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: Goldsmith 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
94039  Occupational Certificate: Goldsmith 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - MQA 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate  Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology  Fabrication and Extraction 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  575  Not Applicable  NQF Level 04  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0425/24  2018-07-01  2025-12-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-12-30   2029-12-30  

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 prepare a learner to specialise in working with gold and other precious metals and non-metals in order to make and repair jewellery such as rings, brooches, chains and bracelets and craft objects out of metals and non-metals.

A qualified learner will be able to:
  • Manufacture basic jewellery using non- ferrous metals.
  • Produce a variety of categories of jewellery.
  • Plan, manufacture and repair complex jewellery items.

    Rationale:
    The jewellery industry has identified the manufacturing of jewellery as a critical skill. The majority of commercial jewellery in South Africa is imported. Rapid technological development has necessitated the need for the manufacturing of high quality jewellery in South Africa thus bringing about a critical need in the industry to ensure existing craftsmen become more productive.

    Currently there is a shortage of goldsmiths who can manufacture jewellery for the South African market. This qualification will produce more skilled goldsmiths who will be able to raise the standard in order to make the industry more competitive. This qualification will also increase the technical proficiency and size of the workforce who will be able to satisfy the local demands for manufactured jewellery without having to rely on imports.

    The majority of the learners entering this qualification are likely to be school leavers or those working in the jewellery manufacturing industry as craftsmen.

    Current jewellery manufacturing craftsmen in particular will benefit from the opportunities of assessment and subsequent recognition presented by RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning).

    Qualifying learners will be appointed as apprentices under the guidance of a Goldsmith in a jewellery manufacturing environment. Therefore such learners will be able to find employment with ease as they will have the necessary knowledge and skills in the jewellery manufacturing processes and techniques.

    This qualification integrates three registered qualifications across NQF Levels 2, 3 and 4 to meet the requirements of a single trade qualification. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    RPL for access to the integrated 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 certifying a work experience record.

    RPL for entry requirements to access the qualification:
    Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements.

    Entry Requirements:
  • NQF Level 1, with Mathematics and Science. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge and Practical Skill Modules:
    Knowledge Modules:
  • Metal and Jewellery Arts 1, NQF Level 2, 44 Credits.
  • Industrial Design Drawings 1, NQF Level 3, 24 Credits.
  • Metal and Jewellery Arts 2, NQF Level 3, 26 Credits.
  • Metal and Jewellery Arts 3, NQF Level 4, 24 Credits.
    Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 118.

    Practical Skill Modules:
  • Conduct basic metal work, NQF Level 2, 25 Credits.
  • Execute cold joining, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • Manufacture basic jewellery, NQF Level 2, 45 Credits.
  • Produce jewellery using re-production techniques, NQF Level 3, 7 Credits.
  • Interpret jewellery designs, NQF Level 3, 7 Credits.
  • Manufacture a variety of jewellery items, NQF Level 3, 48 Credits.
  • Identify and separate natural gemstones from their simulants, NQF Level 3, 4 Credits.
  • Manufacture complex jewellery items, NQF Level 4, 48 Credits.
  • Conduct basic setting of gemstones, NQF Level 4, 4 Credits.
  • Repair complex jewellery pieces, NQF Level 4, 10 Credits.
    Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 202

    This qualification also requires the following compulsory Work Experience Modules:
  • Metal work processes, NQF Level 2, 50 Credits.
  • Jewellery assembly and finishing processes, NQF Level 2, 14 Credits.
  • Jewellery Workshop processes and tools, NQF Level 2, 12 Credits.
  • Jewellery manufacturing processes, NQF Level 2, 100 Credits.
  • Jewellery manufacturing planning processes, NQF Level 3, 8 Credits.
  • Materials management processes, NQF Level 3, 6 Credits.
  • Stone setting processes, NQF Level 4, 12 Credits.
  • Jewellery repair and planning processes, NQF Level 4, 14 Credits.
  • Specialised jewellery manufacturing techniques and processes, NQF Level 4, 39 Credits.
    Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 255. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Conduct jewellery metal work (melting, rolling, measuring, marking, scoring, punching, piecing, drilling, forging, filing, soldering, papering, polishing, wire drawing).
    2. Interpret jewellery designs (read design, specifications, and proportions and the basic planning of the manufacturing process, material reconciliation).
    3. Manufacture a variety of complex jewellery items: rings, brooches, pendants and earrings (clusters and galleries must be included). 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Tools and equipment are used according to their design.
  • The different jewellery manufacturing skills are achieved in terms of the job specifications and within an agreed time frame.
  • The health and safety aspects are complied with according to the health and safety requirements.
  • An understanding of factors influencing jewellery metal work is demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • The amount of metal and the quantity of stones and other material necessary to perform the task are confirmed in accordance with the design brief and the planning of the manufacturing process.
  • The planning of the manufactured final product complies with the design specifications (including time frame).
  • All potential manufacturing risks in the manufacturing process are identified and appropriate preventative measures are developed.
  • An understanding of factors influencing the interpretation of jewellery design are demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • The final product complies with the design specifications (including time frame), is produced.
  • The manufacturing techniques and tools according to the job specifications (includes hallmarking) are used.
  • The materials are effectively used and that the metal loss is within the accepted industry norm.
  • An understanding of factors influencing the manufacture of a variety of complex jewellery items are demonstrated.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated Formative Assessment:
    The skills development provider 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 for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria.

    External summative assessments will be done over a minimum period of three days in the form of a trade test as prescribed under Section 26 D of the SDA and defined in the Trade test regulations .Learners will have to produce complex jewellery items (two or three jewellery items, depending on the complexity of the pieces, and the time per piece) in terms of an orthographic drawing with a design brief/specifications randomly selected from the identified list of trade test items.

    The tasks will be assessed by three accredited assessors registered with National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB). 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Goldsmiths are metalworkers who specialise in working with gold and other precious metals to make and repair jewellery. They play a key function in the jewellery manufacturing industry, in many parts of the world.

    This international comparability of similar occupational qualifications is based on the experience of developed industrial countries drawn from the following countries:
  • India.
  • Australia.
  • Germany.

    Similarities:
    The research shows that the countries surveyed have a progressive series of learning in jewellery manufacturing with the following content:
  • Compulsory core modules in common jewellery manufacturing processes running over a period of four to five years.
  • The apprentice/learner is at the workbench in a jewellery manufacturing company, and learns the hand skills at the bench (basic metal working, the jewellery manufacturing techniques, and the surface finishing processes).
  • The apprentice/learner is mentored by a qualified journeyman until the learner is capable of going for the Trade Test.
  • The relevant theory, the use of tools and equipment, and the basic metallurgy and the concepts of design. The Casting Technology, Stone-Setting, Finishing, Polishing and electroplating as well as basic and advanced jewellery manufacture.

    This confirms that the SA occupational qualification is on par with international equivalents in terms of progression, structure and learning outcomes.

    Integration with the work experience.

    All the countries surveyed make provision for the integration of core learning with the world of work. This is made possible within the following range:
  • Workplace-based learning that is specific to the needs and requirements of a workplace.

    Differences:
    The survey confirms the commonality of the core areas of study. The differences relate to:
  • The packaging of the learning.
  • Manufacturing techniques are enhanced with a profound knowledge of new technology and contemporary design skills.

    Conclusion:
    This qualification covers the core principles which is in line with international practices applicable in the jewellery manufacturing processes as found in the countries compared with. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification articulates with the following:

    Horizontally with qualifications currently being developed:
  • Occupational Certificate: Diamond and Gemstone Setter NQF Level 4.
  • Occupational Certificate: Horologist NQF Level 4.

    Vertically:
  • Certificate: Design Techniques, NQF Level 5. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    Qualifying for External Assessment:
    In order to qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of statements of results and work experience including Foundational Learning Competence or equivalent.

    Additional Legal or Physical Environment:
    None.

    Criteria for the Accreditation of Providers:
    Accreditation of providers to provide this qualification will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website.

    The curriculum title and code is: Goldsmith 661301000.

    Trades Encompassed by this Qualification:
    This qualification does not encompass any of the trades recorded on the NLRD.

    Part Qualifications
    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.