A Matric Equivalent means a certificate that has the same NQF Level as a Matric Certificate (NQF level 4). NQF (National Qualifications Framework) levels are used to determine the level of education of a qualification.
What Are NQF Levels?
NQF levels are determined by SAQA (the South African Qualifications Authority). This ensures that educational institutions and potential employers can always know what level of education your qualifications are.
The 10 NQF levels are allocated as follows:
- NQF Level 1 – Grade 9
- NQF Level 2 – Grade 10
- NQF Level 3 – Grade 11
- NQF Level 4 – Grade 12 or TV
- FET college
- NQF Level 5 – Higher Certificate
- NQF Level 6 – Diploma
- NQF Level 7 – Bachelor’s Degree
- NQF Level 8 – Postgraduate/Honours Degree
- NQF Level 9 – Master’s Degree
- NQF Level 10 – Doctoral Degree
Matric Equivalent Courses
Courses with the ICB that are equivalent to a Matric Certificate are a FET Certificate in Senior Bookkeeping and a National Certificate in Small Business Financial Management. If you want to start working without a Matric Certificate, a Matric Equivalent qualification will help you find employment.
Further Education And Training Certificate: Bookkeeping
The ICB FET Certificate in Senior Bookkeeping is a Matric Equivalent certificate that you can apply to study once you have completed the ICB National Certificate in Junior Bookkeeping.
The ICB FET Certificate in Senior Bookkeeping is the second course in the Financial Accounting programme. It is a course accredited by ICB and QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations).
Qualification | FET Certificate |
NQF Level | 4 |
Accredited By | ICB & QCTO |
SAQA ID Number | 58376 |
Credits | 130 |
To apply to study this course, you must have completed the ICB National Certificate in Junior Bookkeeping. This is an NQF level 3 (Grade 11 Equivalent) qualification, and so requires only your grade 10 certificate/report to apply.
The subjects you will study in the ICB FET Certificate in Senior Bookkeeping are as follows:
- Financial Statements
- Cost and Management Accounting
Job opportunities once you have completed your ICB FET Certificate in Senior Bookkeeping include, but are not limited to:
- Senior Bookkeeper
- Junior Accountant
- Credit Controller
- Business Analyst
Senior Bookkeeper
The responsibilities of a Senior Bookkeeper can include:
- Data entry
- Recording transactions
- Payroll administration
- File taxes
There are many more tasks that a Senior Bookkeeper may be given.
Payscale: R160 000 – R402 000 per year
Junior Accountant
A Junior Accountant may be responsible for:
- Maintaining the General Ledger
- Overseeing day-to-day financial transactions
- Preparing monthly reports
- Maintaining payroll budgets
A Junior Accountant may also be responsible for other things.
Payscale: R71 000 – R225 000 per year
Credit Controller
The role of a Credit Controller can include:
- Track ongoing repayments
- Following up with clients on late payments
- Establishing repayment schedules
- Managing outgoing accounts
A Credit Controller may be responsible for other tasks as well.
Payscale: R109 000 – R311 000 per year
Business Analyst
A Business Analyst may be put in charge of:
- Data analysis
- Creating financial reports
- Making financial recommendations
- Determining financial business requirements
A Business Analyst may be put in charge of other things as well.
Payscale: R187 000 – R614 000 per year
You may apply to study for this qualification after completing the ICB National Certificate in Junior Bookkeeping. This certificate is also accredited by ICB and QCTO.
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 3 |
Accredited By | ICB & QCTO |
SAQA ID Number | 58375 |
Credits | 120 |
The subjects you will study for this certificate are as follows:
- Bookkeeping to Trial Balance
- Payroll and Monthly SARS Returns
- Computerised Bookkeeping
- Business Literacy
The job opportunities you may find with just this qualification may include, but are not limited to:
- Junior Bookkeeper
- Accounts Clerk
- Reconciliation Clerk
- Payroll Clerk
Junior Bookkeeper
The duties of a Junior Bookkeeper can include but are not limited to:
- Managing accounts payable
- Managing accounts receivable
Payscale: R61 000 – R200 000 per year
Accounts Clerk
The duties of an Accounts Clerk can include but are not limited to:
- Recording financial transactions
- Maintaining financial records
Payscale: R60 000 – R220 000 per year
Reconciliation Clerk
The duties of a Reconciliation Clerk can include but are not limited to:
- Verifying accounts
- Reconciliation of accounts
Payscale: R95 000 – R244 000 per year
Payroll Clerk
The duties of a Payroll Clerk can include but are not limited to:
- Verifying employee timesheets
- Processing employee paychecks
Payscale: R66 000 – R242 000 per year
National Certificate: Small Business Financial Management
The ICB National Certificate in Small Business Financial Management is a Matric Equivalent certificate that you can apply to study with just your Grade 11 certificate/report.
The ICB National Certificate in Small Business Financial Management is the first course in the ICB Business Management Programme. This course is also accredited by ICB and QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations).
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 4 |
Accredited By | ICB & QCTO |
SAQA ID Number | 48736 |
Credits | 120 |
This is an NQF level 4 qualification, and so requires you to have your Grade 11 certificate/report to be able to apply. The subjects you will study in the ICB National Certificate in Small Business Financial Management are as follows:
- Business Management
- Bookkeeping To Trial Balance
- Business Literacy
Some job opportunities you may find once you have successfully completed this course can include but are not limited to:
- Assistant in Human Resource
- Customer Relations
- Junior Analyst
- Sales Assistant
Assistant in Human Resource
The responsibilities of an Assistant in Human Resources can include:
- Daily administrative duties
- Assisting with recruitment
- Record maintenance
- Providing clerical support to employees
Payscale: R64 000 – R253 000 per year
Customer Relations
A person in Customer Relations may be responsible for:
- Working with clients who have complaints
- Working with clients who have orders to place
- Working with clients who have questions regarding purchases
- Working to find solutions that fit each client’s individual needs
Payscale: R56 000 – R262 000 per year
Junior Analyst
The role of a Junior Analyst can include:
- Performing research
- Gathering data
- Interpreting data
- Analysing data
Payscale: R120 000 – R505 000 per year
Sales Assistant
A Sales Assistant may be put in charge of:
- Accepting payments from customers
- Directing customers to products they are interested in
- Pricing products
- Placing special orders
Payscale: R42 000 – R92 000 per year
What Have We Learned?
NQF levels determine the educational level of a qualification. NQF levels are decided by SAQA. Matric Equivalent courses are courses that are at the same NQF level as Matric (NQF level 4) but are not a Matric Certificate. There are many Matric Equivalent courses available. There are many opportunities with a Matric Equivalent Certificate.
Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Amy Venter
Date Published: May 16, 2022