Frequently Asked Questions

A learnership is a work based learning programme that leads to an NQF registered qualification. Learnerships are directly related to an occupation or field of work, for example, electrical engineering, hairdressing or project management.  Learnerships are managed by Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). They were introduced by government to help skill learners and to prepare them for the workplace.

SETAs oversee learnerships and ensure that they offer qualifications related to a specific occupation or sector of the economy. All 21 SETAs have developed NQF-aligned programmes that will help you gain recognised qualifications while getting on-the-job experience. SETAs manage the registration of learnerships in order to meet the skills development needs across the sectors.

Learnerships require you to complete a theoretical course as well as practical training, which is done at a workplace, in order to graduate. The workplace component of the qualification involves hands-on, practical learning under the guidance of a mentor, while the theoretical component is provided by an education and training provider. Together they form an integrated and comprehensive learning programme.

Learnerships are available for young people who have completed school, college or learning at other training institutions. You must be older than 16 and younger than 35 to be eligible for a learnership.

Unemployed South Africans can only participate in a learnership if there is an employer prepared to provide the required work experience.

By now you have already put some thought into your career path, and as a result you will be able to identify a learnership that will support your career goals.

Your career path should be influenced by your interests, skills and strengths. The responsibility rests with you to investigate and research the different learnership options. You should find out as much as you can, including information on the criteria and requirements for entering a learnership.

Different learnerships have different entry requirements. We recommend that you contact the provider of the learnership for full details on the specific requirements for the learnership of your choice.

For many learnerships, the minimum entry requirement is a National Senior Certificate or National Certificate: Vocational, but there may be more specific subject requirements or even skills requirements such as computer literacy.

• You may have better employment opportunities after completing a learnership;
• You have a fixed-term employment contract for the duration of the learnership;
• Learnerships improve on the job performance so you are able to do things relevant to the job;
• You obtain a nationally-recognised qualification that is relevant to the sector; and
• You earn a learner allowance for the duration of the learnership

Learnerships can be funded by the SETA or the Employer. From a Secutrain point of view, we aim to give you value for the investment in this learnership. Contact us for a quote and to discuss your requirements.

There is a specified minimum learner allowance that must be paid to unemployed learners in a learnership. This is not a salary but covers expenses like travel and meals. Again, you should contact the relevant SETA for more information.

Note: The amount paid as a learner allowance depends on the SETA, type of learnership and the level of qualification. The allowances and conditions are agreed to with each learner before the commencement of the learnership.

Learnerships will last as long as it takes to complete the qualification. This means that if the duration of the qualification is two years, then the learnership will last for that period of time.

During the learnership, learners will be required to complete assignments, tasks and practical tests and projects. They will be formally assessed in the classroom and workplace.

If all these assignments are completed successfully, they will be awarded an NQF-registered qualification, that is recognised nationally. They will receive a certificate stating the qualification and the area of skill development.

If you are accepted you will need to sign two legal documents:

1. Learnership Agreement: this is an agreement signed by you, the organisation employing you, and the education and provider offering the theoretical training component of the learnership. This agreement clearly outlines the rights and responsibilities of all three parties.
2. Employment contract: this is a contract you will sign with the employer, which is only valid for the time period of the learnership.

Employment is not guaranteed, but once you have successfully completed your learnership, you will be in a much better position to market yourself as you will now have both work experience and theoretical training. You may also be in a better position to start your own business and generate an income that way.

As well as claiming any costs of the learnership like stipends and training fees against taxable income, the employer may also claim an additional Section 12H allowance against taxable income.

This is in the form of R40,000 per learner per year against taxable income, and another R40,000 completion allowance for every year. This is for an able bodied learner – in the case of a disabled learner, this then increases to R60,000 per learner per year against taxable income, and another R60,000 completion allowance for every year. 

By applying the tax at 28% – this equates to a direct savings of R21,600 = (R80,000 x 27%) per year per completed learnership.

Here is an example of a learner that costs the organisation R24,000 in training fees, 

Total learnership cost per year per employee: R24 000

Less tax 11a: R-6 720

Less tax 12H (start): R-10 800

Less tax 12H (end):  R-10 800

Net profit per learner per year: R-4 320

In this example, the entity actually has a tax benefit from every learner that is signed up. This is apart from any ETI incentive that is received, any SDL repayments or stipend received from the SETA.

Apart from tax savings and benefits – training and learnerships can also count towards BBBEE points for an entity in terms of the Skills development Expenditure. The table below shows a breakdown of the skills development weighting on the generic BBBEE scorecard.