SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

National Certificate: Measurement, Control and Instrumentation

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
49746	National Certificate: Measurement, Control and Instrumentation
ORIGINATOR
SGB Measurement, Control and Instrumentation
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
EWSETA - Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
National Certificate	Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology		Engineering and Related Design
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	121	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	Regular-Unit Stds Based
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 06120/18	2018-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:

The purpose of the qualification is to build the necessary knowledge, understanding, abilities and skills for further learning towards becoming a professional practising engineer in Measurement, Control and Implementation of engineering equipment.

Qualifying learners will gain competencies that will promote expertise in this sub field by being able to:

Fault find and repair advanced Instrumentation

Set-up and Configure a Process Control System

Apply Measurement principles and related applications

Apply management principles to a business environment

Rationale:

The National Certificate in Measurement, Control and Implementation is designed to contribute to developing Engineering and related design competence in terms of Measurement, Control and Implementation equipment with particular application to the flow, temperature, level and pressure field instrumentation.

This is the fourth qualification in a series designed for learners who want to follow a career in Measurement, Control and Instrumentation. The series outlines a learning progression from NQF level 2 to NQF level 5 for learners learning and working in the field of measurement, control and instrumentation. It reflects the skills, knowledge and understanding required to participate effectively in this field, whether in small, medium or large operations.

This learning pathway recognizes the skills, knowledge and values relevant to a workplace. It is designed for learners who:

Have acquired the skills and knowledge without attending formal courses or training.

Are part of a learnership or skills programme which integrates structured learning and work experience.

Have attended courses or training sessions and then apply the knowledge and skills gained to activities in the workplace initiatives.

Have full physical mobility as the Measurement, Control and Instrumentation environment is physically demanding.

Do not suffer from colour blindness, which will require testing for, in order to safeguard industry and the learner.

For the new entrant, this qualification recognises the applied competence needed by a productive person in a measurement, control and instrumentation environment.

The qualification also forms the basis for further development to the National Diploma in Measurement, Control and Instrumentation.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

This qualification assumes that the candidate has an FETC in Measurement Control and Instrumentation.Or The candidate must prove competence in terms of the NQF Level 4 qualification and learning in preparation for this qualification should include the aspects of:

Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 4

Science and Measurement Control and Instrumentation technology

Dexterity and technical aptitude

Teamwork

Recognition of prior learning:

This qualification may be obtained through a process of RPL. The learner should be thoroughly briefed prior to the assessment and support provided and guidance should be provided to assist in the process of developing a portfolio. While this is primarily a workplace-based qualification, evidence from other areas of endeavour may be introduced if pertinent to any of the exit-level outcomes.

Care should be taken that the process used provides the learner with an opportunity to demonstrate competence and is not too demanding as to prevent learners from taking up the RPL option towards gaining the qualification.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

All the fundamental unit standards are compulsory (18 credits)

All the core unit standards are compulsory (79 credits)

A minimum elective component of 24 credits are required

Learners should complete a minimum of 121 credits to obtain the qualification.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Fault find and repair specialized sensing devices.
2. Install and maintain a process control system.
3. Apply Measurement principles and related applications.
4. Apply management principles to a business environment.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Specialized sensing devices are understood.

Faults on specialized sensing devices are diagnosed.

Specialized sensing devices are repaired and calibrated.

2.

A process control system is set-up and configured.

A process control system is diagnosed and repaired.

Process control sub-systems are integrated.

3.

Control philosophies within a measurement environment are understood.

The integrity of measurements are understood and ensured.

4.

A work unit to achieve its objectives is supervised.

Project management tools are used to manage a project.

Integrated Assessment:

Integrated assessment at the level of the qualification provides an opportunity for learners to show they are able to integrate concepts, actions and ideas achieved across a range of unit standards and contexts.

Integrated assessment must evaluate the quality of observable performance as well as the thinking behind the performance, and must be based on a summative assessment guide.

The guide will spell out how the assessor will assess different aspects of the performance and will include:

observing the learner at work (both in the primary activity as well as other interactions)

asking questions and initiating short discussions to test understanding

looking at records and reports in the portfolio and reviewing previous assessments

In some cases inference will be necessary to determine competence depending on the nature and context within which performance takes place.

It is necessary to ensure that the fundamental part of the qualification is also targeted to ensure that while the competence may have been achieved in a particular context, learners are able to apply it in a range of other contexts and for further learning. The assessment should also ensure that all the critical cross-field outcomes have been achieved.

The learner may choose in which language s/he wants to be assessed. This should be established as part of a process of preparing the learner for assessment and familiarising the learner with the approach being taken.

While this is primarily a workplace-based qualification, evidence from other areas of endeavour may be introduced if pertinent to any of the exit-level outcomes. The assessment process should cover both the explicit tasks required for the qualification as well as the understanding of the concepts and principles that underpin the activities associated with the tube and pipe manufacturing process.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

This series of qualifications (NQF level 2 - 5) was compared to:

The Certificate II in Electrotechnology - Instrumentation, the Certificate III in Electrotechnology - Instrumentation and the Diploma and advanced Diploma in Instrumentation and Control Engineering registered on the Austrailian NQF. This qualification covers a range of specific skill sets as well as generic engineering skills

The National Certificate in Industrial Measurement & Control registered on the National Qualifications Framework in New Zealand. This qualification covers a range of specific skill sets as well as generic engineering skills. The qualification provides certification from level 4 to level 5 on the New Zealand NQF, and consists of unit standards ranging from level 3 to level 6.

Further findings on comparison:

In both the Australian and New Zealand cases, the fundamental learning elements are not specified, the core elements are specified with electives grouped into two different categories (elective1 & elective 2), and also include optional units and specialities.

In both the Australian and New Zealand cases, the learning required crosses several levels of their NQF respectively.

The Australian and New Zealand NQF framework differs from the South African NQF with levels.

All three qualifications require the learners to master skills of a specific nature. However while the unit standards from New Zealand are much more specific, the South African unit standards are generic. The applied competence in the South African qualifications focuses on achieving a specific level of competence by a person working in a real-world context, in which a particular specialisation, experience and problem-solving ability is required.

A broad comparison can, however, be made and is summarised in the following table:

Australia:

Scope: Broad in scope

Approach: Competency based

Level: Certificate 1,2,3,4,Diploma & Advanced Diploma

Context: Contextual

Assessment: Institution and work-based

Essential embedded knowledge: Very detailed & specific (Referred to as underpinning knowledge)

Credits: Not specified

Fundamental learning: Not formally specified

Business relations: Not formally specified

Working with and developing others: Specified with a unit standard

Life skills: Not covered

New Zealand:

Scope: Nominal competence in a wide range of specific tasks

Approach: Competency based

Level: Level 3 to 6

Context: Contextual

Assessment: Institution and work-based

Essential embedded knowledge: Specified without to much detail (Referred to as entry information)

Credits: > Level 4 233
> Level 5 90

Fundamental learning: Not formally specified

Business relations: Not formally specified

Working with and developing others: Not formally specified

Life skills: Mentioned under the sub section of Humanities & includes a unit standard, but not well covered

South Africa:

Scope: Mastery of specific outcomes in context

Approach: Competency based

Level: Level 2, 3 and 4

Context: Contextual

Assessment: Institution and work-based

Essential embedded knowledge: Specified with reasonable detail

Credits: > Level 2 189
> Level 3 195
> Level 4 167
> Level 5 136

Fundamental learning: Specified

Business relations: Specified

Working with and developing others: Specified under the critical cross field outcomes

Life skills: Specified under fundamental unit standards

In summary, there are considerable similarities in the technical competence required but the approach of the South African series of qualifications looks at whole-person development in not only technological, but also in team- and business-related skills and makes explicit assumptions related to level of schooling and life skills.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This series of qualifications can articulate directly to learning programmes and qualifications in the Measurement, Control and Instrumentation field. The qualification articulates horizontally with the National Certificate in Metrology: NQF Level 5. It also opens the possibility for further learning in the sub-field of Engineering and related design to the National Diploma in Measurement, Control and Instrumentation.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.

Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.

The relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body will oversee assessment and moderation of assessment, or by an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA, according to the ETQA's policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.

Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described in the Unit Standard.

Anyone wishing to be assessed against this unit standard may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution that is accredited by the relevant ETQA.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Assessors should be in possession of:

Appropriate qualification in the field of Measurement, Control and Instrumentation at one level higher than the level of the qualification and preferably relevant workplace practical experience.The subject matter experience of the assessor can be established by recognition of prior learning.

Registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015.

NOTES

N/A

UNIT STANDARDS:

	ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Core	119805	Apply diagnostic techniques to a process control system	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	8
Core	119811	Demonstrate an understanding of the Integrity of Measurement and Control Philosophy of a process	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	10
Core	119809	Design and apply modifications to existing process control systems	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	15
Core	119812	Install, configure, test and analyze process communication systems	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	10
Core	119803	Integrate a Process Control System	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	12
Core	10148	Supervise a project team of a business project to deliver project objectives	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	14
Core	119806	Understand electromagnetic and particle radiation principles and applications	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	10
Fundamental	119808	Apply engineering mathematics in the Measurement, Control and Instrumentation environment	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	10
Fundamental	12433	Use communication techniques effectively	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	8
Elective	119255	Apply the ISO document "guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement" to estimate uncertainty of measurement	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	5
Elective	114049	Demonstrate an understanding of Computer Database Management Systems	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	7
Elective	119804	Demonstrate an understanding of Custody Transfer	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	4
Elective	119807	Fault find and repair Electromagnetic and Particle Radiation Sensing Devices	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	10
Elective	119810	Fault find and repair Specialised sensing devices	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	6
Elective	15225	Identify and interpret related legislation and its impact on the team, department or division and ensure compliance	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	4
Elective	15220	Set, monitor and measure the achievement of goals and objectives for a team, department or division within an organisation	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	4
Elective	7880	Prepare, implement, manage and control budgets	Level 6	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6	10

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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