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All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |
| SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY |
| REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: |
| Higher Occupational Certificate: Solar Photovoltaic Standalone Service Technician |
| SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
| 120863 | Higher Occupational Certificate: Solar Photovoltaic Standalone Service Technician | |||
| ORIGINATOR | ||||
| Development Quality Partner- MERSETA | ||||
| PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
| - | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
| QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
| Higher Occupational Cert | Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction | Electrical Infrastructure Construction | ||
| ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
| Undefined | 133 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 05 | Regular-ELOAC |
| REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
| Registered | EXCO 0716/23 | 2023-05-30 | 2028-05-30 | |
| LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
| 2029-05-30 | 2031-05-30 | |||
| In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise. |
This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. |
| PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
| Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare the learner to operate as a Solar Photovoltaic Standalone Service Technician. A Solar Photovoltaic Standalone Service Technician ensures the safe and efficient maintenance and service of stand-alone PV system installations. These installations would include domestic roof-top installations and various other off grid installations across a range of urban and rural sites. A competent learner will demonstrate the following key attributes: Honesty and Integrity, Attention to Detail, Risk Awareness, Compliance Orientation, Technical Acumen, Good team player. A qualified learner will be able to: Rationale: The use of renewable energy, on and off the national energy grid, is a key imperative for economic growth and environmental protection. Africa's rapid economic expansion creates a daunting energy challenge, combined with rising expectations of improved resilience and sustainability. Finding a sustainable way to meet growing energy needs is one of the core development challenges for the continent. Africa is rich in renewable energy sources, including hydro, sun, wind and others, and the time is right to accelerate our capability to meet the challenges and opportunities offered by this emerging sector. There are currently no official qualifications to ensure standardisation and quality assurance in this fast-growing space. This qualification will meet this important need. This qualification is the pinnacle qualification in a suite of qualifications that creates a clear career path for new entrants into this critical industry. Upon completing this qualification, the successful learner will be ready to move into the professional levels of the career path. This qualification will benefit the sector and the economy in the sense that the suite of qualifications creates ideal opportunities for the upskilling of current and new employees in the industry and it will enable South Africa to meet this challenge, ensuring that we install quality, safe and sustainable infrastructure in urban and rural areas. This is critical to contribute towards the achievement of our National Development plan and to contribute towards our attempts at creating a more environmentally friendly and sustainable energy sector. This qualification provides the pathway for professionalising this critical sector and, through the continued involvement of the relevant industry bodies, the content of the qualification was crafted to inform and support the emerging processes to facilitate licensing and professionalisation. |
| LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
| Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result. Entry Requirements: NQF Level 4 qualification with Mathematics. |
| RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
| Y |
| QUALIFICATION RULES |
| This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skills, and Work Experience Modules:
Knowledge Modules: Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 37 Practical Skill Modules: 4 Credits. 313109-002-00-PM-02, Maintain Test, Diagnose, Repair, and Replace Inverters in PV Systems, Level 5, 4 Credits. Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 36 Work Experience Modules: Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 60 |
| EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
| 1. Use applicable knowledge to maintain, test, and replace PV panels components.
2. Apply knowledge to maintain, test, repair and replace inverters and transformers. 3. Use applicable knowledge to maintain, test, and replace cables, cable inter-connections, smart boxes, PV junction/string boxes, string diodes, connectors, fuses, switchgears and control gears and repair switchgears and control gears. 4. Apply knowledge to maintain, test, and replace batteries and charge controllers and repair charge controllers where possible. |
| ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
| Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: Integrated Assessment Formative Assessment: The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment together with work experience leads to entrance in the integrated external summative assessment. Integrated Assessment Summative Assessment: An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the exit level outcomes and associated assessment criteria. The assessment will be conducted through written assessment and the evaluation of practical tasks at decentralised approved assessment sites by a panel of assessors within a period of 1 day. |
| INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
| This occupational certificate was compared with two qualifications in Canada and in Australia:
Australia The Certificate III in Renewable Energy is a Nationally registered vocational certificate within the Australian National Skills Development System. (A Certificate III in the Australian National Skills system is equivalent to Secondary education certificates or vocational qualifications. In other words, an NQF Level 5 within a South African context.) The entry requirement for this qualification is a National Education Certificate level II with competencies in Communication, the ability to contextualise basic Physical Science and Mathematical concepts. The later can be gained through formal school education or through appropriate workplace exposure. The duration of the learning varies depending on the selection of electives and the availability of the learner to complete the practical components but in general learners can complete the qualification in plus minus 18 months. The qualification covers competencies to select, install, set up, test, fault find, repair and maintain renewable energy (RE) equipment and systems. It does not include electrical work covered by licensing requirements declared by the Electrical Regulators Advisory Council (ERAC) for an 'Electrician's licence'. The certificate covers the following modules/learning units: Core units Group A: Imported and common elective units. Group B: Qualification elective units. Similarities Differences Canada The Diploma in Renewable Energies delivered by Fanshaw College in Ontario Canada builds foundational knowledge in the electrical, electronic, and mechanical disciplines focussing on how they function in the Renewable Energies sector. The two essential criteria for entry into this qualification are, high school grades/performance in mathematics and physical science as well as language skills be it English (in most of the provinces) or French in francophone ones. Upon successful completion of this qualification learners could obtain a qualification at Diploma level requiring plus minus 1000 post school instructional hours. The study of the design and installation techniques required to work with various Renewable Energy solutions such as Solar Energy, Wind Turbines, Biomass Energy and Geothermal Energy Systems. The learner also examines the best industry practices of health, safety, and environmental conservation along with complete safety training for working at heights and confined spaces. Learners are also introduced to the general concepts associated with global climate change and the practicalities associated with sustainable energy including conservation techniques. The successful graduate will have an in-depth working knowledge of current practice in the installation, commissioning and routine maintenance and repair of Photovoltaic and Wind Turbine generating systems enabling them to function effectively in the utility-scale Wind Turbine and Solar Photovoltaic industries. Successful learners will be able to demonstrate the following abilities upon completion of this diploma: Admission to this diploma required a General Education with Mathematics. The programme is completed over a period of two years, and this includes residential training and work-related application through a co-operative agreement that the college have with participating industry stakeholders. Similarities Differences Conclusion The content, level, qualification components, duration, and delivery of the two international qualifications compare favourably to the South African Occupational Qualification. All three qualifications cover the same key competencies, but the emphasis and structures of the qualifications differ according to the specific needs in every country. |
| ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
| This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: |
| NOTES |
| Qualifying for External Assessment:
To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of a statement of results and statement of work experience as well as proof of successful completion of the following subjects and modules or alternative programmes where applicable including Foundational Learning Competence. Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements: Criteria for the Accreditation of Providers: Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website. The curriculum title and code are: Solar Photovoltaic Service Technician: 313109-002-00-00 O Encompassed Trades: Assessment Quality Partner: RELATED PART-QUALIFICATIONS |
| LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
| NONE |
| PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: |
| This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here. |
| NONE |
| All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |