Accreditation as a Skills Development Provider

Guidelines for Accreditation

The FP&M SETA has been mandated to facilitate skills development in the clothing, footwear, forestry, furniture, general goods, leather, packaging, printing, publishing, pulp and paper, textiles and wood products sectors. In pursuance of FP&M SETA’s obligations to develop and promote a platform for quality skills development provisioning in the sector, a system for accreditation has been introduced to ensure the supply of recognized, needs-based and demand-driven education and training.

The accreditation system is aimed at all skills development organisations/providers within the sector who are seeking confirmation that their educational and training practices meet the quality standards of the FP&M SETA and that their organisations are equipped to provide quality skills development and/or assessment services to the FP&M sector. The accreditation system is in line with best practice education and training methods, and incorporates the management of skills development provisioningthrough best practice quality management systems.

For the purposes of accreditation, a provider is any person /organisation/ institution/ workplace that offers education and training and/ or assessment as their core business for:

  • Skills Programme/s
  • Learnership/s
  • Apprenticeships

Any provider, no matter how large or small, whose primary focus coincides with FP&M SETA’s scope, and whose education and training provisioning is occupationally-directed, should apply for accreditation.

The benefits of accreditation are:

  • Providers meet the requirements in terms of SAQA legislation
  • Accreditation affords providers the opportunity to offer learning programmes which culminates into registered qualifications aligned to the National Qualifications Framework.

The accreditation system introduced by the FP&M SETA is based on two principles:

  • a fixed framework
  • a process approach

The fixed framework ensures compliance with SAQA regulations whilst the process approach allows for the flexibility of ongoing development and improvement on the provision of quality education and training.

  1. Fixed Framework

The fixed framework in which FP&M SETA conducts the accreditation of organisations comprises of the following components:

a)SAQA Criteria for Achievement of Accreditation

1.1The primary focus of the provider coincides with that of FP&M SETA;

1.2The provider is a legal entity at the time of seeking accreditation;

1.3There is a business plan which defines the provider’s quality goals, processes, action plans and review mechanisms;

1.4The provider can demonstrate that it has the necessary physical, financial and administrative capacity to implement and manage quality education and training programmes;

1.5The provider can demonstrate the ability to deliver and evaluate learning programmes which culminate in registered unit standards or a qualification;

1.6The provider has policies and procedures for-

  • Learner entry, guidance and support; and
  • The efficient management of on-site and off-site learning and assessment;
  • The provider has the capacity and ability to produce the requisite reports;
  • The provider has, or has access, to the necessary assessor/s for unit standard or qualification assessment.

b)ETQA Policies and Procedures:

Through its policy framework, the FP&M SETA ETQA aims to:

2.1Respect and accommodate a broad range of organisations/providers in the sector;

2.2Recognise that good practice may be manifested in a wide range of practices, settings and contexts;

2.3Focus on the ability of the organization to meet best practice standards;

2.4Strive for efficiency and cost effectiveness; and

2.5Promote access and equity.

Process Approach

The following steps and timeframes apply to the accreditation process:

STEP 1:Provider applies for accreditation

  • FP&MSETA applicant makes initial contact.
  • Accreditation Pack is made available to the prospective Training Provider via the FP&M SETA website ( or regional offices.
  • Using the Accreditation Pack, the applicant creates a portfolio of evidence file.
  • The completed portfolio of evidence file is submitted to the appropriate Regional FP&M SETAoffice.
  • Receipt of the Application is acknowledged.

STEP 2:DesktopEvaluation

  • The application is reviewed by the FP&M SETA ETQA Department.
  • Should the findings of the review be unfavourable, the provider will be sent a development compliance plan and given a maximum period of six months in which to re-submit the application. Failure to re-submit within the stipulated timeframe will result in the provider having to re-apply for accreditation status.
  • If the desktop evaluation is favourable, then the provider is informed accordingly and agreement is reached on the audit process and date.
  • Site visit is scheduled with applicant.
  • Applicant will be informed if an external subject matter expert will form part of the audit team.

STEP 3:Site Audit

  • FP&M SETA Audit Team conducts on-site audit.
  • Site audit report is drafted by Team Leader.
  • FP&M SETA ETQA approves report and distributes to applicant with decision on accreditation.

STEP 4:Accreditation and certification

  • The final audit report is completed by the Team Leader and submitted to the FP&MSETA Quality Assurance Committee for ratification.
  • The final results of the audit, including recommendations, and the decision regarding accreditation status are conveyed to the applicant.
  • Should an audit result be unfavourable, the provider will be given a development compliance plan with agreed timeframes to address the non-compliances.
  • Should an audit result be favourable, then the organisation will be granted FP&M SETA accreditation for a period of five years.
  • The successful applicant will receive the FP&M SETA accreditation certificate.

Appeals Process

The applicant will have the right to appeal as per the FP&M SETA Appeals Policy and Procedures.

For more information on accreditation and other quality assurance matters, kindly contact our ETQA Staff who will be glad to assist you.