Occupational Certificate:
Project Manager Course
QCTO Accreditation No. 07-QCTO/SDP140423114918
> SAQA ID: 101869
> NQF Level: 5
> Credits: 240
> Duration: 24 months
About the Project Manager course
The Occupational Certificate: Project Manager develops the knowledge, practical skills and workplace experience required to manage a project from initiation and planning through execution, control and close-out.
Because project management is used across sectors, the qualification develops a transferable management capability that can be applied to projects in areas such as business, technology, human resources, marketing, construction and organisational change.
Who is this qualification for?
This qualification is suited to people who are responsible for, or progressing towards responsibility for, managing projects in an organisation.
It can be relevant to existing employees moving into project-management responsibility as well as learners developing a formal project-management capability that can be applied across different industries and organisational functions. SAQA specifically notes that Project Managers work across areas including ICT, HR, advertising, marketing and construction.
What will you be able to do?
On completion of the qualification, learners develop the ability to:
- Initiate a project: define the project need, objectives and initial requirements and assess whether the proposed project is feasible.
- Plan project delivery: develop the project scope, work breakdown structure, schedule, budget and management approach.
- Manage execution: coordinate resources and project activities while maintaining alignment with the agreed plan.
- Control project performance: monitor scope, time, cost, quality and performance against project baselines and take corrective action where required.
- Manage project risk and stakeholders: identify and control risks while managing communication, suppliers and stakeholder requirements.
- Close a project properly: manage handover, administration, contractual close-out, resource demobilisation and final project closure.
How is the qualification structured?
The Project Manager qualification combines three forms of occupational learning:
Knowledge (80 credits)
Builds understanding across project integration, scope, time, cost, quality, people, communication, risk, procurement and stakeholder management.
Practical skills (100 credits)
Develops the ability to initiate projects, build schedules and budgets, plan project systems, control delivery, manage teams and stakeholders, manage risks and procurement and close projects.
Workplace experience (60 credits)
Requires learners to apply project-management processes in a real working environment across project initiation, planning, execution, control and close-out.
Project Manager Course Modules
| Knowledge Module | Explanation | Credits | NQF |
| Introductory Studies for Project Managers | This module introduces the fundamentals of project management, including the role and responsibilities of a project manager. | 4 Credits | Level 5 |
| Project Integration Management | This module focuses on coordinating all project elements to ensure activities are properly aligned and managed as a whole. | 4 Credits | Level 5 |
| Project Scope Management | This module develops skills to define, control, and manage the work required to successfully complete a project. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Project Time Management | This module teaches how to plan, schedule, and control project timelines to ensure timely completion. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Project Cost Management | This module covers budgeting, cost estimation, and financial control to keep projects within approved budgets. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Project Quality Management | This module focuses on ensuring project deliverables meet required standards and stakeholder expectations. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Project Human Resource Management | This module equips learners with skills to manage project teams effectively and allocate resources appropriately. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Project Communications Management | This module develops the ability to manage project information and ensure effective communication with stakeholders. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Project Risk Management | This module teaches how to identify, assess, and manage potential risks that may impact project success. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Project Procurement Management | This module focuses on acquiring goods and services from external suppliers and managing contracts effectively. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Project Stakeholder Management | This module develops skills to identify, engage, and manage stakeholders to ensure project support and success. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Practical Module | Explanation | ||
| Initiate a project | This module develops skills to define project objectives, identify stakeholders, and formally start a project. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Plan and develop a project management approach and scope statement | This module teaches how to create a project plan and clearly define the project scope | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Plan and develop a project timeline and schedule | This module focuses on scheduling tasks and milestones to ensure timely project delivery. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Plan for and project the cost of a project | This module equips learners to estimate project costs and develop a budget. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Plan project management systems | This module develops the ability to design and implement systems for managing project activities efficiently. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Monitor and control the scope of a project | This module focuses on tracking project progress to ensure deliverables remain within scope. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Control the project delivery schedules and costs | This module teaches how to manage timelines and budgets to keep the project on track. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Control the project quality | This module develops skills to monitor and ensure that project outputs meet quality standards. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Manage and control the human resources of a project | This module focuses on assigning, monitoring, and managing project team members effectively. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Conduct and control project communication and stakeholder interaction | This module equips learners to manage project communications and stakeholder expectations. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Manage and control project risks | This module teaches how to identify, monitor, and mitigate risks throughout the project lifecycle. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Manage and control project procurement activities | This module develops skills to acquire and manage goods, services, and contracts for the project. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Manage and control project close-out activities | This module focuses on completing all project tasks, evaluating outcomes, and formally closing the project. | 8 Credits | Level 5 |
| Work Experience Module | Explanation | ||
| Attend to project initiation management processes | This module develops practical experience in starting a project, defining objectives, and engaging stakeholders. | 10 Credits | Level 5 |
| Attend to project planning processes | This module focuses on applying planning skills to develop project schedules, budgets, scope, and management systems in a real-world setting. | 20 Credits | Level 5 |
| Attend to project execution and control processes | This module provides hands-on experience in implementing project plans, monitoring progress, managing risks, and controlling quality, costs, and timelines. | 20 Credits | Level 5 |
| Attend to project close out processes | This module develops skills to complete project activities, evaluate outcomes, and formally close projects while documenting lessons learned | 10 Credits | Level 5 |
What are the entry requirements?
Learners need an NQF Level 4 qualification with Mathematical Literacy and Communication to enter the Occupational Certificate: Project Manager.
Recognition of Prior Learning may also be used where relevant prior learning or workplace experience meets the qualification’s access requirements.
Is workplace experience required?
Yes. Workplace experience is a compulsory component of the qualification and accounts for 60 of the total 240 credits.
Learners need practical exposure to the main stages of a real project: initiation, planning, execution and control, and project close-out. Evidence of completed workplace experience is also required before a learner can qualify for the external assessment.
How is the qualification assessed?
Learners complete internal formative assessment across the required knowledge and practical components, together with the prescribed workplace experience.
To qualify for the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA), learners must provide evidence that the required knowledge, practical skills and workplace components have been completed. The external assessment evaluates the qualification’s core project-management outcomes.
