National Accredited Technical Education Diploma (NATED) courses are accredited by QCTO (the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations) and SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority). This means that they are recognised as formal qualifications. They are designed by the Department of Higher Education and Training.
Who Qualifies For NATED?
Anyone who has a Matric can apply to study a NATED course. You can no longer apply to any NATED courses with a Matric Equivalent. Now you must have your Matric Certificate to apply to any NATED qualification course.
What Is NATED Equivalent To?
Each NATED course has three N levels, beginning at N Level 4. The second level is N Level 5, and the final theory level is N Level 6, followed by an N6 practical section which then qualifies you for the N6 National Diploma qualification, just one level below a Bachelor’s Degree.
N levels 4 – 6 of the theory side are NQF level 5, which is equivalent to a Higher Certificate. The final level, the practical N6 course, qualifies you for the N6 Diploma, which is a NQF level 6 Diploma.
How Do NATED Courses Work?
NATED courses are designed so that you are able to begin working after only your first level of study. At the end of each level of study, you receive an N Certificate and a certificate of completion. At the end of your final course, you will receive your Diploma.
This means that at the end of the first course, you have a certificate to show for your studies, and you can use that to begin working in your chosen field. You can then move up in your position as you continue your studies.
For each level of study, you must complete four subjects. These subjects will depend on which NATED qualification you are studying. For each subject, you must complete three assessments, as well as an external exam.
Once you have completed your three levels of theoretical study, you will complete 18 months of work experience for the practical side of the qualification. You will be placed using Work Integrated Learning (WIL), a free placement service.
You will be provided with a Logbook with which to track your work hours and progress. At the end of the 18 months, you will submit this logbook for review. If you are successful, you will be awarded your Diploma.
What Are NATED Subjects?
There are seven available streams of study when studying a NATED course. These seven streams are:
- Business Management
- Educare
- Financial Management
- Human Resource Management
- Legal Secretary
- Management Assistant
- Marketing Management
For each stream of study there are four subjects. Some subjects progress through the three levels of study. Some subjects are introduced later on. The subjects for each study stream and each year are as follows:
Subjects For Business Management
Business Management N4:
- Management Communication N4
- Introductory Accounting N4
- Entrepreneurship and Business Management N4
- Computer Practice N4
Business Management N5:
- Entrepreneurship and Business Management N5
- Sales Management N5
- Public Relations N5
- Computer Practice N5
Business Management N6:
- Entrepreneurship and Business Management N6
- Sales Management N6
- Cost and Management Accounting N5
- Public Relations N6
Subjects For Educare
- Educare Didactics N4
- Child Health N4
- Education N4
- Day Care Personnel Development N4
Educare N5:
- Educare Didactics N5
- Entrepreneurship and Business Management N4
- Educational Psychology N5
- Daycare Communication N5
- Educare Didactics N6
- Daycare Management N6
- Educational Psychology N6
- Daycare Communication N6
Subjects For Financial Management
Financial Management N4:
- Financial Accounting N4
- Computerised Financial Systems N4
- Entrepreneurship and Business Management N4
- Management Communication N4
Financial Management N5:
- Financial Accounting N5
- Computerised Financial Systems N5
- Entrepreneurship and Business Management N5
- Cost & Management Accounting N5
Financial Management N6:
- Financial Accounting N6
- Computerised Financial Systems N6
- Entrepreneurship and Business Management N6
- Cost & Management Accounting N6
Subjects For Human Resource Management
Human Resource Management N4:
- Entrepreneurship and Business Management N4
- Personnel Management N4
- Management Communication N4
- Computer Practice N4
- Personnel Management N5
- Personnel Training N5
- Labour Relations N5
- Computer Practice N5
- Personnel Management N6
- Personnel Training N6
- Labour Relations N6
- Computer Practice N6
Subjects For Legal Secretary
- Office Practice N4
- Communication N4
- Information Processing N4
- Mercantile Law N4
- Office Practice N5
- Communication N5
- Information Processing N5
- Legal Practice N5
- Office Practice N6
- Legal Practice N6
- Information Processing N6
- Mercantile Law N5
Subjects For Management Assistant
- Communication N4
- Office Practice N4
- Information Processing N4
- Computer Practice N4
Management Assistant N5:
- Communication N5
- Office Practice N5
- Information Processing N5
- Computer Practice N5
Management Assistant N6:
- Office Practice N6
- Information Processing N6
- Public Relations N5
- Computer Practice N6
Subjects For Marketing Management
Marketing Management N4:
- Entrepreneurship and Business Management N4
- Marketing Management N4
- Management Communication N4
- Computer Practice N4
Marketing Management N5:
- Entrepreneurship and Business Management N5
- Marketing Management N5
- Sales Management N5
- Computer Practice N5
Marketing Management N6:
- Marketing Management N6
- Sales Management N6
- Marketing Communication N6
- Marketing Research N6
What's The Difference Between NQF Levels And NATED?
NATED stands for National Accredited Technical Education Diploma. This is a type of qualification that you can study. NATED qualifications begin at N level 4 and are completed at N level 6. The final qualification, the N6 Diploma, is an NQF level 6 Diploma.
NQF stands for National Qualifications Framework. These levels determine the educational level of a qualification. There are 10 NQF levels:
| NQF Level | Educational Level |
| 1 | Grade 9 |
| 2 | Grade 10 |
| 3 | Grade 11 |
| 4 | Matric |
| 5 | Higher Certificate, N4 Certificate, N5 Certificate, & N6 Certificate |
| 6 | Diploma/Advanced Certificate |
| 7 | Bachelor’s Degree/Advanced Diploma |
| 8 | Honours Degree |
| 9 | Master’s Degree |
| 10 | Doctoral Degree |
NATED courses go from N level 4 to N level 6. The Certificates before the Diploma are all NQF level 5.
What Is The Difference Between NATED And NCV?
NCV stands for National Certificate Vocational qualification. NCV courses are offered from NQF level 2 to NQF level 4. NATED qualifications are offered from NQF level 5 to NQF level 6.
How Long Does It Take To Finish NATED Courses?
To fully complete your Diploma will take 3 years. Each N-level takes a minimum of six months to complete, and there are three N-levels, making a total of 18 months of theory studies. This is followed by 18 months of work experience before you complete your qualification.
What Does N4 To N6 Mean?
The N-levels correspond to the NQF level of the qualification:
| N4 Certificate | NQF level 5 |
| N5 Certificate | NQF level 5 |
| N6 Certificate | NQF level 5 |
| N6 Diploma | NQF level 6 |
Where Can I Do NATED Courses?
You can study a NATED course through a number of different reputable distance learning colleges, such as:
- Bellview Institute of Distance Learning
- Matric College
- Skills Academy
Can I Do NATED Courses Without Matric?
No, you can no longer study any NATED courses without Matric. In the past, only the Educare and Legal Secretary courses required Matric, and you could apply to other NATED courses with a Matric Equivalent qualification. This is no longer the case. You must have your Matric to be able to apply to study any NATED course.
What Can I Do To Study A NATED Course If I Do Not Have My Matric?
You can still get your Matric, no matter the circumstances behind not getting it at the end of high school. You can study Online Matric through distance learning. Your options are:
- Matric Rewrite
- Matric Upgrade
- Adult Matric
Matric Rewrite
Matric Rewrite is available to anyone who would like to improve their Matric marks and is still under the age of 21. You may rewrite a maximum of two subjects. These must be subjects you wrote for your Matric final exams, you cannot change subjects.
Note that if you will not improve from a fail to a pass by improving the marks of two subjects, you will not be allowed to rewrite. There is no limit to the number of times you can rewrite your Matric, as long as you are still under the age of 21. To apply for a Matric rewrite, you will need:
- A copy of your Statement of Results
- A certified copy of your ID
Matric Upgrade
Matric Upgrade is available to anyone who is over the age of 21 and would still like to improve their Matric marks. For a Matric Upgrade you may upgrade as many subjects as you like. You may also choose to change any or all of your elective subjects.
You can apply for a Matric Upgrade as early as 19, however, you must be over the age of 21 to write the exams because you will write the Adult Matric exams. There is no limit to the number of times you can upgrade your Matric. To apply for a Matric Upgrade, you will need:
- A copy of your Statement of Results
- A certified copy of your ID
Adult Matric
This option is available to anyone who did not get the opportunity to complete their high school education. Once you have successfully completed your Adult Matric, you will be awarded a Senior Certificate. This works exactly the same way as a National Senior Certificate/Matric Certificate.
To apply for Adult Matric, you will need:
- A copy of your Grade 9 report or equivalent
- A certified copy of your ID
Where Can I Study Matric?
There are many reputable distance learning colleges that offer Matric programmes, such as:
- Bellview Institute of Distance Learning
- Matric College
- Skills Academy
What Have We Learned?
Anyone with Matric can study a NATED course. NATED begins at the equivalent of a Higher Certificate level and goes up to the Diploma level. NATED courses have 18 months of theory study followed by 18 months of work experience.
Each study stream has its own set of subjects. There are four subjects in each level of study. NATED is a type of qualification while NQF levels determine the educational level of a qualification. NATED and NCV are qualifications that are offered at different NQF levels.
There are many reputable distance learning colleges that offer NATED courses. You can no longer study any NATED courses without Matric. If you do not have your Matric, there are options available to help you get your Matric.
Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Amy Venter
Date Published: May 18, 2022
