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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Higher Certificate in Practice Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96726  Higher Certificate in Practice Management 
ORIGINATOR
The Foundation for Professional Development 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Higher Certificate  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Generic Management 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 05  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The discipline of medicine and the environment in which it is being practiced is continuously evolving. The bulk of General Practitioners in South Africa (75%) practice as self-employed practitioners in the private sector. The nature of these practices involves them or their practice managers in management at a first line managerial or middle management level. This qualification is designed to address the management needs of independent health care practitioners (doctors, pharmacists, dentists etc) currently no or very limited exposure is given to management issues in the undergraduate curriculum of health care professionals. The typical learner who will access this qualification will be a person who supervises other managers, supervisors and or team members in the health sector.

Further was the need for medical practitioners to be involved in continuous learning acknowledge by The Health Professional Council of South Africa through the introduction of an obligating system of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in 1998 and this qualification is accredited for CPD points.

The Higher Certificate in Practice Management is structured in such a way that it gives learners exposure to a broad set of Core competencies.

Rationale:
This qualification is designed to address the management needs of independent health care practitioners (doctors, pharmacists, dentists etc) currently no or very limited exposure is given to management issues in the undergraduate curriculum of health care professionals.

The qualification covers the basic principles of management conceptualised for the ethical and environmental realities of health care practice. By introducing management practices for private health care provision, it supports providers in understanding national health care goals, policies and objectives. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
This qualification may be achieved in part through the recognition of prior learning. Individual learners will be assessed against the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification on a case-by-case basis. Such procedures, and the assessment of individual cases, are subject to moderation by independent-assessors.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirements are:
  • National Senior Certificate (NSC).
    Or
  • National Certificate (Vocational) NC(V)) at Level 4. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 5 totalling 120 Credits.

    Modules:
  • Business Planning, 15 Credits.
  • Human Resource Management, 15 Credits.
  • Practice Finance, 15 Credits.
  • The Business Environment, 15 Credits.
  • Health Law and Ethics, 15 Credits.
  • Managed Care, 15 Credits.
  • Operations Management in Healthcare, 15 Credits.
  • Marketing, 15 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Develop an implementable business plan for the practice.
    2. Use systems effectively and appropriately in achieving the objectives of the practice.
    3. Apply an effective marketing strategy within the parameters of the current legislation for health care practitioners.
    4. Apply sound financial management practices and techniques. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Analyse the external business environment and the market environment to determine the key factors for organisational success.
  • Analyse the internal organisational issues that are essential for the effective positioning of the organisation to address the industry and external environmental changes.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Apply quality management principles.
  • Measure the productivity of an operational unit.
  • Identify where process improvements could be made.
  • Understand the importance of environmental health and safety for the organisation.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Use various strategic analysis tools to understand the competitive environment in which you operate.
  • Identify the factors which influence the customers to purchase products, to make judgments about the value which they receive, and to keep returning.
  • Distinguish between market segmentation, marketing targeting, and market positioning and explain how we can better use the principles to make our brands even more successful.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Interpret balance sheets.
  • Use income statements to measure profits.
  • Manage cash flow.
  • Manage a budget.
  • Save money and increase income.
  • Manage and improve a business profit and its cash flow situation.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The applied competence of this qualification will be achieved if a learner is able to achieve all Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification. Exit Level Outcomes are measurable and verifiable through assessment criteria assessed in one application. Competence will be assessed when conducting Formative and Summative Assessment.

    Formative Assessment:
    Formative Assessment takes place during the process of learning and assessors should use a range of assessment methods and tools that support each other to assess total competence. These tools include the following:
  • Role-play simulations.
  • Structured group discussion.
  • Case studies.
  • Presentations on group work.
  • Experiential learning including work based assignments.
  • Scenario sketching.

    The assessment method and or tools used by the assessor must be fair so as not to hinder or advantage the learner, valid, reliable and effective.

    Summative Assessment:
    Summative assessment is carried out at the end of the qualification to assess the achievement of the learner. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification has been benchmarked against international practices in the Health Sector. Although various qualifications have been reviewed, the following qualifications reviewed compare the best:

    United Kingdom:
    The Birkbeck University of London offers the Health Planning and Management (Certificate). The qualification is designed for general managers or anyone involved in the organisation and management of community health services or in health promotion work. The qualification is also suitable for clinicians, such as doctors, nurses and therapist.

    The effective delivery of health services is dependent on effective planning and management, and this in turn relies on informed debate and trained professionals. Birkbeck provide specific training in this area, through modules covering the economics and finance or health systems, research methods, policy and promotion.

    The qualification includes:
  • Health economics.
  • Finance and Management of Health systems.
  • Health Services Research Methods.
  • Health Policy and Health Promotion.
    The duration of the qualification is one to three years.

    Australia:
    The Monash University offers the Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management. The qualification provides core competencies for health professionals in health service management, including leadership, human resource and financial management of health services. The learners are required to complete two core and two elective units. The core units cover the following:
  • Clinical leadership and management.
  • Financial issues in health care management.

    The electives cover the following:
  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
  • Law of health systems.
  • Principles of health care quality improvement.
  • Health policy and information management.

    The qualification is offered as a one-year part time qualification.

    United States of America:
    The UNC School of Public Health offers the Certificate in Health Care Management. The qualification is designed for people in the health care system who have, or expect to have, responsibility for managing people, money, information, projects, and partnerships. Courses assume that learners have work experience to draw upon, and cover content areas such as organisation leadership and management, finance, human resources, and strategic and business planning.

    The following brief course descriptions highlight key topic areas (with the sequence of courses as shown):
  • HPAA 204 - Management Principles and Practices.
  • Management principles and practices, including:
    > Module 1: Organisation Design and Governance.
    > Module 2: Leadership and Management.
    > Module 3: Strategic Management.
    > Module 4: Organisation Innovation and Change.
  • HPAA 230 - Management of Human Resources in Health Organisations:
    Fundamentals of managing people in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Topics include; delegation, conflict management and negotiation, interviewing, hiring, performance review, diversity, and time management.
  • HPAA 250 - Introduction to Health Care Financial Management:
    Financial management principles for government and not-profit managers in health: planning, tracking and decision-making.
  • HPAA 221 - Third Party Payers and Contracting:
    Overview of healthcare industry, including private, for-profit, and not-for-profit plans, Medicaid, Workers Compensation, Tricare, and managed care systems. Theory of insurance, reimbursements, contracting.
  • HPAA 249 - Business Plan Development:
    Development of a new business venture, culminating in a high-level business plan, including marketing, operations, and financial components, one of which will be fleshed out in detail, and concluding with an executive summary.

    The qualification focusses in on basic management, with application to health care organisations.

    The qualification is conducted online and can be completed in 12 months.

    Although the qualification was compared with international qualifications, it needs to be recognised that the South African Health system differ vastly from other international Health systems. Therefore, in terms of international comparisons, none truly exists as those available addresses other aspects/systems. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers the following articulation possibilities:
  • Higher Certificate in Management, Level 5.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Advanced Certificate in Health Management, Level 6.
  • Advanced Certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation, Level 6. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    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.
     
    1. The Foundation for Professional Development 


    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.