, the qualification provides fundamental business knowledge that learners will need to contextualise the work they will do as human resource or payroll administrators to enter the workplace.

Career opportunities include, but are not limited to:
  • Human Resource Officer.
  • Human Resource Administrator.
  • Payroll Administrator.
  • Human Resource Assistant. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that the learner would be competent in the language of instruction (English) at NQF Level 4 and the theoretical knowledge and understanding accomplished at that level.

    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The learners who do not meet the minimum requirements can gain access to the qualification through the Recognition of Prior Learning and credits will be granted where competency in a specific module is established by an assessor.

    Access to the Qualification:
    The access to this qualification is granted to applicants who are in possession of:
  • A National Senior Certificate (NSC) granting access to a Higher Certificate.
    Or
  • A National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4 (NCV L4) granting access to a Higher Certificate.
  • Learners who have attained the age of 23 and have three years' work experience and are competent in English can access the qualification. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises 11 modules at NQF Level 5, totalling 120 Credits:
  • Human Resource Practices 1A, 8 Credits.
  • Office Administration, 10 Credits.
  • Business Communication, 10 Credits.
  • Introduction to Personal Computing, 5 Credits.
  • Payroll Administration, 11 Credits.
  • Human Resource Practices 1B, 8 Credits.
  • Pastel Payroll, 8 Credits.
  • Business Management, 11 Credits.
  • Industrial Relations, 12 Credits.
  • Labour Law, 12 Credits.
  • Work Integrated Learning Project, 25 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate the ability to present and communicate information reliably and appropriately within a given context.
    2. Demonstrate applied competence in human resource practices and processes in a business.
    3. Demonstrate applied competence in payroll administration practices.
    4. Demonstrate the ability to function effectively and ethically as a team member in a business.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:
    All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed in this qualification. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Appropriate grammar, syntax and punctuation in written and oral communication applications is utilised to adjust conventions to business purposes.
  • Various communication techniques are used to plan and administer human resource activities within a business environment.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • The application of human resource practices and processes to generally accepted good labour practices and legislation are applied.
  • Knowledge of relevant labour legislation and organisational policy requirements applicable to employee and labour contracts is demonstrated.
  • The ability to apply human resource practices and principles in a business is demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • The ability to use a personal computer for business purposes is demonstrated.
  • Industry standard software is used to administer the employee payroll in a business.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • The ability to function as part of a team is demonstrated.
  • A solid understanding of ethical business conduct is demonstrated.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The learner's competencies will be assessed using an integrated method of both formative and summative assessment. Assignments, examinations, projects, laboratory reports and a portfolio of evidence will be used in the assessment. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This Higher Certifcate: Human Resource Practices (HC: HRP) has been compared to the following international qualifications:
    The CIPD Foundation Certificate in Human Resources Practice from The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) in the United Kingdom, provides learners with a firm foundation in all areas of Human Resources (HR), helping to develop essential HR skills. Similar to the HC: HRP, this qualification also focuses on the ability to record, analyse and use HR information, recruitment, selection, performance and reward management, employment relations and employment law. However, it does not include modules on the payroll function and the applied skill of using payroll software.

    The Certificate in Human Resource Management offered by the University of California (United States) includes eight compulsory modules and a wide range of elective modules to choose from. These modules are all related directly to the HR field, such as employee and labour relations, employee compensations and performance management systems, but do not necessarily provide the learners with the opportunity to gain additional skills in terms of business communication, business management, office administration and personal computing.

    Conclusion:
    The module content of the HC: HRP is comparable with the international qualifications, which indicates that learners are appropriately trained and equipped to comply with internationally set human resources and payroll standards. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers both horizontal and vertical articulation opportunities for the qualifying learner:

    Horizontal articulation with other qualifications at NQF Level 5, includes the:
  • Higher Certificate: Operation Management.
  • Higher Certificate: Business Management.
  • Higher Certificate: Human Resource Management.
  • Higher Certificate: Management.

    Vertical articulation with other qualifications at NQF Level 6, includes the:
  • Advanced Certificate: Project Management.
  • Advanced Certificate: Management.
  • Advanced Certificate: Business Management.
  • Diploma: Human Resource Management. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    All assessment opportunities will be internally and externally moderated and the feedback from moderators is used to improve the quality of assessment, material and learner support as well as to ensure fairness and validity. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Assessors will hold a qualification at least one NQF level higher than the qualification being assessed, with a minimum of two years' teaching experience. Assessors with less than two years' experience have their assessment work moderated by a peer. 

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

    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.
     
    1. The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd 


    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.