NQF Levels in South Africa
What each level of the National Qualifications Framework means, which qualifications sit at it and how to find a qualification's level, from the official pages.
✓ From official pages✓ Each fact says where we read it
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What it is
The NQF has three sub-frameworks. School and further education (GFETQSF) covers NQF levels 1 to 4, higher education (HEQSF) levels 5 to 10, and trades and occupations (OQSF) levels 1 to 8. (gov.za)
Level 1: General Certificate, or General Occupational Certificate. (gov.za)
Level 2: Elementary Certificate. Level 3: Intermediate Certificate. Level 4: National Certificate. Each has an occupational version with the same name plus Occupational. (gov.za)
Level 5: Higher Certificate. (gov.za)
Level 6: Diploma and Advanced Certificate. (gov.za)
Level 7: Bachelor's Degree and Advanced Diploma. (gov.za)
Level 8: Honours Degree, Postgraduate Diploma and a professional Bachelor's Degree. (gov.za)
Level 9: Master's Degree. (gov.za)
Level 10: Doctoral Degree, such as a PhD. (gov.za)
Two qualifications at the same NQF level are not the same qualification. The level shows similar learning outcomes, not that one can replace the other. (saqa.org.za)
A qualification at NQF level 4 or higher is not the same as the National Senior Certificate (matric). (saqa.org.za)
Short courses are not registered on the NQF, so they have no NQF level. A trade is not given an NQF level either. (saqa.org.za)
Who asks for it
Public Service job adverts name a level. In the Public Service Vacancy Circular of 24 July 2026, a human resources post asked for an undergraduate qualification at NQF level 6 as recognised by SAQA. (dpsa.gov.za)
How to get it
To find a qualification's level, search for it in SAQA's database of registered qualifications. (saqa.org.za)
SAQA's qualification pages show two levels: the level before 2009 and the current NQF level. A job advert means the current one. (regqs.saqa.org.za)
How an employer checks it
Employers check a South African qualification through SAQA's verification service, against the National Learners' Records Database (NLRD). (saqa.org.za)
An extract from the NLRD is not a verification, because it may not list everything you achieved. (saqa.org.za)
Who to call
Pre-appointment verifications: [email protected]. Letters for individuals: [email protected]. (saqa.org.za)
Where this comes from
Every fact above was read on an official page, linked beside it; we last checked them on October 27, 2026. Fees and times change: the official site has the final word. We are not the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and cannot apply for you, see your application or speed it up.
gov.za · saqa.org.za · dpsa.gov.za · regqs.saqa.org.za · saqa.org.za · saqa.org.za