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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: |
| National Occupational Certificate: Micro-Finance Loan Consultant |
| SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
| 125123 | National Occupational Certificate: Micro-Finance Loan Consultant | |||
| ORIGINATOR | ||||
| Development Quality Partner - BANKSETA | ||||
| PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
| QCTO - Quality Council for Trades and Occupations | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
| QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
| National Occupational Cert | Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies | Finance, Economics and Accounting | ||
| ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
| Undefined | 144 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 04 | Regular-ELOAC |
| REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
| Registered | EXCO 0936/25 | 2025-11-13 | 2029-11-13 | |
| LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
| 2030-11-13 | 2033-11-13 | |||
| 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 replaces: |
| Qual ID | Qualification Title | Pre-2009 NQF Level | NQF Level | Min Credits | Replacement Status |
| 23453 | National Certificate: Micro Finance | Level 3 | NQF Level 03 | 120 | Complete |
| PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
| Purpose:
The National Occupational Certificate: Micro-Finance Loan Consultant or Officer equips learners with the skills and knowledge to effectively administer the entire lifecycle of a micro loan, from prospecting and acquiring consumers to ensuring loan repayments and maintaining compliance with regulations. Learners will gain practical experience in interacting with consumers in both face-to-face and call centre settings, while also developing the ability to monitor and administer a loan portfolio. By acquiring these competencies, learners will be well- prepared for a career in micro-finance, offering valuable support to individuals and communities while fostering financial inclusion and stability. Learners have the option to focus on individual lending, group lending or developmental lending as electives in the qualification. The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Micro-Finance Loan Consultant or Officer. Micro-finance Loan Consultants administer the entire lifecycle of a micro loan, ensuring compliance with regulations. Micro-finance Loan Consultants interact with consumers in a face-to-face or call centre setting. A qualified learner will be able to: A qualified learner will demonstrate the following key attributes: Rationale: The National Occupational Certificate: Micro-Finance Loan Consultant or Officer has been developed to address the need for skilled professionals in the micro-finance sector. As micro- loans become an essential tool for economic empowerment and poverty alleviation, there is a need for trained consultants who can effectively administer loan processes, ensure compliance with regulations, and assist consumers in managing their financial needs. This qualification addresses the gap by equipping individuals with the necessary expertise to contribute to the success and sustainability of micro-finance institutions and development financing. The qualification is structured to provide learners with the option to select modules that pertain specifically to either Individual, Group or small Business consumers as elective modules in addition to the compulsory modules. The National Occupational Certificate: Micro-Finance Loan Consultant or Officer will enhance the micro-finance sector by producing well-trained professionals who can effectively administer the loan process, improve customer service, and reduce risk through proper portfolio management. It will also ensure that micro-finance institutions comply with regulations, contributing to the stability and integrity of the sector. Society will benefit from access to trained consultants; this qualification will help individuals and small businesses in underserved communities obtain the financial support they need whilst addressing responsible lending principles. It will also promote financial literacy, empowering consumers to make informed decisions and better manage their finances. The National Occupational Certificate: Micro-Finance Loan Consultant or Officer will contribute to economic growth by fostering financial inclusion, enabling more people to access credit, invest in businesses, and improve their livelihoods. The qualification's focus on Developmental Lending will also support the growth of micro-enterprises, which are key drivers of job creation and economic development in many regions. Typical learners include people who are already working within the Micro-Finance industry and those who wish to enter the field. Collaboration with relevant stakeholders: Typical occupations in which the qualifying learner will operate (if relevant) Micro-Finance Loan Consultant: Micro-Finance Loan Officer. Profession(s) related: |
| LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
| Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
RPL for access: RPL for exemption from modules: For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a qualification through any means of formal, informal or non- formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded. RPL for credits: Entry Requirements: An NQF Level 3 qualification. |
| RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
| Y |
| QUALIFICATION RULES |
| This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill, and Work Experience Modules:
Knowledge Modules: Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 83 Practical Skills Modules: Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 44 Work Experience Modules: Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 17 |
| EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
| Exit Level Outcomes:
1. Apply essential prospecting methods, procedures and techniques. 2. Process credit applications for consumer acquisition activities. 3. Interpret information to monitor and administer the loan portfolio. 4. Apply essential collection workout methods, procedures and techniques. |
| ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
| Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
ELO 1: Apply essential prospecting methods, procedures and techniques. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: ELO 2: Process credit applications for consumer acquisition activities. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: ELO 3: Interpret information to monitor and administer the loan portfolio. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: ELO 4: Apply essential collection workout methods, procedures and techniques. INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT Formative Assessments: Formative assessments are conducted throughout the training of learners. A range of formal, non-formal, and informal ongoing assessment activities are used to focus on teaching and learning outcomes to improve learner attainment. Formative assessments are conducted continuously by the facilitator to feed into further learning, to identify strengths and weakness, and to ensure the learner's ability to apply knowledge, skills and workplace experience gained. Formative Assessments are conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP), and a variety of ongoing assessment methods may be used, for example, quizzes, assignments, tests, scenarios, role play, interviews. Continuous feedback must be provided. Integrated Summative Assessments: Integrated Assessment involves all the different types of assessment tasks required for a particular qualification, such as written assessment of theory and practical demonstration of competence. To achieve this, the Internal Assessment Criteria (IAC) for all modules as found in the QCTO curriculum document must be followed. An accredited SDP should implement a well-designed, formal, relevant, final internal Summative Assessment strategy for all modules to prepare learners for the EISA. These assessments evaluate learning achievements relating to the achievement of each module of the relevant components of the qualification. Internal Summative Assessments are developed, moderated and conducted by the SDP at the end of each module or after integration of relevant modules, e.g., applied knowledge tests, workplace tasks, practical demonstrations, simulated tasks/demonstrations, projects, case studies, etc. The results of these final formal summative assessments must be recorded. These results, which include the Statement of Work Experience results, where applicable, contribute to the Statement of Results (SoR) that is a requirement for admission to the EISA. A SoR, using the template provided by the Quality Partner, is issued by the accredited SDP for qualifications. The SDP must produce a valid Statement of Results for each learner, indicating the result and the date on which the competence in each module, of each component, was achieved. Learners are required to produce this SoR, together with their ID document or alternative ID document, at the point of the EISA. External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA): The Quality Partner is responsible for the management, conduct and implementation of the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA), in accordance with QCTO set standards. Competence in the EISA is a requirement for certificating a learner. |
| INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
| Comparability was conducted with the two qualifications that prepare learners to work in the micro-finance industry from India and Bangladesh.
Country: India. Institution: Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF). Qualification Title: The Certificate in Micro-finance. Duration: Six. India The Certificate in Micro-finance is offered by the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF) in India. The qualification is offered at National Skills Qualification Framework Level 4-5, which aligns with intermediate skill and knowledge levels required for operational and technical roles. Duration is a minimum of six months, with a flexible learning model and entry requirements for the qualification is basic secondary education and foundational knowledge in financial services. Content covered: Similarities: Both qualifications share content, level of complexity and prepare learners to function as Micro-Finance Officers at an operational level performing technical roles. Differences: The Certificate in Micro-finance differs from the National Occupational Certificate: Micro- Finance Loan Consultant or Officer as it requires foundational knowledge in financial services, is without work experience module component and shorter than the South African qualification's year duration. The longer duration of the South African qualification is largely be ascribed to the Work Experience module component, that is not specified in the qualification offered in India. Country: Bangladesh. Institution: Institute of Micro-finance. Qualification Title: Certificate in Micro-finance. Duration: One year. Institute of Micro-finance in Bangladesh offers a Certificate in Micro-finance as a one-year programme and requires High School Graduation as entry requirement. Content Covered: Similarities: Both qualifications share content, focus on building foundational knowledge and skills for effective participation in micro-finance, prepare learners for roles such as Micro-finance Officers and have one year duration. Differences: The entry requirement of the Bangladesh qualification is higher than the NQF Level 3 requirement of the newly developed NQF Level 4 Occupational Certificate: Micro-Finance Loan Consultant or Officer. Conclusion: The two qualifications identified for international comparability compare favourably with the National Occupational Certificate: Micro-Finance Loan Consultant or Officer in terms of content, learning outcomes, competencies and duration of qualifications. |
| ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
| This qualification provides for the following articulation possibilities.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: Diagonal Articulation: |
| MODERATION OPTIONS |
| N/A. |
| CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
| N/A. |
| NOTES |
| Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements
Criteria for Accreditation The curriculum title and code are: National Occupational Certificate: Micro-Finance Loan Consultant or Officer, 421301-001-00-00. Encompassed Trades |
| LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
| When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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. |