How to Check If a Company Is SETA-Accredited: A Complete Guide for South African Learners and Job Seekers (2025)

📍 Introduction: Why SETA Accreditation Matters

In South Africa’s fast-evolving skills development landscape, learnerships and training programmes offer a golden path to qualifications, jobs, and opportunities. But one common—and dangerous—pitfall for many hopeful learners is falling into the trap of unaccredited providers.

So how can you avoid being scammed?

The answer lies in one word: accreditation.

Being accredited by a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) means that a training provider is officially recognised and compliant with national standards. It also means that the qualification you receive will be valid, recognised by employers, and backed by law.

If you’re reading this, you probably want to be sure:

“Is this training provider really SETA-accredited?”

This guide will show you exactly how to check SETA accreditation online, the tools you can use, and how to protect yourself from false promises.

🌱 A True Story: Sipho’s Costly Mistake

In 2023, 24-year-old Sipho from Limpopo paid R2,500 to register for a business management learnership. The training provider said it was accredited and even promised a stipend.

But after two months of waiting, there were no classes, no calls, no refund—only silence. He later discovered that the company was not registered with any SETA, and his money—and time—were gone.

Sipho’s story isn’t unique. Every year, thousands of South Africans lose their money and hopes to fake training schemes.

That’s why knowing how to check SETA accreditation is not just smart—it’s necessary.

🔍 Step-by-Step: How to Check SETA Accreditation Online

Let’s go through the main steps and platforms you can use to verify if a company, college, or provider is SETA-accredited.

🧾 1. Ask the Provider for Their Accreditation Certificate

Before going online, the first step is the simplest:
Ask them for their official SETA Accreditation Certificate.

Every SETA-accredited provider is issued a certificate with:

• The name of the provider
• A unique accreditation number
• The validity period
• The SETA under which they are registered
• Their scope of accreditation (i.e. what qualifications they can offer)

📸 Tip: Ask for a scanned copy or photo of the certificate, then verify its authenticity online.

❗Warning: A certificate alone is not enough. It can be forged. Always cross-check it with official sources.

🌐 2. Verify Accreditation on the SETA’s Official Website

Most SETAs maintain online accreditation databases that list all registered and currently accredited training providers. Here’s how to check:

Example: Services SETA (SSETA)

• Visit: https://www.serviceseta.org.za
• Look for the “Accredited Training Providers” section
• Search by name, region, or accreditation number
• Confirm that the provider appears and check their scope

Other SETAs (Quick Links):

🔑 Pro Tip: If you don’t know which SETA the provider falls under, ask them or Google the programme they offer + “SETA”.

🗃️ 3. Use the SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) Database

SAQA is the national regulator of qualifications in South Africa. They keep an updated record of:

• Registered qualifications
• Accredited training providers
• National Qualification Framework (NQF) alignment

How to Use SAQA to Check Accreditation:

1. Visit: https://www.saqa.org.za
2. Go to “Search Qualifications and Providers”
3. Enter the provider name or the qualification ID
4. Confirm whether the provider appears under accredited institutions

📌 Tip: Make sure the programme matches the NQF level and field of study.

🏛️ 4. Check with QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations)

QCTO oversees occupational qualifications, including many learnerships and artisan programmes. Providers offering these must be registered with QCTO.

How to Check:

• Visit: https://www.qcto.org.za
• Navigate to the “Accredited Providers” section
• Use the list or search feature to confirm if the provider is listed

🔍 QCTO is especially useful for checking artisan training, technical skills, and new occupational qualifications.

📩 5. Contact the SETA Directly

If the provider’s name doesn’t appear online or you need to confirm specific details, email or call the SETA directly. Most SETAs have a public contact page with:

• Support lines
• Learner helpdesks
• Accreditation departments

✅ Provide them with:

• The provider’s name
• Their physical address or registration number
• The course name

They can confirm if the provider is currently accredited, suspended, or expired.

🧭 What Does “Scope of Accreditation” Mean?

Even if a provider is accredited, that doesn’t mean they’re approved to offer every qualification.

For example:

• A provider may be accredited to offer Business Administration NQF Level 4, but not Project Management.
• A college may be SETA-accredited for short skills programmes but not full learnerships.

This is called their Scope of Accreditation.

Before you sign up, ask them for their scope and check whether the course you want is included.

🚩 Red Flags: Signs a Provider Might Not Be Accredited

1. No website or physical address
2. No SETA certificate or accreditation number
3. Charging upfront “registration” or “placement” fees
4. Guaranteeing jobs or stipends
5. No learnership agreement or contract offered
6. Poor grammar and vague course descriptions

If something feels “off”, trust your instinct and double-check everything.

🧠 Why Accreditation Matters for You

1. ✅ You earn a nationally recognised qualification
2. ✅ You qualify for stipends and official learnerships
3. ✅ Employers trust and accept accredited training
4. ✅ Your training hours and credits are valid on the NQF
5. ✅ You protect your time, effort, and money

Without proper accreditation, you may end up with a certificate that means nothing—and that’s a costly mistake.

✍️ A Quick Accreditation Checklist (for Learners)

🌟 Final Thoughts: Empower Yourself with Information

When it comes to your education and future, don’t take shortcuts.

Verifying SETA accreditation may take a few extra minutes, but it could save you months—or even years—of regret. It’s not about being suspicious, but about being smart and informed.

Whether you’re starting a learnership, enrolling in a short course, or applying to a private college—check the credentials before you invest your trust.

Because like Sipho, many others have learned the hard way.

You don’t have to.

Buhle Mageba

✨ About the Author: Buhle MagebaHi there 👋 I’m Buhle Mageba, the proud admin and content creator of EDUPAGE 🌐 www.edupage.co.zaI love hearing from readers! Whether you’ve got questions, feedback, or opportunities to share, feel free to reach out: 📧 info@edupage.co.za