Trade Tests at Qualitas Training are meant to ensure that you are ready to acquire skills, develop on a personal level, and also find your niche with regard to the technical trade you would like to venture into. This blog will speak to who exactly qualifies for a trade test.

Trade tests at Qualitas Training are guided by a framework laid out in the Skills development act, 1998 (trade test regulations, 2014) which "provides a single national artisan trade testing and certification system across all economic sectors". As such Qualitas has a responsibility in providing quality training and standardized regulations to ensure candidates meet the requirements to enter a process that leads to a trade test and is tested fairly, efficiently, and effectively. This blog will speak to who exactly qualifies for a trade test.

Get acquainted with what we do

 

We are all about comprehensive training. With more than 15 years of experience in the skills development sector, our approach to training is both theoretical and practical. This helps our candidates implement that very theoretical knowledge practically.

Due to the fact that we are an accredited Training and Trade Test centre, we are hands-on and passionate about guiding, facilitating, and pruning technical traders with stellar rapport. You can rest assured that we have experienced and knowledgeable facilitators who are well-rounded in each trade they give training in.

We offer and specialize in 5 trades: Motor Mechanics, Auto-Electricians, Welding, Electricians, and Diesel Mechanics. With that said, let us get into what a trade test is and who can qualify for it.

Trade Test 101

Let's start off with the basics and lay the foundation, shall we?

What is a Trade Test? This is a final integrated summative assessment for an artisan qualification for a particular listed trade. Candidates who meet the minimum criteria can consider undergoing this process to gain a red seal certificate. There are accredited centers and registered bodies that facilitate, conduct, and moderate these tests. As aforementioned, we are an accredited Training and Trade Test Center offering such services. We also prioritize the preparation and readiness that our learners should have for these tests so that they are acquainted with the trade test tasks. It should be noted that this is not to learn anything new, but rather to practice and prepare.

You may wonder how much time you will need for preparation, or exactly how long this process takes. This is where the ARPL assessment comes in. This compulsory assessment will provide both you and the assessor an idea of just how ready you are for the trade test as it gives a clear indication of just how much you know and whether or not there are any gaps in this knowledge. It is important to note that even though you may have been working for years, you may not necessarily have covered all the tasks required for the trade test.

The Trade Test, at Qualitas Training, is the last assessment that is one step away from you being an Artisan. The regulation allows up to 4 attempts at this assessment, but we are elated to express that we seldom see a third attempt on them here.

For more on Trade Tests, our website has the full scope. What you should have confidence in, is that Qualitas Training Trade Tests will always produce South Africa's finest artisans, thoroughly and with top-tier quality.

Who qualifies for a Qualitas Trade Test? 

Trade tests are offered to individuals who have a minimum of 3 years of experience in the trade they wish to qualify in, whether the experience was obtained formally or informally. This means that even if the experience you obtained or the company you worked for, was not formally recognized (AKA backyard), this experience will be recognized.

At Qualitas we value giving off our time, knowledge, and expertise to hone the minds and futures of those who wish to grow professionally and develop on a personal level. We have Gap Closure Training which consists of learning tasks that you may not have learned in your workplace, even if you have years of experience. This comes as a recommendation and we can guarantee you it will look just as good on your resume! For more on the different learning programs and assessments we have, you can visit our website or get in touch with us.

That's not all, we want to make sure that we leave no stone unturned as far as information and clarity go. Our FAQs page is there for you to get answers to any questions you may have so feel free to go the extra mile and read more.

Get in line to be the next best Artisan with Qualitas Training

We have delved into what we do in order for you to understand what Trade Tests are and how exactly they help set you up for your professional life in trade. Being a qualified Artisan takes thoroughness, attention to detail, and quality training. That's why Qualitas Training is ideal to set you up for a good career!

When it comes to career guidance and advice, the discussions very seldomly center around trades. There are many instances where students are not presented with trades as an option but rather as an alternative to mainstream studying.

The common misconception centred around trades is that it is a great alternative for individuals who aren’t interested in academics and ‘would much rather work with their hands’. The problem with this is that candidates are often left shocked and despondent when they realize how much theory trades actually involve.

In this post we will explore 5 pros in choosing a career in trades and why it should be considered first and not as an alternate solution.

1) TVET colleges are much more affordable compared to mainstream universities.

https://www.collegesa.edu.za/matric-series/the-cost-of-tertiary-edu cation-in-sa/

2) The demand for trades in South Africa and around the world is increasing.

3) Skills related careers can almost automatically ensure self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship or self start ups. 4) Apprenticeships allow for the candidate to study and gain experience simultaneously. This saves the candidate the trouble of having to gain experience after qualifying, or settling for an entry level paycheck and ensures the candidate is easily absorbed into the workforce.

5) The requirements to pursue a qualification in the trades are attainable from the age of 16.

Government funding and bursaries are available and most TVET colleges are subsidised.

What does it take to be an artisan?
Processes simplified
Trade test process:

Do I qualify for a trade test?

Use this easy flow chart to determine if you qualify or meet the criteria.

What this article covers:

• How to navigate a career as an artisan after school
• Why you should choose a career in trades

We get many queries from school-leavers who are overwhelmed with career prospects and how to navigate choosing a career and understandably so! There are many routes to take and some tend to be longer than others. The important thing to understand when picking a career is to decide on the “why”. Why are you choosing this particular career and what are the requirements for it? Would you need to study at a tertiary institute first? What are the prerequisites?

This article will offer some insight as to how you can go about entering a career in skills especially to those who are fresh out of school or even those considering leaving school sooner.

I’ve matriculated in a non technical high school and want to study a trade, where do I start?

Begin by researching the requirements needed for the trade you are interested in. Some trades require you start with Nated courses which you do at a TVET college. These nated courses, commonly referred to as “N courses” each have about 4 subjects which need to all be passed for you to receive a certificate. Some of the subjects include engineering drawing, engineering science, trade related theory and mathematics. “N courses” range from N1- N6.

The advantage of starting with “N courses” is that you are able to equip yourself with theory knowledge of the trade as well as other subjects linked to it, which allows a deeper understanding of the trade and aids in your problem solving and thinking abilities.

Starting with N1 and N2 as a minimum is definitely recommended as this will allow you to gain clear insight and background knowledge into the respective trade.

If you have a technical metric then you don’t have to do the nated course unless you want to change your trade.

I have my “N” qualification, what now?

Most industries require you to have some sort of experience before considering you for a position. Once you’ve attained your “N” qualification, it would be advisable to seek opportunities to gain some practical experience or to join a training center (like Qualitas Training, www.qualitastraining.co.za) who can teach you the practical parts in relation to your “N”qualification.

Joining a training center to learn practicals will give you an added advantage when volunteering or seeking employment as you would be equipped with the necessary skill set to execute tasks.

At this point you will need to work towards attaining 3 years of experience in the relevant industry in order to qualify as an artisan (on condition that the trade you are studying/pursuing has an ARPL assessment. If there is no ARPL available for the chosen trade then the minimum requirement would be 4 years work experience).

Alternatively you could enter a funded apprenticeship programme which will offer you an opportunity to enter a 3 year programme in which you will qualify after 3 years as these programmes assist in placements.

I do not have the academic means to pursue an N qualification

We get it! Not all of us are cut out for books and words and mathematics and drawing! What is very important to know is that trades are not without theory or modules and there are indeed lots of reading material.

For candidates who get anxious at the thought of books and reading, there is an alternative solution but this will require a bit of a longer journey.

Candidates who cannot pursue an N qualification due to academic challenges can join a training center such as Qualitas who will teach them the chosen trades more practically and verbally but not 100% without theory. The theory will however not be as information heavy and the ratio of theory to practical may be 40:60.

Alternatively candidates may volunteer or seek job opportunities with organizations or companies who are willing to mentor and guide them from scratch.

I have a university degree/diploma, what does this mean?

If you are looking to qualify in a trade, the minimum requirement is for you to have at least 3 years’ work experience in that particular industry you wish to qualify in for as long as that trade has an ARPL assessment as a prerequisite. If it does not then a minimum of 4 years work experience will apply.

This means that any qualification does not exempt you from these requirements nor does it assist in lessening the requirements for a trade test.

For as long as the trade test requirements are a minimum of 3 years’ work experience in the trade you wish to qualify in (with that trade having an ARPL assessment as a requirement) then the previous requirements do not apply. i.e. before, an N6 qualification meant 18 months of workplace experience.

We urge you to read the gazette or trade test regulation for more in depth information and regulations.

In conclusion:

• If you are looking to pursue a career in trades after school, you should consider enrolling at a TVET college where you can attain your “N” qualifications, especially N1 and N2.
• If you experience learning difficulties you can enroll in a training center that specializes in trades training.
• You need to gain experience in the relevant trade you wish to qualify in, for a minimum of 3 years in order to apply for a trade test.
• Qualifications do not exempt you from the minimum requirements nor do they bring down this duration.

 Why you should consider a career in the trades:

Besides the fact that South Africa is facing an obvious skills shortage and massive brain drain, pursuing a career in skills or trades has many other benefits:

• Trades people are in high demand
• Higher chances of employability
• Immediate self employment opportunities
• Trades people play a very important role in growing the economy.