What Tvet Colleges Offer
What TVET Colleges Offer
What TVET Colleges Offer
What Do TVET Colleges Offer? A Complete Guide for Students:
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in South Africa provide practical, career-focused education designed to prepare students for the workplace or for starting their own businesses. Unlike traditional universities that are more theory-based, TVET colleges combine classroom learning with hands-on training to ensure graduates are job-ready. These institutions play a vital role in helping young people and adult learners gain skills that meet the demands of industries such as engineering, business, hospitality, and technology.
One of the main programmes offered by TVET colleges is the National Certificate (Vocational), or NC(V). This three-year qualification, which starts at Grade 10 level, blends academic subjects with vocational training in areas like Engineering and Related Design, Hospitality, Tourism, Finance, and Office Administration. Students who complete NC(V) courses earn a certificate equivalent to a Grade 12 qualification while gaining specialised skills.
TVET colleges also provide Report 191/NATED programmes for students who have finished Grade 12. These courses, ranging from N1 to N6, cover fields such as Engineering Studies, Business Studies, and Utility Studies. After completing 18 months of theory and 18 months of practical workplace experience, students can obtain a National Diploma, giving them a strong foundation for employment or entrepreneurship.
In addition, TVET colleges offer short skills programmes, learnerships, and artisan training. These include practical courses in welding, plumbing, electrical work, hairdressing, and early childhood development, often in partnership with industry to meet specific job market needs. By focusing on both theory and practice, TVET colleges offer a pathway to employment, self-employment, and career advancement, making them an excellent choice for students seeking relevant skills and real-world experience.
Read Also: Is the TVET application open?
What TVET Colleges Offer
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in South Africa focus on practical, career-oriented education that prepares students for the job market or for starting their own businesses. Below is an overview of what TVET colleges offer:
National Certificate (Vocational) – NC(V) Programmes:
- Three-year programmes equivalent to Grades 10–12.
- Combine classroom theory with practical training.
- Fields include Engineering and Related Design, Hospitality, Tourism, Office Administration, Finance, and more.
- Ideal for students who have completed Grade 9 and want a vocational path instead of traditional high school.
Report 191/NATED Programmes:
- Also called N1–N6 courses.
- Include Engineering Studies, Business Studies, and Utility Studies.
- Usually structured as 18 months of theory plus 18 months of workplace training to receive a National Diploma.
- Suitable for students in Grade 12 who want to specialise in trades or business fields.
Occupational and Skills Programmes:
- Short courses and learnerships that teach specific trades or skills, such as plumbing, welding, hairdressing, or early childhood development.
- Often linked directly to industry needs and apprenticeships.
Artisan and Apprenticeship Training:
- Focus on trades like electrical work, automotive mechanics, and fitting & turning.
- Provide hands-on experience and lead to recognised artisan status.
Courses And Programmes Offered At TVET Colleges
Please confirm if any of the courses listed below are offered by the colleges:
- Education and Development
- Finance, Economics, and Accounting
- Information Technology and Computer Practice
- Mechatronics
- Office Administration Tourism
- Civil Engineering and Building Construction
- Electrical Infrastructure Construction
- Engineering and Related Design
- Safety In Society
- National Skill Fund ( NSF Project )
- Automotive Repair and Maintenance
- Fitting
- Mechatronics
- Motor Mechanic
- Wholesale and Retail Operations
- Water and Wastewater Treatment
- Water Reticulation Services
- End-User computing
- General Security Practice
- Sports coaching
- Accounting Technician
- Fibre Processing and Manufacturing ( FP & M SETA)
- Furniture Making
- Health and Wealth (HWSETA)
- Fitting and Turning
- Electrical
- Automotive
- Education, Training and Development Practices ( ETDP-SETA)
- Early Childhood Development
- Wholesale and Retail SETA
- Wholesale and Retail Operations
Programmes are offered in many fields, such as agriculture, arts and culture, business, building construction, commerce and management, education and training, engineering, manufacturing, technology, security, and services. The courses vary in duration from short courses of a few hours to formal diploma courses of three years. Most courses require full-time attendance of classes, although some courses are offered via distance learning or through blended learning that combines attendance, electronic delivery, and self-study.
The colleges mainly offer courses on Levels 1 to 4 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), although some colleges offer Higher Certificates on Level 5 with 120 credits.
The two main courses offered by TVET colleges are:
- National Certificate (Vocational) qualifications, the NC (V), and
TVET colleges offer the following additional qualifications and programmes:
- Selected UNISA and other qualifications registered on the NQF.
- Occupational work-integrated programmes: learnerships and apprenticeships, as well as trade tests,
- Skills programmes and non-formal short courses, and
Who can attend a TVET college?
As part of the Higher Education system, TVET Colleges accept students who have completed Grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 at the high school level. University post-graduates can also enrol for courses at TVET Colleges for more practical exposure. Tvet Courses List
A big benefit of attending a TVET college is the high focus on the employability of students, where part of the curriculum requires the students to complete experiential training (internships and apprenticeships), which helps build up experience on their CV.
Not all colleges offer the same courses. It is a good idea to first do some research on courses offered by colleges that interest you. Courses are usually in the fields of hospitality, food service, and tourism industries, haircare, early childhood development, and management (financial, human resource, marketing, and administration), to mention a few.
Tvet Colleges Contact Information
- Visit: 123 Francis Baard Street, Pretoria, South Africa
- Private Bag X174, Pretoria, 0001
- Contact Details: 0800 87 2222/+ 27 12 312 5911
- Email: callcentre@dhet.gov.za
TVET colleges in South Africa provide hands-on, industry-driven education that equips students with practical skills for today’s job market. From National Certificate (Vocational) programmes for Grade 9 learners to NATED/Report 191 courses for matriculants and specialised artisan training, these institutions create direct pathways to employment or self-employment. Short skills programmes and learnerships further help students gain targeted expertise in trades such as plumbing, welding, and electrical work. Visit The Official Website Of TVET COLLEGES for More.
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