South Africa has 21 Sector Education and Training Authority’s (SETA) that provide individuals with vocational skills and training.
Each SETA has a number of opportunities such as learnerships, skills-based programmes and internships that are provided to individuals. These programmes provide individuals with the necessary skills to be able to compete in a relevant sector.
However, it does not end there, as there are also training sessions for individuals who aspire to be a facilitator or assessor in a specific industry or field.
According to Oxbridge Academy, an Assessor determines whether a learner is competent in relation to the criteria or outcomes for a particular unit standard or qualification on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and a moderator is responsible for the quality assurance in relation to the assessment process.
Although it is mandatory to be registered before looking for opportunities as Facilitators or Assessors, it is also important that you know which one will be perfect for you.
First, you need to have a background in the industry or field that you want to work in after completing your training.
In some instances, an equivalent level of experience may be substituted for a qualification but some employers will require to conduct some background checks.
Hence, it is also important to do research on which SETA your qualification or experience falls under before registering to become an assessor or facilitator.
For instance, if you have a qualification or equivalent experience in inventory and stores management, then you fall under the following SETAs:
- Services SETA
- Wholesale and Retail SETA
- Transport Education Training Authority
This is an indication that some qualifications are flexible enough to overlap in more than one SETA.
It is then beneficial for you to first start looking at your academic record, as it lists the modules that you have covered as part of your qualification. Your working experience will also encompass you in the facilitator or assessor course that will be perfect for you.
According to the SETA, Assessors and Moderators are to be registered for a period in keeping with the life span of the qualification, or unit standard that they are registered for.