How to Check NQF Accreditation of Qualifications?

Accreditation generally implies that an institution meets national standards. It also means that the qualification is recognised by universities, other institutions and employers.

Every year, many students and their parents show concern towards applying for NQF-accredited qualifications. Their concerns are valid. A fully accredited and recognised qualification can help start your career, opening up multiple opportunities for desirable promotions or prime appointments. 

But you must confirm that the qualification you are targeting is accredited. The post-schooling system in South Africa can be tricky to navigate in this regard.

This article will serve as a guide and inform you about how to check NQF accreditationand other related details.

What does NQF Accreditation Mean & Why Should You Check for it?

Before moving on to how to check NQF accreditationin 2026, we must know the basic details.

An NQF-accredited qualification means that a recognised quality assurance body has approved it and that it has been registered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

In simple terms, such a qualification can be considered genuine.

Here’s what this accreditation means:

• The institution meets quality standards and is reputable.
• The programme’s content aligns with national learning outcomes.
• The programme is valid for employment and training opportunities and local education. In many cases, these qualifications are valid internationally as well.
• There is a recognised number of credits associated with the qualification.

This explains why it is important to check for this accreditation, irrespective of whether the programme is a bachelor’s degree, an advanced certificate or a higher certificate.

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Steps to Check the Accreditation Status of a Qualification in 2026

As we now know the basics, we can move on to the process for how to check NQF accreditation status. But, you must note that there is no single website to check the registration and accreditation status. 

The process you need to follow for a particular type of qualification may or may not be similar to that of another qualification.

There are 3 accreditation bodies in South Africa: 

• Umalusi – Responsible for accreditation of vocational qualifications, adult matric and matric
• Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) – Responsible for accreditation qualifications for trades and occupations, also referred to as the SETA qualifications.
• Council on Higher Education (CHE) – Responsible for the accreditation of Higher Education qualifications (Diplomas, Higher Certificates, Degrees).

Here, we will be primarily focusing on the post-school qualifications, or the ones accredited by the CHE and the QCTO.

Every qualification is recorded on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Also, all qualifications are registered by SAQA on the framework. 

There are 3 sub-frameworks of NQF, and each of them is for a particular quality council:

• QCTO has the Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework (OQSF)
• Umalusi has the General and Further Education and Training Sub-Framework (GENFETQSF)
• CHE has the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF)

If you want to know how to check NQF accreditation, you can follow these steps to check the status of a qualification in 2026:

Step 1: Determine the type of qualification

First, check if the programme is a Higher Education or QCTO-type qualification.

If the institution states that a qualification is accredited by the CHE, or the Higher Education Qualifications Committee (HEQC), then it is a higher-education-type qualification. 

If the institution states that the qualification is accredited by a SETA, a Quality Assurance Partner, or the QCTO, then it is a QCTO-type qualification. 

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Step 2: Check the institution and the qualification status

After knowing the qualification type, you need to look up the institution and check the qualification status. You must keep in mind that higher education institutions must provide you with a copy of the Department of Higher Education registration certificate. This should include all the qualifications for which the institution is registered and accredited. 

In addition, Skills Development Providers (SDP) or the QCTO institutions must provide you with an accreditation certificate from the Quality Assurance Partner (QAP) or QCTO. This certificate should include the qualifications for which the SDP is accredited.

If a Private Higher Education Institution provides any qualification, the same should be registered with the Department of Higher Education (DHET) and on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). It must also be accredited by the CHE.

If you want to check the registration status of a Private Higher Education Institution and the qualifications they are registered for: 

• Visit the official website of the Department of Higher Education and Training.
• Navigate to the Resources tab
• Click on “Registers”
• Download the Register of Private Higher Education Institutions. 
• Look up the institution’s name. 

The register will contain the list of qualifications for which the institution is accredited.

On the other hand, if you want a list of accredited Skills Development Providers and test centres, visit the QCTO website for services for skills development providers.

To check the accreditation of a provider that is accredited by a Quality Assurance Partner, you must directly look for the list of accredited providers on the QAP’s website. Usually, this list also contains details of the qualifications for which an institution is accredited.

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What to Do if a Qualification Is Not Accredited?

You should always confirm the accreditation status by following the process mentioned above. You must not enrol if an institution cannot provide a valid accreditation proof. Instead, you can look forward to a similar qualification at a reputable institution which is accredited.

Note that non-accredited qualifications may not be recognised for employment opportunities or higher studies.

You can consider contacting the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) on 0800 872 222 to report an institution that is not accredited or registered. Alternatively, you can get in touch with the office of the National Consumer Commission (NCC) on 012 761 3000 or 0861 843 384. You can also contact the Office of Consumer Affairs in your region or send an email to complaints@thencc.org.za.

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Conclusion

An NQF-accredited qualification is fundamental when it comes to starting your career and opening doors to job opportunities. Simply conducting research properly can help ensure that your target qualification is accredited.

Now that you know how to check NQF accreditation for 2026, you should be able to complete the process seamlessly.

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