Occupational Qualification · D18
Discretionary Grant · UpcomingDiplomat
- NQF Level
- NQF Level 7
- Credits
- 159
- Duration
- —
- SAQA ID
- 99054
Official QCTO Registry Profile
Source: SAQA / QCTO registry- SAQA ID
- 99054
- Min Credits
- 159
- Registered
- 2018-07-01
- Re-registration
- 2025-12-30
- Field
- Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security
- Sub-field
- Sovereignty of the State
Sample Asset Preview





Overview & Scope
Programme Profile
- Target Designation
- Certified Diplomat Practitioner
- Competency Focus
- Master specialised practical applications, safety criteria, and regulatory mandates required of a qualified Diplomat.
- Academic Weight
- Full national recognition at NQF Level 7 yielding 159 credits upon successful PoE verification.
- Work Opportunities
- Deployment across As a qualified diplomat, you can find employment opportunities in Public Service, Administration. Your skills will be in demand across both public and private sectors, and you may also choose to work as an independent contractor or start your own business in this field. operations under PSETA scope.
- Audit Objective
- Bridges operational skills deficits under the governing PSETA quality matrix.
- Value Proposition
- Measurable, legally compliant skills that optimise productivity, satisfy Workplace Skills Plans (WSP), and unlock B-BBEE scorecard weight.
Introduction▾
The Diplomat is a Occupational Certificate set at NQF Level 7, comprising 159 credits. This qualification has been carefully developed to provide you with the essential knowledge, practical skills, and workplace experience needed to excel in your chosen field. Whether you are starting your career or looking to formalise your existing expertise, this programme offers a structured pathway to competence and recognition.
Purpose▾
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Diplomat. A Diplomat promotes the domestic priorities and foreign policies of South Africa within both bilateral and multilateral contexts and also performs a managerial and administrative function both in South Africa and in South African Missions abroad. Upon completion, a qualifying learner will be able to: • Promote South Africa's bilateral relations within a diplomatic environment or context. • Promote South Africa's multilateral relations within a diplomatic environment or context. • Participate in the management and administration of a South African Mission abroad.
Entry Requirements▾
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 or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • NQF Level 6 qualification or equivalent.
SAQA Rationale▾
The Diplomatic Academy of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) presents the Occupational Certificate: Diplomat as part of its residential Diplomatic and Cadet Training Programmes. This qualification is aimed at training and skilling participants as professional career line function Diplomats to serve in the employ of DIRCO both in South Africa and at South African Missions abroad. DIRCO is mandated to present and promote South Africa's domestic and foreign policy priorities, interests and values in a dynamic and increasingly competitive international environment. In this challenging global environment, there are greater demands than before on DIRCO to effectively and efficiently deliver on its mandate. The Diplomatic Academy of DIRCO in turn has been charged with the mandate to deliver quality training for the development of highly capable and professional South African Diplomats to represent South Africa abroad. The qualification forms an integral part in the process to provide world-class South African Diplomats. The residential Diplomatic Training and Cadet Programmes will be offered by the Diplomatic Academy of DIRCO at its discretion and based on the Workplace Skills Plan, the Human Resource Plan, and human resource and training needs of DIRCO.
Learning Assumed to be in Place & RPL▾
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 or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • NQF Level 6 qualification or equivalent.
Exit Level Outcomes▾
- Promote South Africa's bilateral relations within a diplomatic environment or context.
- Promote South Africa's multilateral relations within a diplomatic environment or context.
- Participate in the management and administration of a South African Mission.
Learning Material Included
- Learner Guide (Theory and Knowledge Modules)
- Facilitator Guide
- Workplace Logbook
- Formative and Summative Assessment
- Assessor Guide & Marking Memorandum
- SETA / QCTO Alignment Matrix
- Administrative & Onboarding Pack
- Implementation Plan
Moderator-Ready Curriculum Breakdown
1 modules · 4 creditsTheory, regulatory and safety knowledge. Each row carries the registered module code, NQF level and credit weight used for formative assessment rubric mapping.
- 242212000-KM-034 cr
International Law
NQF Level 6
Qualification 99054 · Curriculum Architecture
Occupational Certificate: Diplomat · NQF Level 7 (159 Credits)
Three Curriculum Pillars
Knowledge Modules
Classroom & E-Learning
- Facilitated lectures & self-study
- Written question banks
- Formative comprehension checks
Practical Skill Modules
Simulated Line Tasks
- Simulated line tasks
- Observation rubrics
- Structured task sheets
Work Experience Modules
On-the-Job Production
- On-the-job rotation
- Mentor logbooks
- Workplace sign-offs
Evidence & Audit Pipeline
Learner Portfolio of Evidence (PoE)Owner · Candidate▾
Admin & Registration
ID, learner contract, induction pack, POPIA consent.
Knowledge Evidence
Written assessments & question banks — KM-01 to KM-07.
Practical Evidence
Task sheets, observation rubrics, assessor photos.
Workplace Evidence
Logbooks, mentor sign-offs, supervisor letters.
Assessor Master FileOwner · Registered Assessor▾
Assessment Reports
Judgements, learner feedback, remediation agreements, appeals log.
Internal Moderation & Quality FileOwner · Moderator / SDP▾
Moderation Evidence
10% sampling matrix, HACCP/LOTO compliance sheets, SDP sign-off.
Final Accreditation Gateway
Issued by the accredited Skills Development Provider once internal moderation is signed off.
Provider submits declaration + PoE to the Assessment Quality Partner (AQP).
QCTO awards the SAQA-registered certificate on successful EISA outcome.
Audit & Compliance
Evidence & Audit Pipeline
From portfolio assembly to external sign-off — the exact route your evidence travels.
- Step 1
PoE Assembly
Learner evidence, formative records and logbook entries filed against the alignment matrix.
- Step 2
Internal Assessment
Registered assessor judges each KM/PM/WM outcome using the supplied instruments.
- Step 3
Internal Moderation
Sampling and verification of assessor decisions, with remediation loop before submission.
- Step 4
External Moderation
SETA/QCTO desktop audit and certification upload against registered credits.
Broken Standard vs i2Graduates Standard
The measurable delta between improvised material and an audit-ready suite.
Broken Standard
i2Graduates Standard
Curriculum Mapping
Photocopied guides with mismatched outcomes
1 KM + 0 PM + 0 WM modules mapped to NQF Level 7
Assessment Bank
Missing formative and summative assessments
Pre-validated assessment bank per module
Alignment Evidence
No alignment matrix — audit fails
PSETA alignment matrix included
Facilitation
Facilitators improvise Diplomat delivery
Facilitator scripts + learner activities per credit
Portfolio of Evidence
PoE gaps flagged in moderation
PoE templates that survive external moderation
Pricing & Delivery Tiers
Base licence from R72 950
Digital Master Suite
Editable master files, licensed to your SDP
- Learner Guide, Facilitator Guide & Assessment Suite
- Workplace logbook + alignment matrix (editable)
- Instant digital delivery under institutional licence
- Free minor corrections for 12 months
Turnkey Print & Bound Package
Printed, bound and couriered per learner
- Everything in the Digital Master Suite
- Full-colour print, wire-bound learner packs
- Per-learner PoE folders and dividers
- Nationwide courier with tracked delivery
Full Enterprise Accreditation Bundle
Assets plus accreditation support end-to-end
- Everything in the Print & Bound Package
- Bespoke QMS build mapped to your scope
- Moderation dry-run + written remediation report
- Brand & metadata integration across the suite
Complementary Services
Optional add-ons that harden your accreditation scope before an external audit.
Bespoke QMS Build
We author your Quality Management System — policies, procedures, records, matrices — mapped to your accreditation scope. From R18,500.
Request QuoteModeration Consultation
External moderation dry-run on your PoE + delivery pack. Written report with fixes before your real audit. From R4,900.
Book Moderation SessionThe i2Graduates Quality Guarantee
Every page of this bundle is checked for sequence and structural accuracy — no missing pages, no shortcuts. You get pre-validated assessment instruments ready to survive rigorous compliance moderation, wrapped in a curriculum your facilitators will enjoy teaching.
