Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development Course Requirements at CTU
The Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development is an occupational Certificate offered by CTU for 2027 learners. This page covers the Grade 12 subjects and admission score you need to qualify, what the course involves, where you can study it, the careers it leads to, and how to apply.
Grade 12 Required Subjects to study Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development at CTU
- An NCV at NQF Level 3 or any other NQF Level 3 qualification (such as a Grade 11 pass)
About this course
This QCTO occupational certificate (SAQA ID 97542, NQF Level 4, 131 credits) prepares you to work as an Early Childhood Development practitioner. You learn to plan and run age-appropriate activities, facilitate play-based learning, observe and record children's progress and support their all-round development in inclusive settings, for children from babies to school-going age. You can study through day classes (full-time, a blend of on-campus and virtual learning) or evening and Saturday classes (part-time).
It is an occupational qualification registered with the QCTO, so you complete knowledge, practical and workplace components and then write an external integrated summative assessment (EISA) to be certified.
It suits people who work, or want to work, in creches, preschools and daycare centres, and those who want to open their own ECD centre. The entry level is NQF Level 3, so learners who have not finished matric can apply.
CTU keeps classes small and teaches through real projects, so you get plenty of hands-on work and contact with lecturers. You finish with a national qualification plus internationally recognised vendor certifications, a combination employers look for. Check with your nearest campus that the programme runs there in the study mode you want.
Possible careers
ECD practitioner, educare practitioner, preschool or playgroup leader, nursery supervisor, child minder, au pair or owner of an ECD centre.
Course intelligence for Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development
Data-driven planning insights for this specific course: job market outlook, NSFAS funding, and how competitive admission is likely to be.
Job market outlook
Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development doesn’t currently appear on the national scarce-skills list. That’s not a red flag on its own, most jobs in South Africa aren’t on that list, it just tracks where employers reported the strongest hiring pressure. Your own results, experience and network will matter more here than national demand trends.
NSFAS funding
NSFAS does not usually fund students at private institutions like CTU. Ask CTU directly about its own bursaries or payment plans, and check whether a sector SETA offers funding for this field.
Admission chances
CTU’s intake and this course’s requirements with its published admission requirements generally leave more room than the most sought-after courses, so you likely have a reasonable window to apply without rushing, though applying early is always the safer bet.
These insights are estimates generated from South Africa’s National List of Occupations in High Demand (DHET, November 2023 draft), NSFAS’s published funding rules, and this university’s general applicant demand. They’re planning guidance, not a guarantee. Always confirm funding and admission specifics directly with CTU and NSFAS.
How to apply for 2027 studies
Apply online through CTU's registration portal (full-time) or the part-time and distance application portal, or visit your nearest campus. You will need a certified ID copy and your highest school or post-school results. CTU has two intakes a year, in February and July, and you can book an Open Day or speak to a career consultant on WhatsApp 083 825 9366 before you register.
Ready to apply? This takes you straight to CTU Training Solutions’s own official application page.
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View all Courses at CTU
- NQF Level
- 4
- Fees
- CTU does not publish fees online; request a formal quote from a campus or the contact centre on 0861 100 395.
- Application deadline
- Intakes in February and July; apply before the intake fills
- Campus
- Menlyn Campus, Pretoria
- Boksburg Campus, Boksburg
- Roodepoort Campus, Roodepoort
- Three Rivers Campus, Vereeniging
- Cresta Campus, Johannesburg
- Century City Campus, Cape Town
- Stellenbosch Campus, Stellenbosch
- Gqeberha Campus, Gqeberha
- Bloemfontein Campus, Bloemfontein
- Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom
- Durban Campus, Durban
- Polokwane Campus, Polokwane
What Courses Do I Qualify For in South Africa?
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Related courses
Source: Official website: https://ctutraining.ac.za/qualifications/early-childhood-development/, last verified 2026-09-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with CTU Training Solutions before applying.