Before they appoint you, many South African employers check that your qualifications are real. Knowing how the checks work helps you prepare the right documents and avoid delays.
What gets checked
- Matric and degrees: employers or screening agencies confirm your results with the institution, or through the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), which keeps records of qualifications achieved in South Africa.
- Professional registration: for nurses, engineers, pharmacists and similar roles, employers check the professional council’s register.
- Criminal and credit records: usually only for some roles, and the employer needs your consent first.
Lost your matric certificate?
Apply for a replacement through the Department of Basic Education’s certification services. You need a certified copy of your ID, an affidavit explaining the loss and proof of payment of the fee. Start early, because it takes time, and keep a certified copy of the new certificate for applications. If you wrote IEB or SACAI exams, apply to them instead.
Foreign qualifications
If you studied outside South Africa, apply to SAQA to have your qualification evaluated against the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Many employers and professional bodies ask for the SAQA evaluation, so mention on your CV that you have it, for example “Bachelor of Commerce (SAQA evaluated, NQF level 7)”.
Never inflate a qualification
Claiming a qualification you do not have, or one you have not finished, is usually treated as dishonesty and can lead to dismissal even years later. The National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act of 2019 also provides for a fine, up to five years in prison, or both, for falsely claiming a qualification. If you are still studying, say so: “BCom Accounting (final year)”.