QCTO Courses
Welcome to Your QCTO Qualification Journey!
At Orchards Graduate School, we are committed to excellence in vocational education and skills development. Proudly accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), our institution is a trusted provider of industry-relevant qualifications that empower individuals to thrive in today’s competitive workforce.
With a growing portfolio of over 9 nationally recognized qualifications, we offer quality training programmes at:
- Level 5 (Occupational Certificates – Advanced Skills and Knowledge)
- Level 3 (Vocational Certificates – Intermediate Skills Development)
- Level 2 (Foundational Skills Training)
Structure of a QCTO Qualification
A QCTO qualification is made up of three main components, each of which plays a vital role in your learning and career development:
1. Knowledge Modules (KM)
These provide you with the theoretical understanding needed for the occupation.
- What you’ll learn: concepts, principles, and facts related to your field.
- Delivered through: classroom teaching, guided reading, discussions.
- Assessment: written tests, oral questioning, assignments.
Think of this as the “why and how” behind your job.
3. Work Experience Modules (WM)
This is your on-the-job training, where you apply your knowledge and skills in a real or simulated work environment.
- What you’ll learn: how to work in teams, follow real procedures, and deal with everyday challenges.
- Delivered through: workplace placement or controlled simulated work environments.
- Assessment: workplace logbooks, supervisor evaluations, and reports.
This is where you bring it all together in the real world.
2. Practical Skills Modules (PM)
These cover the hands-on, practical tasks you'll need to perform in the workplace.
- What you’ll learn: how to use tools, follow procedures, and complete tasks safely and efficiently.
- Delivered through: workshops, simulations, demonstrations.
- Assessment: observation, demonstrations, practical assignments.
This is the “doing” part—learning by practicing.
Final Step: External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA)
Once you’ve completed all modules, you’ll do a final external assessment that tests your overall competence.
- Conducted by an Assessment Quality Partner (AQP) appointed by QCTO.
- Includes both a theoretical and practical component.
- Upon successful completion, you’ll receive your National Occupational Certificate.
Key Takeaways for You as a Learner:
- The qualification is modular and structured for real employability.
- You’ll be assessed continuously, and learning is outcome-based.
- All learning is aligned to your future occupational role.
- You are not just learning for exams—you’re preparing for a career.
Qualifications
SAQA ID: 118741
NQF 5
Registration: R3500
Credits: 244
Duration: 18 Months
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Small Business Consultant. A Small Business Consultant consults and guides in business development.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Evaluate personal capability for performing business consulting services.
- Carry out due diligence and check compliance with relevant legislation.
- Monitor methods of appraisal of the business owner, business performance and activities.
- Provide strategic and operational consulting service
- Develop and implement a change management framework
- Develop project implementation approach, and
- Interpret the influences of key components in the value chain on business efficiency
SAQA ID: 102161
NQF 5
Registration: R3500
Credits: 445
Duration: 2 Years
This occupational qualification provides an opportunity for the learner to acquire a range of administrative skills to coordinate the activities of an office including information management and operational processes.
Qualified learners will be competent to support management with office and information administration demonstrating a range of administrative and communication skills. They will be able to function in Human Resource, Marketing, Public Relations or Financial departments/unit which will enable them to accomplish tasks professionally and efficiently in the increasingly computerised environment of a business office in accordance with national and international standards in the field. The learner will also understand cultural diversity, multicultural communication and the principles of a professional image and grooming to promote the image of the organisation.
The occupational qualification is to equip students with the broad based knowledge and skills to be able to be employed in a small business or a large corporation, public or private and advance their personal and career management skills to enhance their employability.
The qualified learner will be actively engaged in becoming a well-rounded, multi-skilled office administrator, prepared for further, more specific study in the various fields, which enables easier progression routes.
SAQA ID: 118740
NQF 5
Registration: R3500
Credits: 240
Duration: 18 Months
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as an Office Supervisor. Office Supervisors plan, organise, lead and control office functions in a business environment.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Provide planning support on recruitment, selection, and disciplinary processes of an organisation.
- Organise and coordinate work activities with other work units or departments.
- Coach and mentor administrators in an office environment.
- Handle internal communications within an office environment.
- Handle conflicts and solve problems within an office environment.
- Ensure compliance with regulations and company procedures.
- Perform financial controls and reporting in an office environment.
SAQA ID: 119450
NQF 5
Registration: R3500
Credits: 240
Duration: 2 Years
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to practice as a Market Research Analyst. A Market Research Analyst designs research methodology, tools to collect, clean and analyse data on the position of products or markets from different perspectives. They use analytics to analyse data sets and trends, draw conclusions linking these to strategies as well as organisational strategic goals. A qualified learner research market conditions in global, national, local as well as regional areas, to determine potential success of a product or idea. A competent learner shall demonstrate among others the following attributes: honesty, integrity, punctuality, business acumen, self-motivation, responsibility, accountability, interpersonal relations, ethical behaviour, well organised, self-confidence, etc.
SAQA ID: 118706
NQF 5
Registration: R3500
Credits: 175
Duration: 1 Year
SAQA ID: 101876
NQF 5
Registration: R3500
Credits: 316
Duration: 2 Years
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Management Assistant.
The qualification provides an opportunity for the learner to acquire a range of skills to be able to coordinate the activities of the organisation and provide professional administrative and secretarial support to managers, either as part of a team or individually. They also coordinate activities of assigned personnel and provide current and updated relevant information to the manager as support for upcoming meetings.
The Management assistant can also function as a Senior or Executive secretary, depending on experience and is the gatekeeper who promotes the professional image of the manager and the organisation. The management assistant also needs to be able to manage special projects using resources given according to good governance procedures.
The qualified learner will be actively engaged in becoming a well-rounded, multi-skilled person, prepared for further, more specific study and a number of alternative career choices within the secretarial or personal assistant field.
SAQA ID: 99687
NQF 5
Registration: R3500
Credits: 285
Duration: 2 Years
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Contact Centre Manager.
A Contact Centre Manager manages and optimizes quality contact centre operations and practices.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Manage and control the costs of a contact centre.
- Manage and control the operational planning and achievement of operational targets.
- Manage personnel employed in a contact centre.
- Manage customer and supplier relations.
- Manage and assure the achievement of contact centre quality standards.
- Manage and control the efficiency of contact centre processes and technology.
SAQA ID: 97542
NQF 4
Registration: R2500
Credits: 131
Duration: 1 Year
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as an Early Childhood Development Practitioner.
An Early Childhood Development Practitioner plans and prepares early childhood activities, facilitates and mediates learning, observes and assesses the progress of children, and reflects on learning in an inclusive, play-based environment to support holistic development of children (from conception - school going) in different centre-based or non-centre based settings.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Plan and prepare broad-phase learning environment and stimulating activities that meet the holistic needs of all children in centre-based or non-centre-based settings.
- Facilitate and mediate all aspects of the daily programme in a centre-based or non-centre based setting.
- Observe, assess and record each child's progress according to the age and stage.
- Compile a report of each child's progress.
- Maintain and promote the well-being, health, nutrition, safety and protection of children.
SAQA ID: 99669
Registration: R2000
Credits: 35
Duration: 6 Months
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Checkout Operator.
A Checkout Operator promotes customer loyalty while recording purchases and receiving payment and minimizing losses to the establishment.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Communicate with customers in a wholesale and/or retail environment.
- Record sales and process payments in a wholesale and/or retail environment.
- Cash up and control change in a wholesale and/or retail environment.
SAQA ID: 118728
Registration: R2000
Credits: 35
Duration: 6 Months
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Checkout Operator.
A Checkout Operator promotes customer loyalty while recording purchases and receiving payment and minimizing losses to the establishment.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Communicate with customers in a wholesale and/or retail environment.
- Record sales and process payments in a wholesale and/or retail environment.
- Cash up and control change in a wholesale and/or retail environment.
SAQA ID: 101863
Registration: R2000
Credits: 30
Duration: 6 months
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Cash Office Clerk.
A Cash Office Clerk processes back-office transactions in order to balance Point of Sale transactions, deposit daily takings and prepare deposits, requisition and control floats, change and petty cash in order to fulfil business and customer requirements.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Cash up and consolidate multiple tills as point of sale.
- Prepare and deposit multiple till takings in a retail environment.
- Control float, change and petty cash in a retail environment.
SAQA ID: 99703
Registration: R2000
Credits: 41
Duration: 6 months
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Store Person.
A Store Person moves, packs, picks and maintains stock in a stock storage area.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Move and pack stock using specific methods and equipment for different types of stock.
- Pick and count stock in a stock storage area.
- Maintain a safe stock storage area.
SAQA ID: 110942
Registration: R3500
Credits: 180
Duration: 12 months
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the required knowledge, practical skills and workplace-based learning experience to prepare a learner to operate as a Supply Chain Practitioner. A Supply Chain Practitioner develops operational schedules and action plans to coordinate service delivery in the supply chain in accordance with customer/end user requirements and performance objectives and manages relationships with customer/end user and suppliers.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Develop and coordinate operational schedules for supply chain operational plans.
- Monitor execution of supply chain operational schedules.
SAQA ID: 99714
Registration: R3 500
Credits: 256
Duration: 18 months
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as an Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner.
An Occupational Health and Safety Practitioners serve as a facilitator and advisor to employees and management regarding safety and health aspects in the workplace including the monitoring and inspecting of the workplace and the recording and investigation of incidents and accidents. They also implement and maintain Occupational Health and Safety systems in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Inspect work places and environments to identify the occupational health and safety hazards and determine the risks associated with the work.
- Facilitate and support actions to eliminate or control hazards in order to minimise risks in a designated work area.
- Represent the needs of employees with regard to Occupational Health and Safety matters.
- Participate in the planning and implementation of operational Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.
- Monitor and continually improve the effectiveness of operational Occupational Health and Safety systems.
SAQA ID: 118766
Registration: R3500
Duration: 12 months
Credits: 120
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to serve as a Public Service Administrator.
A Public Service Administrator provides a structured programme for public officials that work in support of senior management officials, promotes administrative efficiency within governmental departments by rendering administrative services and support aligned to governmental policies, and provides for service delivery objectives in all the three spheres of government.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Administer workplace outcomes of a unit.
- Administer human resources, finances, and supply chain records in a unit.
SAQA ID: 101321
Registration: R3500
Credits: 190
Duration: 12 months
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Learning and Development Practitioner.
A Learning and Development Practitioner plans, writes learning objectives, selects and adapts learning resources required for the delivery of learning interventions, and facilitates learning in an occupational context.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Co-ordinate learning within an occupational context.
- Establish and refine learning and development needs within occupational contexts.
- Conceptualize, plan and implement occupationally relevant learning and development interventions.
- Facilitate learning in a variety of occupational contexts.
- Evaluate the impact of learning and development interventions within an occupational context.
SAQA ID: 101869
Registration: R3 500
Credits: 240
Duration: 18 Months
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Project Manager. A Project Manager applies knowledge of project management to achieve project objectives in a specific field of application.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Initiate a project to address specific project objectives.
- Plan and prepare the delivery of a project.
- Execute and control the delivery of a project management plan.
- Manage the project close out process.