A moderator and assessor course prepares you to judge whether learners are competent, and then to check that other assessors judged fairly. Assessors are needed wherever training leads to a qualification: training providers, colleges, learnerships, in-house academies and on-site training at mines and plants. Most people do the assessor course first and the moderator course later, a level up. Tell us how many learners, which courses and where, and we pass your request to independent training providers who work in your area. They quote you directly, and sending the request is free.
What assessors and moderators do
An assessor plans an assessment, gathers evidence from the learner (tests, observation, workplace tasks, a portfolio), judges it against the standard, gives feedback and records the result. A moderator samples assessments to check that they were valid, fair and consistent, supports assessors and signs off results before they go for certification. Providers running learnerships and skills programmes need both, and many freelance facilitators add assessing to their work.
Unit standards 115753 and 115759
The well-known legacy courses are built on two ETDP unit standards:
- 115753: conduct outcomes-based assessment, NQF level 5
- 115759: conduct moderation of outcomes-based assessments, NQF level 6
Quality assurance of occupational qualifications has moved to the QCTO, and legacy unit standard qualifications are being phased out. Ask each provider whether the course is still registered, which body accredits it, its accreditation number and scope, and the last enrolment and certification dates. Confirm with the QCTO or the SETA named.
The portfolio of evidence and registering afterwards
Courses are often a few days of contact sessions, then a PoE you complete afterwards, which usually includes a real assessment or moderation you carry out and document. Once you are found competent, you usually apply to register as an assessor or moderator with the body that quality assures the qualifications you want to assess: a SETA or a QCTO assessment quality partner. Each body sets its own requirements, often including experience in the subject, so check them before you enrol.
Combined packages, price and questions
Many providers sell facilitator, assessor and moderator courses as a package, run back to back. The quote depends on which courses, the number of learners, in-house or public, materials, PoE marking and certification. Ask:
- Is the package price per learner, and can we drop the moderator course?
- Who supports learners while they build the PoE?
- Is there a fee to resubmit, and when are certificates usually issued?
- Do you help with registration as an assessor after the course?
Booking for a group? An in-house course at your premises lets the practical assessments use your own workplace tasks.
What to include in your brief
- Assessor, moderator or both
- Number of learners
- Public course or in-house group
- The field you will assess in
- Whether the facilitator course is added
Assessor and Moderator Courses for business, government and communities
- Companies and head offices: in-house academy staff trained to assess and moderate the company's accredited programmes
- Government departments and municipalities: departmental and municipal training units that assess officials on skills programmes
- Schools, colleges and universities: college lecturers and provider staff who need assessor and moderator credentials
- NPOs, churches and community groups: NPOs that run accredited youth programmes and need their own assessors
- Small and family businesses: a small provider adding an assessor so it does not rely on contractors
- Mines, plants, factories and farms: artisans and supervisors assessing apprentices and learnership candidates on site
- Event organisers and associations: trainers who assess delegates on accredited short courses at conferences
- Training and skills development providers: training providers building enough assessors and moderators for their scope
Frequently asked questions
Should I do the assessor or the moderator course first?
Can I do the facilitator, assessor and moderator courses together?
Is a certificate enough to start assessing?
Do you run assessor courses yourselves?
Assessor and Moderator Courses by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg