COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PRACTITIONER COURSE – NQF Level 5
OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATE
ADD VALUE TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BY EXPLORING AND COORDINATING NETWORKS AND PARTNERSHIPS IN COMMUNITIES.
Unlock your future in the Social Service sector with CEFA’s Community Development Practitioner NQF Level 5 course. A SAQA accredited qualification that prepares you to conduct community-based research to inform interventions, aligned to legal and regulatory frameworks. This qualification enables you to apply appropriate leadership and management styles to promote ethical and professional community development practice. Community Development is in the process of professionalization, one the most important reasons being to standardise the occupation. Community Development in South Africa is currently practised by persons from various professions who does not necessarily have the skills/qualifications although being in the field of community development for years. Professionalization will require people working in the field to register with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP). This qualification offers qualifying individuals the opportunity to get qualified for registration as Community Development Practitioners.
COURSE OVERVIEW
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
The Occupational Certificate: Community Development
Practitioner (NQF 5) provides a solid knowledge,
practical and workplace foundation.
The course equips you with skills to:
- Compile and present community profile reports
- Manage community development information and data
- Establish, identify and coordinate community development structures
- Assess the performance of and provide support to community development structures
- Mobilise and manage volunteers and support staff
This full-time course (18 months) includes academic knowledge, practical skill, and workplace experience, to ensure job readiness.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
DURATION
18 MONTHS
CREDITS
212
NQF LEVEL
NQF 5
KNOWLEDGE MODULES
- Knowledge Modules will be hosted online. Attendance of scheduled classroom training will be compulsory.
- Operations, Coordination and Administration
- Effective Communication
- Sociology of Developing Societies
- Sustainable Development Practice
PRACTICAL SKILL MODULES
- Practical skill module training will be hosted online. Attendance of scheduled classroom training will be compulsory.
- Compile, update, and maintain community profiles
- Prepare data for the analysis of community profiles and identify trends that can be used to develop appropriate interventions
- Compile and present community profile reports
- Monitor existing community development initiatives
- Participate in the evaluation of existing programs, identify potential problems an recommend appropriate corrective actions
- Compile reports on the implementation of initiatives
- Identify the need for community development structures and facilitate the establishment of the appropriate structures
- Supervise the performance of community development practitioners
- Motivate and mobilise the efforts of voluntary support team members
- Gain an understanding of all the community development initiatives in the designated community
- Communication of the outcomes of forums and meetings to stakeholders
- Liaise and partner with relevant stakeholders regarding community development initiatives
WORKPLACE
EXPERIENCE MODULES
- Completion of scheduled workplace training at a community development focussed organisation for a minimum of 770 workplace notional hours.
- Work placements at government departments, NPOs, & other development focussed community organisations
- Exposure to a full range of community settings
- Exposure to a full range of community development initiatives
- Exposure to all the monitoring and evaluation tools
- Exposure to a full range of community, interdepartmental and civil society forums
- Exposure to a full range of supervisory situations relevant to the work of field workers
- Exposure to all the official and civic service providers within the community
EXTERNAL INTEGRATED
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (EISA)
- Once you have been deemed Competent in all Knowledge, Practical Skill and Workplace Experience Modules, you will be declared ready for the EISA and will be registered accordingly.
- Students need to pass the EISA, conducted through ETDP SETA (Assessment Quality Partner) to obtain the QCTO Occupational Certificate: Community Development Practitioner
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
- Grade 12/Matric (or equivalent NQF Level 4)
- Proficiency in English
- Computer Literacy
- Computer Equipment
- Internet Connection
- Strong interpersonal change with an interest in social policy and advocacy
- Problem solving abilities and a preference for a career with diverse opportunities
CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES
Become a qualified Community Development
Worker and join a growing industry that
makes a real difference.
This certificate opens doors in:
- Various Government departments
- Parastatals
- NGOs and welfare organisations
- Community Organisations
- Faith based organisations
Strong demand for Community Development workers in South Africa. Excellent employability.
ARTICULATION &
FURTHER STUDY
Your Community Development Worker
qualification will give you an advantage to
apply for other programmes.
Further education upon completion:
- Diploma Local Government, NQF Level 6
- Vertical migration to Level 8 Community Development degree at university level
FEE STRUCTURE | 2026 (BLENDED LEARNING)
The table below illustrates how the total course fee is structured. The total of R38,590 reflects the total amount payable over one year. No surprises.
APPLICATION FEE
(non-refundable)
With application
form
R2,000
REGISTRATION FEE
Upon acceptance
and enrolment
R10,670
TUITION FEE
Once-off or over 12 equal
monthly instalments
R25,920
TOTAL COURSE FEE
Includes full access to
blended learning content
R38,590
*Tuition includes access to online resources, assessments and support materials.
ENQUIRE NOW
HAVE QUESTIONS? NEED HELP APPLYING?
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WHY STUDY AT
QCTO accredited
SAQA ID 98890
NQF qualification
Over 20 years of experience
in social service professions
education and training sector
Recognised training
institution in South Africa
and the rest of Africa
100% practical,
real-world training
Online training (Knowledge & Practical Skill Modules)
