Note, this is a 2024 article, the link to the 2026 article is given below.
If so, that link is here
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CONTEXT: Lime Green serves a niche client base who train first aid, OHS, fire, and related short courses. Please understand this article in that context.
In a few preceding articles, including this one, I took a look at the concessions made by the QCTO and the SETA’s, to extend the life of some of the programs that fall under the niche I serve; when those programs are not yet converted to QCTO programs. The extensions were gazetted, and SETA’s gave notices of some partial, piecemeal, concessions in some areas, to try aid the migration from SETA’s to QCTO for specific programs.
Two important things were still missing though:
1. Official extension of the “last date for enrolment” stated on the published SAQA webpage for each specific unit standard. I checked a lot of them and none were extended in that capacity. That remained the case through July 2024. This was important because without it SETA learner enrolments would not work in most cases.
2. Official notice by the SETA that the “doors are open” for SDP’s to apply for accreditation to train these extended programs. I had data from CETA, HWSETA, and TETA and all had major limitations on their extensions. E.g. limited to only existing providers, or those whose accreditation was (somehow) still current. I say “somehow” because most SETA’s were stopping extensions because of the upcoming changes, so almost no one was current. See previous articles.
Some programs have had their last date for enrolment extended on the SAQA page for that unit standard.
See table below. Notes about this table:
In short, some key OHS related programs have been extended, most fire programs have not been extended yet, and first aid programs are extended even though technically not needed because the QCTO programs already exist. The forklift one was extended because industry considers the new QCTO forklift curricula not suitable.
| US ID | NAME | EXTENDED? | BUY MATERIAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9964 | Apply health and safety to a work area | ✅ | Yes, buy it here |
| 8016 | Maintaining occupational health, safety and general housekeeping | ✅ | Yes, buy it here |
| 13915 | Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of HIV/AIDS in a workplace…. | ✅ | Yes, buy it here |
| 242974 | Operate counter-balanced lift truck (Forklift F1 – F4) | ✅ | Yes, buy it here |
| 119567 | Perform basic life support and first aid procedures | ✔️ | Yes, buy it here |
| 120496 | Provide risk-based primary emergency care/first aid in the workplace | ✔️ | Yes, buy it here |
| 376480 | Provide first aid as an advanced first responder | ✔️ | Yes, buy it here |
| 252250 | Apply fire fighting techniques (see below table, similar US12484 was extended) | ❌ | Available, see notice |
| 120331 | Demonstrate knowledge pertaining to fires in working places | ❌ | Available, see notice |
| 117082 | Contribute to the suppression of wildfires at basic fire-fighting level | ❌ | Available, see notice |
I checked on some unit standards I do not provide learning for yet, but might in future, or programs that are simply closely related and used by the niche client base I serve:
| US ID | NAME | EXTENDED? | BUY MATERIAL? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 229995 | …basic rescues from fall arrest systems and implement the fall protection plan | ❌ | Not applicable |
| 229997 | Select equipment and rig ropes for rope access projects | ✅ | Not available here |
| 229999 | Perform a range of advanced fall arrest rescues | ✅ | Not available here |
| 123259 | Convey dangerous goods by road | ✅ | Not available here |
| 264454 | Manage hazardous substances | ✅ | Not available here |
| 12484 | Perform basic fire fighting | ✅ | Not available here |
| 8020 | Controlling hazardous and dangerous goods | ❌ | Not applicable |
| 12512 | Practice environmental awareness | ✅ | Not available here |
| 259622 | Describe the functions of the workplace health and safety representative | ❌ | Not applicable |
Is the door open to apply for the unit standards that have been extended?
Sandy the ETQA manager at TETA says “only existing providers can extend time”. That means if you were accredited with TETA you can extend your accreditation against the renewed unit standards.
Baakedi the ETQA manager at HWSETA says “Not for HWSETA quality assured programmes (qualifications and unit standards). No new accreditations, re-accreditations and extension of scope is accepted for unit standard based programmes.”
So can I, the reader, apply?
First, have you checked if the unit standard you want has been converted to a QCTO skills program? Because if it has, rather do the QCTO one. The QCTO program lifespans are 5 years before renewals, and the programs are expected to last. There has been a lot of shifting before with SETA’s and DEL etc, but establishment of the QCTO as the primary point for quality assurance on these NQF levels has been a long time coming; well over a decade. And DEL still plays the role they were originally intended to play which is regulatory approval and licensing, not quality assurance (as do other regulatory bodies).
Are you going to be applying to a SETA as a new SDP? If so, the SETA’s I have checked with say no, this is only open to existing providers doing renewals (or those who are already current). So if you are a new provider doing an initial application, the answer is probably no.
Even if you found a SETA who would take on your new SDP application, please work back from June 2026 minus about 6 months for the application process. SETA accreditation takes roughly 6 months for new SDP applications and last date for enrolment is June 2026. So a person applying today (14 August 2024) would only be able to train learners for about a year and 4 months. In short, the SETA will say no (because the QCTO has instructed them to say no) and even if they said yes, you would be investing in something that does not have longevity.
Are you going to be applying as a formerly (recently) SETA accredited training provider? If so, I would say first check if your program exists at the QCTO. But if it does not you absolutely should apply for extension of time if your SETA allows.
Need assistance on this? Get in touch, I’m here to help.
