Training and Development Professional Career in South Africa
Explore the official OFO occupation, common tasks, specialisations and approved South African qualification pathways.
Occupation overview
Researches, plans, designs, develops, implements, monitors, evaluates, verifies and manages the quality of learning and development interventions, to ensure management and staff acquire the required competencies to meet organizational strategic objectives.
What does a Training and Development Professional do?
A Training and Development Professional helps an organisation build the knowledge and competencies its employees need. The work can include identifying learning needs, designing training materials and programmes, coordinating or delivering interventions, checking whether learning has improved performance, and monitoring the quality of training against organisational objectives. Possible roles include Training Advisor, Training Consultant, Training Coordinator, Training Officer and Learnership Manager.
Specialisations
How to become a Training and Development Professional in South Africa
- Build a foundation in workplace learning, training coordination, business administration or development practice.
- Consider the Further Education and Training Certificate: Business Administration Services: Training and Development Practices (SAQA ID 93569, NQF Level 4, 140 credits), which is directly aligned with training and development practice.
- Other mapped learning routes include the General Education and Training Certificate: Adult Basic Education and Training: Early Childhood Development (SAQA ID 73254, NQF Level 1, 120 credits), the General Education and Training Certificate: Development Practice (SAQA ID 23093, NQF Level 1, 120 credits), and the General Education and Training Certificate: Human Settlements Development (SAQA ID 65969, NQF Level 1, 120 credits).
- Seek opportunities to apply learning and development knowledge through training coordination, learner support, material development, advising or workplace learning projects.
- Develop experience in evaluating learning interventions and linking employee competencies to organisational strategic objectives, while confirming current qualification and provider details with SAQA or an accredited provider.
Edupstairs Preparation Guidance
The most directly aligned listed route is the Further Education and Training Certificate in Business Administration Services: Training and Development Practices. Education can support entry into the field, while practical responsibility in coordinating programmes, developing materials, advising learners or evaluating training is also valuable. Confirm current qualification status, provider availability and assessment arrangements with SAQA or an accredited provider.
Useful school subjects
- English
- Business Studies
- Computer Applications Technology
- Information Technology
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Literacy
Skills that may help
- Training needs analysis
- Learning programme design
- Training material development
- Communication and facilitation
- Coordination and administration
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Quality management
- Report writing and record-keeping