A facilitator course teaches you to plan, run and review learning sessions for adults. In South Africa the best-known course has been built on the ETDP unit standard 117871, facilitate learning using a variety of given methodologies, at NQF level 5. Companies send trainers, supervisors and subject experts; individuals take it to work as freelance facilitators for training providers. Tell us how many learners, where and when, and whether you want it in-house, and we pass your request to independent training providers in your area. They quote you directly, and the request is free.
What a facilitator course covers
A good course is mostly practice. You usually cover:
- Planning a session from its outcomes, and reading a facilitator guide and learner guide
- How adults learn, and choosing methods: demonstration, group work, case studies, role play
- Managing a group: ground rules, questions, quiet and dominant learners, timing
- Running a short session of your own, observed and given feedback
- Reviewing a session and improving it
Courses are often a few days of contact sessions, followed by a portfolio of evidence (PoE) completed afterwards. If your staff will train in-house afterwards, see training facilitators and training materials.
Unit standard 117871 and the move to the QCTO
Quality assurance of occupational qualifications has moved to the QCTO, the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, and legacy unit standard qualifications are being phased out. That matters before you pay. Ask the provider:
- Is this course still registered, and which body accredits it?
- What are the last enrolment and last certification dates?
- What is your accreditation number, and is this course in your scope?
Then confirm the answers with the QCTO or the SETA the provider names, such as the ETDP SETA.
In-house courses for a group of staff
If you have several people to train, a provider can run the course in your own training room or at a venue near your site. The price per learner is often lower than sending people one at a time, the days can be planned around shifts, and the practice sessions can use your own content, so learners leave with a session they can run. Many companies book the facilitator course with the assessor course so the same people can train and assess.
What drives the price, and what to ask
The quote depends on the number of learners, the contact days, the venue and catering, printed learner guides and PoE files, marking and moderation of the PoE, certification fees and the provider's travel. Ask each provider:
- What does the PoE involve, and by when must it be handed in?
- What happens if a learner is found not yet competent? Is there a resubmission fee?
- Who issues the certificate, and how long does it usually take?
What to include in your brief
- Number of learners
- Public course or in-house group
- Preferred dates and town
- Whether assessor training is added
- Who pays and who needs the invoice
Facilitator Courses for business, government and communities
- Companies and head offices: subject experts and HR staff trained to run in-house courses to a consistent standard
- Government departments and municipalities: departmental trainers and municipal skills staff preparing to train officials and councillors
- Schools, colleges and universities: lecturers at colleges and staff at training providers who need a facilitation credential
- NPOs, churches and community groups: NPO programme staff who run youth, health and life skills workshops in communities
- Small and family businesses: an owner or senior staff member learning to train new employees properly
- Mines, plants, factories and farms: supervisors and safety officers who will train shift teams on site
- Event organisers and associations: trainers who run workshops at conferences and association events
- Training and skills development providers: training providers building a pool of facilitators for their courses
Frequently asked questions
How long does a facilitator course take?
Is the 117871 facilitator course still offered?
Do I need a facilitator course to train people?
Do you run the courses yourselves?
Facilitator 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