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: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96722  Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Free State 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2027-06-30   2029-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
Learners will be professionally competent to provide financial planning services to a wide range of clients in society and business. Existing and proposed financial services legislation on a national level, and the professionalisation of the financial services environment internationally, have placed a high premium on the provision of sound financial planning expertise. Qualified financial planners are not only in demand nationally in a wide range of legal and economic professions, but through CFP-membership, can gain access to the national and internationally accredited profession of Certified Financial Planner, and presently practise in more than 18 major countries.

Rationale:
In 1983 the need to have a proper program for financial advisors and brokers was fulfilled by the introduction of the then called ILPA certificate. The rationale then was to educate, train and assess people in the financial services industry to assure better standards, knowledge levels and professionalism. With the introduction of SAQA and the NQF framework, it was decided by industry to get approval for this program. The institution got approval for the qualification in 2000. The institution was involved with the certificate as quality assurer and moderator up till then. The rationale for the qualification is still to educate, train and assess people in the financial services industry to assure top class standards, knowledge skills and professionalism in the industry. This role is even more important as people in the financial services industry are currently forced by legislation (regulations to Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act) to obtain certain qualifications within five years (This is one of the qualifications). This qualification is also the only recognised qualification in South Africa for the International Certified Financial Planner status. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience.

In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

Relevant experience confirmed by prior learning assessment will be considered, on condition that it is assessed as equal to a formal 360 Credit qualification.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Planning, NQF Level 7.
  • Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 160 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules at Level 8, 160 Credits:
  • Financial Planning Environment, 10 Credits.
  • Personal Financial Planning, 10 Credits.
  • Corporate Financial Planning, 10 Credits.
  • Case study, 10 Credits.
  • Financial Planning environment, 30 Credits.
  • Personal Financial Planning, 30 Credits.
  • Corporate Financial Planning, 30 Credits.
  • Case study, 30 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Apply essential financial planning expertise and knowledge in financial planning for the benefit of clients and society.
    2. Establish a planner/client relationship by explaining concepts and services and client responsibilities - all within the parameters of professional conduct.
    3. Assess a client profile, obtain documented personal information and determine the current financial status of a client.
    4. Determine the financial goals (capital risk and investment needs) of a client.
    5. Present a plan to a client for approval and agreement.
    6. Implement, manage and monitor such plan within the ethical constraints of the profession, testing effectiveness and recommending change where necessary. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following Associated Assessment Criteria are used in an integrated manner across all Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Learners will have to provide evidence, in the various learning modules in the different prescribed fields of financial planning, of attaining the required knowledge and expertise by.
  • Presenting and analysing hypothetical case studies and proposals in financial planning.
  • Writing assessments of client needs with suggested strategies to address those needs.
  • Drafting investment and other financial plans with due regard to financial risks, applicable regulatory and legislative requirements, investment options and the influence of changing economic conditions and markets.
  • Write proposals for implementation and monitoring of such plans.

    Integrated Assessment:
    A variety of continuous assessment case studies, proposals, assignments, financial plans and summative assessments will be integrated into learning. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Because of the differences especially in law between affiliate countries, direct benchmarking is difficult. However, the Certified Financial Planner programs of USA and Australia formed part of our planning process when this program was re-developed and reassessed. This qualification must be in line with international CFP standards to be accredited as a CFP education programme and currently, it is the only qualification accredited by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards in South Africa. We are therefore confident that this program is of an international standard and comparability. 

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

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Management, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Commerce in Finance, NQF Level 9.
  • Masters of Business Administration NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    Until December 2019 this qualification's title was "Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning Law" 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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. University of the Free State 


    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.