Accreditation explained
Umalusi accredits private education institutions to offer tuition and assessment for qualifications on the General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-Framework (GFETQSF) and private assessment bodies to assess those qualifications.
This means that Umalusi accredits the following institutions:
✓ Independent schools;
✓ Private Further Education and Training Colleges (FET Colleges);
✓ Private Adult Education and Training providers;
✓ Private assessment bodies that assess the qualifications Umalusi certifies.
✓Further Education and Training (FET) private colleges
✓Adult Education and Training (AET) private colleges
In accrediting institutions and assessment bodies, Umalusi is guided by policy and regulations that contain criteria for accreditation of each institutional type.
Umalusi does not accredit public institutions or public assessment bodies. Instead, Umalusi monitors and reports on the quality of the qualifications and curricula used in public schools, TVET colleges and Adult Learning Centres, and externally monitors the national assessment system.
Accreditation explained
Umalusi accredits private education institutions to offer tuition and assessment for qualifications on the General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-Framework (GFETQSF) and private assessment bodies to assess those qualifications.
This means that Umalusi accredits the following institutions:
✓ Independent schools;
✓ Private Further Education and Training Colleges (FET Colleges);
✓ Private Adult Education and Training providers;
✓ Private assessment bodies that assess the qualifications Umalusi certifies.
✓Further Education and Training (FET) private colleges
✓Adult Education and Training (AET) private colleges
In accrediting institutions and assessment bodies, Umalusi is guided by policy and regulations that contain criteria for accreditation of each institutional type.
Umalusi does not accredit public institutions or public assessment bodies. Instead, Umalusi monitors and reports on the quality of the qualifications and curricula used in public schools, TVET colleges and Adult Learning Centres, and externally monitors the national assessment system.
Registration and Accreditation – the relationship
Umalusi is mandated to accredit private education institutions and private assessment bodies. The accreditation process of independent schools and private colleges is closely linked to and dependent on the process of registration with the state which private education institutions are obliged to comply with in terms of the South African Constitution.
Registration grants the private education institution the license to operate in South Africa. Accreditation on the other hand is a status granted to a private education institution at the end of a quality assurance process and attests to the quality of provision offered.Private education institutions are accredited to offer and assess specific qualifications on the General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-Framework at specific sites.
Registration and Accreditation – the relationship
Umalusi is mandated to accredit private education institutions and private assessment bodies. The accreditation process of independent schools and private colleges is closely linked to and dependent on the process of registration with the state which private education institutions are obliged to comply with in terms of the South African Constitution.
Registration grants the private education institution the license to operate in South Africa. Accreditation on the other hand is a status granted to a private education institution at the end of a quality assurance process and attests to the quality of provision offered. Private education institutions are accredited to offer and assess specific qualifications on the General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-Framework at specific sites.
Application for Accreditation
Who should apply for accreditation
Only private education institutions of education and training and private assessment bodies that wish to provide tuition and/or assess qualifications on the General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Framework should apply. These include:
✓ Independent schools
✓ Further Education and Training (FET) private colleges
✓ Adult Education and Training (AET) private colleges
✓ Private assessment bodies that assess the qualifications Umalusi certifies
The application process
The application process commences with an “Expression of Intent” which can be completed and submitted online.
Once the “expression of intent” has been submitted and screened to ensure that the private provider falls within the scope of Umalusi’s quality assurance mandate, the applicant will be contacted and the process taken forward.
For information on the full accreditation process please contact the Evaluation and Accreditation Unit at 012-349-1510 or email: accreditation@umalusi.org.za
Frequently Asked Questions
Open letters
Related documents
2025
| Date | Title |
| 20 March 2025 | Independent Schools Standard Operating Procedure for Accreditation & Monitoring |
2018
2016
2014
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 18 Nov 2014 | Accreditation Explained |
| 18 Nov 2014 | Application for Accreditation |
2013
2011
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 01 Nov 2011 | Umalusi, (2011) All the cattle in the kraal. An overview of Umalusi`s Research 2003-2011 |
2010
2009
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 01 Jun 2009 | The Evaluation of the Assessment System for the NCV |