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Coach Training | Certification | Level123 Coaching South Africa

Gold Accreditation Requirements

COMENSA Gold Training Provider – Implementation Task List

Based on the COMENSA Policy and Criteria for the Approval of Training Provider Programmes, Revision 06, March 2023, Gold status has four mandatory requirements.

The important distinction is that COMENSA approves a specific training programme, not the training provider as an organisation.

Gold.pdf

Gold status requirements

1. Meet the four mandatory Gold criteria

No.

Requirement

Action required

Quality Council accreditation

Obtain accreditation, directly or by delegation, with learning programme approval for at least 5 credits directly relevant to coaching or mentoring.

Behavioural Standards Framework

Ensure the training aligns with all COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework requirements.

Two trained evaluators

Have two COMENSA-trained evaluators who hold a relevant COMENSA Coach or Mentor designation.

Learner evaluation

Evaluate every learner against all COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework requirements.

The fourth requirement enables the waiver of the first-time credentialing evaluation and fee.

2. Detailed implementation checklist

The following is a practical breakdown of the work needed to achieve those four requirements.

A. Quality Council accreditation

Identify the relevant Quality Council and accreditation route.
Determine whether accreditation will be direct or through delegation.
Identify an appropriate registered qualification or learning programme.
Ensure the programme includes at least five credits directly relevant to coaching or mentoring.
Develop the curriculum and learning outcomes.
Map learning outcomes to the relevant qualification requirements.
Prepare assessment materials and assessment strategies.
Prepare facilitator and assessor documentation.
Compile quality assurance and moderation procedures.
Submit the accreditation application.
Obtain formal learning programme approval.
Retain the accreditation and approval evidence.

The COMENSA policy requires the accreditation and five-credit threshold. The individual implementation tasks above are recommended preparation activities, not separately stated COMENSA requirements.

B. Align the programme to COMENSA Behavioural Standards

Obtain the current COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework.
Identify every applicable standard.
Identify the competencies and indicators under each standard.
Map each standard to a curriculum module.
Develop learning materials for every standard.
Develop facilitator guides.
Develop learner workbooks.
Develop practical coaching exercises.
Develop mentoring exercises where applicable.
Develop observation and assessment instruments.
Ensure learners demonstrate practical competence.
Establish evidence requirements for each competency.
Conduct an internal curriculum gap analysis.
Verify that no applicable standard has been omitted.

C. Appoint and train two evaluators

Identify two suitable evaluators.
Verify that both hold COMENSA Coach or Mentor professional designations.
Confirm the level at which each evaluator is credentialed.
Ensure each evaluator only evaluates at the same level or a lower level than their own designation.
Enrol both evaluators in COMENSA evaluator training.
Complete the required evaluator training.
Obtain evidence of evaluator training.
Establish an internal evaluation schedule.
Define evaluator responsibilities.
Establish evaluation recording and reporting procedures.

D. Establish learner evaluation

Create an evaluation framework covering all behavioural standards.
Develop assessment rubrics.
Develop practical coaching observation assessments.
Develop recorded coaching assessment procedures.
Develop learner evidence portfolios.
Create competency assessment records.
Establish evaluation decision criteria.
Establish an evaluation feedback process.
Create a learner reassessment process.
Ensure every learner is evaluated against the entire framework.
Maintain evaluation records.
Establish procedures for confirming successful completion.

3. Prepare the COMENSA application

Identify the exact programme to be submitted.
Confirm the programme name and description.
Compile the curriculum.
Compile the Quality Council accreditation evidence.
Compile the five-credit evidence.
Compile the Behavioural Standards mapping matrix.
Provide evidence of the two trained evaluators.
Provide the learner evaluation framework.
Compile supporting programme documentation.
Complete COMENSA's online application under List Your Programme.
Pay the applicable evaluation fee.
Respond to any evaluation queries.
Obtain the formal approval certificate.

The policy specifies that applications are submitted through:

COMENSA Training Provider Programme Application

4. Budget for approval

The uploaded policy contains the following fees, which are dated and should be reconfirmed with COMENSA before budgeting.

Item

Excluding VAT

Including VAT

First application

R3,600

R4,140

Subsequent application

R2,500

R2,875

Re-evaluation

R2,500

R2,875

First-time evaluator training

R2,600

R2,990

Evaluator refresher training

R640

R736

For two first-time evaluators and one initial programme application:

Indicative total including VAT

R10,120

R4,140 application + R5,980 evaluator training. Excludes Quality Council accreditation and other development costs.

Prices may change in 2027

5. Maintain Gold approval

Monitor continuing compliance with the Gold criteria.
Maintain the required accreditation.
Maintain two appropriately trained and credentialed evaluators.
Continue evaluating learners against the complete framework.
Maintain learner evaluation records.
Ensure the programme continues meeting the approval criteria.
Submit for re-evaluation at least three months before approval expires.
Only market the COMENSA-approved programme while approval remains valid.

COMENSA programme approval lasts three calendar years.

6. Recommended Level123 Coaching implementation priorities

I would tackle the work in this order:

Priority

Workstream

Deliverable

Quality Council

Five-credit accreditation

COMENSA standards

Complete standards mapping matrix

Curriculum

Gold-aligned training programme

Evaluators

Two trained, credentialed evaluators

Assessment

Full learner evaluation system

Quality assurance

Evidence and moderation files

Application

COMENSA submission

7. One important distinction

Gold is not simply a matter of having a good coaching course, COMENSA membership or ICF-aligned training.

The critical additional requirements are:

Quality Council accreditation with at least five relevant credits.
Two trained evaluators holding the appropriate COMENSA designations.
Evaluation of learners against the entire COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework.

These are the areas I would prioritise before investing heavily in developing additional marketing material.

My suggested next step: Develop a complete Gold application evidence portfolio for Level123 Coaching, including a standards mapping matrix, curriculum structure, evaluator requirements, assessment rubrics and a document checklist. This will give you a practical working file against which to manage the entire approval project.

Level123 Coaching Academy – Implementation Task List

Based on the COMENSA Policy and Criteria to develop, award, monitor and revoke professional designations for Coaches and Mentors, Revision 06, March 2023.

The purpose of this implementation plan is to ensure that Level123's training programmes prepare learners to meet the COMENSA requirements for professional designations.

Important distinction: This document sets out the requirements for COMENSA professional designations. It refers to a separate COMENSA Training Provider Programmes policy for Gold and Silver programme approval. Therefore, this task list covers the training and assessment requirements supported by this attachment, rather than the separate Gold approval application criteria.

Phase 1: Define the programme structure

No.

Implementation task

Deliverable

Decide whether Level123 will offer coaching, mentoring or both.

Programme scope

Decide which COMENSA designation levels the programme will support.

Designation pathway

Map the coaching programme to CCC, CSC and CMC requirements.

Coaching qualification matrix

Map the mentoring programme to CCM, CSM and CMM requirements, if applicable.

Mentoring qualification matrix

Set the training hours for each designation pathway.

Training-hour schedule

Develop a curriculum aligned to the applicable COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework.

Curriculum framework

Define learning outcomes for each module and designation level.

Learning outcomes document

Establish how learners will demonstrate competence at each level.

Competency assessment framework

Develop a learner progression and completion policy.

Learner progression policy

Establish a process for issuing certificates and retaining learner records.

Certification and records procedure

Training-hour requirements specified in the document:

Designation

Required training

CCC – Credentialed Coach

60 hours

CSC – Senior Coach

120 hours

CMC – Master Coach

200 hours

CCM – Credentialed Mentor

60 hours

CSM – Senior Mentor

120 hours

CMM – Master Mentor

200 hours

Gold2.pdf

Phase 2: Develop the coaching curriculum

The coaching curriculum must address all nine competencies in the COMENSA Coaching Behavioural Standards Framework.

No.

Competency

Implementation tasks

Contracting

Develop training on agreements, roles, expectations, confidentiality, boundaries and re-contracting.

Communicating

Develop active listening, questioning, feedback and communication skills.

Building Trust and Rapport

Develop trust-building, psychological safety, empathy and non-judgemental practice.

Creating Awareness and Opportunities for Learning

Develop awareness, reflection, insight, feedback and learning techniques.

Designing Actions and Managing Accountability

Develop action planning, measurable outcomes, accountability and progress reviews.

Building Self-Awareness

Develop self-reflection, emotional awareness, neutrality and self-management.

Personal and Professional Growth

Develop reflective practice, feedback, supervision and continuous development.

Maintaining a Coaching Presence

Develop presence, adaptability, focus and management of the coach's own agenda.

Managing Diversity

Develop cultural awareness, inclusion, bias recognition and contextual sensitivity.

Gold2.pdf

For each competency, complete these additional tasks:

20. Develop learning material explaining the competency.

21. Develop practical exercises and coaching demonstrations.

22. Develop learner activities that demonstrate the required behaviours.

23. Create assessment criteria for CCC, CSC and CMC separately.

24. Develop practical case studies and simulated coaching scenarios.

25. Develop observation checklists for coaching sessions.

26. Develop reflective learning activities for each competency.

27. Create a competency evidence portfolio for each learner.

Phase 3: Develop the mentoring curriculum

If Level123 intends to offer mentoring training, develop the curriculum around the six COMENSA Mentoring Behavioural Standards Framework competencies.

No.

Competency

Implementation tasks

Self-Understanding

Develop self-awareness, personal values, bias recognition and reflective practice.

Relationship Building

Develop trust, communication, empathy, feedback and relationship management.

Professional Skills

Develop professional expertise, networking and the ability to support mentee development.

Role Management

Develop mentoring boundaries, responsibilities, ethics and accountability.

Personal/Professional Knowledge

Develop knowledge-sharing, workplace expertise and professional development support.

Development Plan and Measurement

Develop development planning, SMART goals, measurement and progress reviews.

For each competency:

34. Develop learning material.

35. Develop practical mentoring exercises.

36. Create mentoring case studies.

37. Develop assessment criteria for CCM, CSM and CMM.

38. Develop mentoring observation and feedback tools.

39. Create learner evidence portfolios.

Gold2.pdf

Phase 4: Develop learner assessment systems

The document requires learners to complete a knowledge assessment and achieve at least 70%, as well as successfully complete the relevant credentialing evaluation process.

No.

Implementation task

Deliverable

Develop a knowledge assessment covering all relevant behavioural standards.

Knowledge assessment

Establish a minimum 70% pass mark.

Assessment policy

Develop separate assessment questions for coaching and mentoring.

Question banks

Develop practical coaching and mentoring assessments.

Practical assessment tools

Develop competency-based assessment rubrics for each designation level.

Assessment rubrics

Establish a process for observing and evaluating learner practice.

Observation procedure

Develop learner feedback and assessment reports.

Feedback templates

Establish reassessment procedures for unsuccessful learners.

Reassessment policy

Develop a learner evidence portfolio process.

Portfolio template

Establish assessment recordkeeping and quality assurance procedures.

Assessment records system

The 70% knowledge assessment requirement is explicitly stated in the designation criteria.

Phase 5: Develop coaching and mentoring logbook systems

The designation requirements include practical experience, with 90% of the required hours being paid work. Internal coaching or mentoring work receiving a salary is included.

No.

Implementation task

Deliverable

Develop a coaching logbook template.

Coaching logbook

Develop a mentoring logbook template.

Mentoring logbook

Include client or mentee details and session dates.

Logbook fields

Include session duration and total accumulated hours.

Hours tracking

Include paid and unpaid experience classifications.

Paid-hours tracking

Include provision for recording salaried internal coaching or mentoring.

Internal practice record

Develop a supervisor or client verification process where appropriate.

Verification procedure

Establish a process for reviewing accumulated learner hours.

Logbook review process

Develop learner progress reports against the required hours.

Progress dashboard

Required practical experience:

Designation

Total hours

Minimum paid hours (90%)

CCC

100

CSC

500

450

CMC

2,500

2,250

CCM

100

CSM

500

450

CMM

2,500

2,250

Phase 6: Develop professional practice and ethics

No.

Implementation task

Deliverable

Develop a professional coaching code of conduct aligned to COMENSA requirements.

Ethics guidelines

Develop confidentiality and information-handling procedures.

Confidentiality policy

Develop professional boundaries and referral guidelines.

Boundaries policy

Develop conflict-of-interest guidance.

Conflict-of-interest procedure

Develop learner guidance on diversity, inclusion and non-discrimination.

Diversity guidelines

Develop professional conduct case studies.

Ethics case studies

Include supervision and reflective practice in the learning programme.

Supervision framework

Develop a continuous professional development plan for learners.

CPD development plan

The attached policy specifically identifies CPD as mandatory for credentialed COMENSA members and identifies professional conduct and ethics as important to maintaining a designation.

Gold2.pdf

Phase 7: Establish learner credentialing support

No.

Implementation task

Deliverable

Develop a guide explaining the COMENSA designation levels.

Learner credentialing guide

Explain the qualification, training-hour and experience requirements for each level.

Designation requirements guide

Explain the COMENSA knowledge assessment requirement.

Knowledge assessment guide

Explain the practical evaluation requirements.

Credentialing evaluation guide

Explain the COMENSA online credentialing application process.

Application guide

Explain the Recognition of Prior Learning route where relevant.

RPL information guide

Develop a learner readiness checklist before credentialing applications.

Credentialing readiness checklist

Develop a process for tracking learner progress towards designation eligibility.

Learner tracking system

The document states that members apply through the COMENSA online member application process and that Recognition of Prior Learning may form part of the credentialing process.

Phase 8: Quality assurance and programme management

No.

Implementation task

Deliverable

Appoint a programme manager responsible for implementation.

Programme responsibility matrix

Appoint appropriately qualified facilitators.

Facilitator register

Establish internal moderation and assessment quality controls.

Moderation procedure

Develop a learner complaints and appeals procedure.

Complaints and appeals policy

Develop a learner feedback and programme evaluation process.

Evaluation forms

Establish an annual curriculum review process.

Annual review schedule

Maintain records of training, assessment and learner achievement.

Learner records system

Monitor changes to COMENSA designation criteria and applicable policies.

Compliance register

Review training material against the latest COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework.

Standards review report

Establish a process for continuous programme improvement.

Improvement plan

The attached policy states that COMENSA reviews its credentialing policy procedurally each year.

Recommended implementation sequence for Level123

I would implement the work in this order:

Priority

Workstream

Tasks

Programme design

1–10

Coaching curriculum

11–27

Mentoring curriculum, if offered

28–39

Assessment system

40–49

Logbook system

50–58

Ethics and professional practice

59–66

Credentialing support

67–74

Quality assurance

75–84

Key decision before implementation

The most important decision is whether Level123 will initially pursue a coaching programme only or both coaching and mentoring.

My recommendation would be to implement the coaching pathway first, covering CCC, CSC and CMC, and then add the mentoring pathway as a separate programme.

One important qualification: To pursue COMENSA Gold Training Provider status, we still need to combine this implementation plan with the separate COMENSA Training Provider Programmes policy. This attachment alone does not establish the Gold approval requirements.

There are two separate approvals to distinguish:

QCTO accreditation: The provider must have the relevant South African occupational qualification or skills programme approved through the QCTO system, either directly or through an authorised assessment/accreditation arrangement.
COMENSA Gold Training Provider status: COMENSA approves a particular coaching or mentoring programme. Gold status is not automatically an accreditation of the entire training organisation.

The COMENSA Gold policy you supplied specifies that the programme must have South African Quality Council accreditation, with learning programme approval for at least 5 credits directly relevant to coaching or mentoring. It also requires alignment to the COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework and two appropriately trained, credentialed evaluators.

Important update: the current COMENSA policy has changed

The newer COMENSA policy, Revision 05, dated February 2025, is the one I would use for your application planning. It says a Gold programme must have:

A CIPC-registered business.
Registration with a South African Quality Council: CHE or QCTO.
An accredited programme of at least 8 credits directly relevant to coaching or mentoring.
Alignment with the full COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework.
Student membership registration and payment through COMENSA.
Evaluation of students against the full framework, allowing the first-time COMENSA membership evaluation and fee to be waived.
comensa.org.za+1

That is different from the older March 2023 policy you supplied, which specified at least 5 credits. For Level123, I would work to the newer 8-credit requirement unless COMENSA confirms otherwise in writing.

What QCTO evidence is normally required?

I cannot see the confidential application packs submitted by existing COMENSA Gold providers, so I cannot honestly confirm which documents most of them submitted. However, the QCTO's published accreditation criteria and guidance identify the following evidence as relevant.

QCTO evidence area

Documents or evidence to prepare

Legal registration

CIPC registration certificate and company details

Tax compliance

SARS tax compliance status / tax clearance evidence, where applicable

Financial sustainability

Business plan, financial projections and audited financial statements, where applicable

Health and safety

Health and safety audit/report and relevant policies

Facilitators and assessors

CVs, certified qualifications and evidence of relevant experience

Learning material

Learner support materials mapped to the qualification curriculum

Curriculum

Curriculum documents showing knowledge, practical skills and workplace components, where applicable

Delivery capacity

Implementation plan explaining how, where and when training will be delivered

Learner administration

Learner registration, attendance, results, records and data-management processes

Workplace learning

Signed workplace MoU or agreements where the qualification requires workplace experience

Assessment

Assessment strategy, assessment tools and arrangements for final assessment

Governance

Learner appeal policy, code of conduct and quality-assurance arrangements

These items are supported by QCTO's published SDP accreditation criteria and its FAQ. The FAQ specifically identifies CIPC registration, a health and safety audit, workplace MoU, facilitator and assessor CVs and qualifications, physical and human resources, and a detailed implementation plan.

One important qualification: Not every item applies identically to every programme. A coaching skills programme may have different practical and workplace requirements from a full occupational qualification. The precise requirements depend on the qualification or skills programme you seek accreditation for.

Who has accredited COMENSA Gold providers?

The current COMENSA programme directory lists programmes including:

Accelerate Programme
ACTIVE© Leader Coach Accreditation
Advanced Certificate in Management and Leadership
Advanced Coaching Course
Dynamic Master Coach Certification
Essentials of Coaching and Mentoring
MPhil Leadership Coaching
Post Graduate Diploma in Coaching
Registered Professional Coach Training Programme

These are listed in COMENSA's programme directory, but the public listings do not provide enough evidence for me to reliably identify the accrediting body for each one.

The distinction is important:

QCTO accredits Skills Development Providers to deliver specified occupational qualifications and skills programmes.
CHE is the other route expressly recognised in COMENSA's current Gold criteria.
COMENSA endorses the individual coaching or mentoring programme; it does not itself issue QCTO or CHE accreditation.
comensa.org.za+1

You can check the official QCTO database of accredited Skills Development Providers. It is updated from April 2026.

What I would do for Level123

I would not start by submitting a generic application to become a QCTO-accredited coaching provider. First identify the specific registered qualification or skills programme that can support your coaching curriculum.

Then establish whether the programme is best pursued through QCTO or through a CHE-accredited institution. The current COMENSA policy permits either route, so QCTO is not automatically the only option.

I would also ask COMENSA one direct question before spending money:

Please provide the names of the current COMENSA Gold Training Provider Programmes and identify, for each programme, whether its underlying accreditation is through QCTO or CHE. Where QCTO accreditation applies, please identify the registered qualification or skills programme and its credit value. We would also appreciate confirmation of the exact documentary evidence required under the current February 2025 Gold criteria.

COMENSA's published contact for programme applications is tpp@comensa.org.za.

Coaches and Mentors of South Africa

My conclusion: you need an 8-credit accredited programme and a complete COMENSA behavioural-framework alignment, not simply a collection of coaching certificates. The most valuable next step is to establish which existing qualification can be mapped to Level123 without developing a new qualification from scratch.

ETDP SETA requirements for coaching and COMENSA

There are two separate accreditation and professional recognition routes in South Africa:

ETDP SETA / QCTO: Deals with occupational training, skills development, qualifications, skills programmes and provider accreditation.
COMENSA: The Coaching and Mentoring Association of South Africa. It provides professional standards, coach accreditation and recognition of coaching competence.

For Level123 Coaching Academy, the important distinction is that COMENSA accreditation does not automatically make a training programme ETDP SETA- or QCTO-accredited. Equally, SETA/QCTO accreditation does not automatically confer COMENSA coach accreditation.

1. What ETDP SETA requires from a training provider

There are two possible regulatory routes, depending on the qualification or programme being offered.

Route

Responsibility

Historical NQF qualifications / unit standards

ETDP SETA, within its delegated scope

New occupational qualifications and occupational skills programmes

QCTO

COMENSA coaching programme approval

COMENSA

Professional coach designation

COMENSA

The QCTO now accredits Skills Development Providers offering programmes within the Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework. Its accreditation is generally valid for five years.

qcto.org.za+1

Provider accreditation checklist

The published ETDP SETA accreditation criteria identify the following requirements:

Registered legal entity (Pty Ltd, NPC, trust, etc.).
Valid SARS tax compliance.
Public liability insurance.
Quality Management System (QMS).
Documented policies and procedures.
Qualified subject matter experts.
Qualified facilitators.
Registered assessors, where required.
Registered moderators, where required.
Learning materials aligned with registered NQF qualifications or unit standards.
Assessment and moderation procedures.
Learner registration and administration systems.
Learner support procedures.
Workplace learning arrangements, where applicable.
Occupational health and safety compliance.
Financial sustainability and business plan.
Training resources and suitable facilities.
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting systems.

These are drawn from ETDP SETA's published accreditation criteria. The exact requirements must be checked against the applicable current QCTO accreditation route.

etdpseta.org.za+1

2. COMENSA requirements for training providers

COMENSA has three programme approval categories.

3. What this means for Level123 Coaching Academy

I would recommend working towards COMENSA Gold status, rather than simply obtaining a general training provider accreditation.

The proposed approach:

Establish the appropriate QCTO or other Quality Council accreditation route.
Identify a registered qualification or skills programme that legitimately covers coaching and mentoring.
Obtain approval for a learning programme with at least five relevant credits.
Map the curriculum against all COMENSA behavioural standards.
Recruit or develop two appropriately credentialed COMENSA evaluators.
Develop assessment instruments and learner portfolios.
Submit the programme to COMENSA for Gold programme evaluation.

One important point: do not assume that a generic ETDP qualification or assessor certificate automatically qualifies a coaching programme for Gold status.

4. Documents Level123 should prepare

I would assemble the following accreditation portfolio:

Document

Purpose

Company registration

Legal entity evidence

SARS tax compliance PIN

Financial compliance

Public liability insurance

Risk management

QMS manual

Quality assurance

Training and development policy

Training governance

Learner enrolment policy

Learner administration

Assessment policy

Assessment management

Moderation policy

Quality control

Appeals policy

Learner rights

Recognition of Prior Learning policy

RPL

POPIA policy

Personal information

Code of ethics

Professional conduct

Coaching curriculum

Learning programme

Facilitator CVs

Staff competence

Assessor and moderator credentials

Assessment capacity

Learner workbooks

Learning materials

Assessment instruments

Evidence of competence

Workplace coaching logbooks

Practical experience

Learner feedback forms

Continuous improvement

Financial projections

Business sustainability

5. Official application resources

ETDP SETA

ETDP SETA – ETDQA accreditation information ETDP SETA – Accreditation criteria PDF

QCTO

QCTO – Skills Development Provider accreditation

COMENSA

COMENSA – Training Provider Programme application COMENSA – Training Provider Programme policy

6. My recommendation

For Level123, I would investigate whether there is an existing registered coaching or mentoring qualification/skills programme that can be used, rather than attempting to develop an entirely new qualification.

The critical question is whether the existing programme has the correct QCTO/Quality Council registration and whether its credits are directly relevant to coaching or mentoring.

I would establish this before spending money on accreditation.

I can develop a detailed Level123 accreditation implementation plan, mapping every document, policy, curriculum requirement, staff qualification and assessment instrument against COMENSA Gold and the applicable ETDP SETA/QCTO requirements.

ETDP SETA requirements for coaching and COMENSA

There are two separate accreditation and professional recognition routes in South Africa:

ETDP SETA / QCTO: Deals with occupational training, skills development, qualifications, skills programmes and provider accreditation.
COMENSA: The Coaching and Mentoring Association of South Africa. It provides professional standards, coach accreditation and recognition of coaching competence.

1. What ETDP SETA requires from a training provider

There are two possible regulatory routes, depending on the qualification or programme being offered.

Route

Responsibility

Historical NQF qualifications / unit standards

ETDP SETA, within its delegated scope

New occupational qualifications and occupational skills programmes

QCTO

COMENSA coaching programme approval

COMENSA

Professional coach designation

COMENSA

The QCTO now accredits Skills Development Providers offering programmes within the Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework. Its accreditation is generally valid for five years.

qcto.org.za+1

Provider accreditation checklist

The published ETDP SETA accreditation criteria identify the following requirements:

Registered legal entity (Pty Ltd, NPC, trust, etc.).
Valid SARS tax compliance.
Public liability insurance.
Quality Management System (QMS).
Documented policies and procedures.
Qualified subject matter experts.
Qualified facilitators.
Registered assessors, where required.
Registered moderators, where required.
Learning materials aligned with registered NQF qualifications or unit standards.
Assessment and moderation procedures.
Learner registration and administration systems.
Learner support procedures.
Workplace learning arrangements, where applicable.
Occupational health and safety compliance.
Financial sustainability and business plan.
Training resources and suitable facilities.
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting systems.

These are drawn from ETDP SETA's published accreditation criteria. The exact requirements must be checked against the applicable current QCTO accreditation route.

etdpseta.org.za+1

2. COMENSA requirements for training providers

COMENSA has three programme approval categories.

3. What this means for Level123 Coaching Academy

I would recommend working towards COMENSA Gold status, rather than simply obtaining a general training provider accreditation.

The proposed approach:

Establish the appropriate QCTO or other Quality Council accreditation route.
Identify a registered qualification or skills programme that legitimately covers coaching and mentoring.
Obtain approval for a learning programme with at least five relevant credits.
Map the curriculum against all COMENSA behavioural standards.
Recruit or develop two appropriately credentialed COMENSA evaluators.
Develop assessment instruments and learner portfolios.
Submit the programme to COMENSA for Gold programme evaluation.

One important point: do not assume that a generic ETDP qualification or assessor certificate automatically qualifies a coaching programme for Gold status.

4. Documents Level123 should prepare

I would assemble the following accreditation portfolio:

Document

Purpose

Company registration

Legal entity evidence

SARS tax compliance PIN

Financial compliance

Public liability insurance

Risk management

QMS manual

Quality assurance

Training and development policy

Training governance

Learner enrolment policy

Learner administration

Assessment policy

Assessment management

Moderation policy

Quality control

Appeals policy

Learner rights

Recognition of Prior Learning policy

RPL

POPIA policy

Personal information

Code of ethics

Professional conduct

Coaching curriculum

Learning programme

Facilitator CVs

Staff competence

Assessor and moderator credentials

Assessment capacity

Learner workbooks

Learning materials

Assessment instruments

Evidence of competence

Workplace coaching logbooks

Practical experience

Learner feedback forms

Continuous improvement

Financial projections

Business sustainability

5. Official application resources

ETDP SETA

ETDP SETA – ETDQA accreditation information ETDP SETA – Accreditation criteria PDF

QCTO

QCTO – Skills Development Provider accreditation

COMENSA

COMENSA – Training Provider Programme application COMENSA – Training Provider Programme policy

6. My recommendation

The critical question is whether the existing programme has the correct QCTO/Quality Council registration and whether its credits are directly relevant to coaching or mentoring.

I would establish this before spending money on accreditation.

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Level123 Coaching Academy – Detailed Accreditation Implementation Plan

Objective: Establish Level123 Coaching Academy as a professionally recognised coaching and mentoring training provider, with a pathway to COMENSA Gold Programme Approval and the appropriate ETDP SETA/QCTO accreditation.

I recommend treating this as one integrated accreditation project with two parallel workstreams:

Regulatory accreditation: QCTO / relevant Quality Council and ETDP SETA, where applicable.
Professional recognition: COMENSA Silver and ultimately Gold Programme Approval.

The objective is not simply to obtain certificates. It is to establish a training academy that can demonstrate curriculum quality, competent facilitators, practical coaching experience, credible assessments, ethical practice and measurable learner outcomes.

Proposed project targets

90 days

Initial compliance and gap analysis

180 days

Target submission readiness

2

COMENSA-trained evaluators required for Gold under the referenced policy

5+

Relevant programme credits for Gold under the referenced policy

These are project planning targets, not guaranteed accreditation turnaround times. Current programme criteria and regulator requirements must be verified before submission.

1. First decision: establish the correct accreditation route

This is the most important step. I found a significant change between the older COMENSA policy you previously supplied and the newer policy published in February 2025.

Important policy discrepancy

COMENSA Gold criteria

The February 2025 signed policy, Revision 05, specifies:

CIPC-registered business.
Registration with CHE or QCTO as a training provider.
An accredited programme with at least 8 credits directly relevant to coaching or mentoring.
Alignment with the entire COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework.
Registration and payment of COMENSA student membership fees.
Evaluation of each learner against the entire Behavioural Standards Framework.

The current COMENSA website, however, still describes Gold as requiring at least 5 credits and two trained assessors, including at least one trained evaluator.

These documents do not agree. Obtain written confirmation from COMENSA before committing to a qualification, evaluators or application expenditure.

comensa.org.za+1

My proposed decision: Design for the more demanding eight-credit requirement, full behavioural framework alignment and learner evaluation. Obtain written confirmation of the precise current Gold criteria before submission.

Eight NQF credits represent 80 notional learning hours. This is not simply 80 classroom hours: assessment, independent study and structured practical learning can contribute. The credits must be formally recognised through the applicable qualification or programme.

SAQA+1

Which regulator should Level123 approach?

Situation

Route

Existing occupational qualification or skills programme

QCTO

Historically registered qualification or unit standards under ETDP SETA's delegated scope

ETDP SETA

Higher education qualification

CHE

COMENSA professional programme endorsement

COMENSA

ETDP SETA continues to perform delegated quality-assurance functions for historically registered qualifications. QCTO is responsible for accreditation of providers for occupational qualifications and skills programmes.

ETDP SETA+2

Do not assume that an existing ETDP SETA assessor certificate or generic coaching course automatically meets these requirements.

2. Project structure and implementation phases

I would run the project over six months, with a further period allowed for regulatory assessment and corrections.

Six-month implementation roadmap

Phase 1 – Regulatory investigation
Weeks 1–2
Confirm the correct qualification, accrediting body, credits and COMENSA requirements.
Phase 2 – Institutional compliance
Weeks 3–5
Establish legal, financial, governance, quality and administrative compliance.
Phase 3 – Curriculum development
Weeks 4–9
Develop the coaching curriculum, learning materials, assessment instruments and COMENSA mapping.
Phase 4 – Staffing and operational readiness
Weeks 8–12
Appoint facilitators, assessors, moderators and evaluators; establish practical coaching arrangements.
Phase 5 – Internal quality assurance
Weeks 13–16
Conduct a complete mock accreditation audit and correct gaps.
Phase 6 – Submission
Weeks 17–24
Submit the relevant regulatory application and COMENSA programme application when their prerequisites are met.

Some phases run concurrently. The timeline assumes an existing business and a suitable registered qualification can be identified.

Phase 1 – Regulatory investigation and qualification selection

Weeks 1–2

This phase prevents Level123 from spending money on the wrong accreditation.

Ref

Implementation task

Evidence / deliverable

1.1

Obtain current COMENSA Gold policy

Signed current policy

1.2

Request written confirmation of Gold credits

Written COMENSA response

1.3

Confirm evaluator requirements

Written confirmation

1.4

Confirm student membership requirements

Membership procedure and costs

1.5

Identify coaching qualifications on SAQA/QCTO registers

Qualification register extracts

1.6

Identify registered coaching or mentoring skills programmes

Programme registration evidence

1.7

Establish the relevant Quality Council

Regulatory route decision

1.8

Confirm whether Level123 can apply directly

Written regulator guidance

1.9

Obtain the curriculum and qualification specifications

Official curriculum documents

1.10

Identify existing accredited providers

Provider and partnership shortlist

Critical deliverable: A qualification selection report.

It must answer:

What is the exact qualification or skills programme?
What is its NQF level?
How many credits does it carry?
Which credits are directly relevant to coaching?
Does it include practical coaching?
Does it include workplace learning?
Does it support the COMENSA designation pathway?
Which organisation is authorised to accredit Level123 to deliver it?

Do not create a qualification and assign your own NQF credits. A training provider cannot independently award NQF recognition.

Phase 2 – Institutional compliance

Weeks 3–5

Create a central accreditation evidence repository.

Suggested Google Drive structure:

LEVEL123 ACCREDITATION

01 – Company and legal registration
02 – Tax and financial compliance
03 – Quality Management System
04 – Policies and procedures
05 – Curriculum and learning materials
06 – COMENSA alignment
07 – Facilitators and assessors
08 – Learner administration
09 – Assessment and moderation
10 – Practical coaching evidence
11 – Workplace agreements
12 – Internal audit and improvement
13 – Accreditation submissions

2.1 Legal and business documentation

Prepare:

CIPC registration certificate.
Company disclosure documents.
Registered business address.
Director and ownership information.
SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN.
Business bank account evidence.
Public liability insurance.
Professional indemnity insurance.
Financial statements, if available.
Business plan and financial projections.
Organisational structure.
Training provider organogram.

2.2 Physical and virtual training infrastructure

For QCTO applications, prepare evidence for the actual training site. QCTO accreditation is site-specific, including for programmes delivered virtually.

Prepare:

Lease or proof of ownership.
Occupational Health and Safety audit.
Internet connectivity.
Computer and software inventory.
Learner access arrangements.
Training venue or virtual delivery arrangements.
Secure learner record storage.
Emergency and safety procedures.

The QCTO accreditation guidelines also require workplace arrangements where the qualification curriculum specifies a workplace component.

qcto.org.za+1

2.3 Develop the Quality Management System

This should be the backbone of Level123.

The QMS must explain how the academy ensures that every learner receives consistent training, assessment and support.

Create these documents:

Document

Required content

QMS Manual

Quality objectives, controls and responsibilities

Quality Policy

Commitment to training standards

Training Delivery Procedure

How programmes are delivered

Assessment Policy

How competence is measured

Moderation Policy

How assessment quality is checked

Internal Audit Procedure

How compliance is reviewed

Corrective Action Procedure

How shortcomings are corrected

Document Control Procedure

Versioning and approval

Learner Records Procedure

Evidence retention

Continuous Improvement Procedure

Feedback and improvements

Phase 3 – Curriculum development and COMENSA alignment

Weeks 4–9

This is arguably the most important technical workstream.

I recommend building one master curriculum with three interconnected components:

Knowledge and theory.
Coaching skills and practical application.
Professional competence and ethical practice.

The curriculum must be based on the actual registered qualification or skills programme selected in Phase 1, rather than simply being a collection of coaching topics.

3.1 Proposed curriculum architecture

The following is a proposed curriculum structure for Level123. It is not a substitute for the registered qualification's prescribed modules.

Module

Content

Main evidence

Introduction to professional coaching

Knowledge assessment

Coaching theories and models

Applied assignment

Contracting and agreements

Recorded coaching session

Establishing trust and safety

Practical observation

Active listening and communication

Coaching recording

Powerful questioning

Questioning assessment

Awareness and insight

Reflective assignment

Goal setting and action planning

Client development plan

Accountability and progress review

Coaching portfolio

Ethics and professional boundaries

Ethics case study

Reflective practice and supervision

Reflective journal

Professional development

Development plan

The curriculum should explicitly address all applicable COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework requirements.

3.2 Create the COMENSA alignment matrix

This is a critical submission document.

For every behavioural standard, show:

Standard reference.
Competency description.
Relevant learning outcome.
Module reference.
Learning activity.
Assessment method.
Evidence required.
Assessment criteria.
Assessor responsible.
Moderation reference.

Example:

COMENSA competency area

Training activity

Assessment evidence

Contracting

Contracting role-play

Observed session

Communication

Active listening exercise

Recorded session

Trust and rapport

Relationship-building practice

Client feedback

Awareness

Reflective coaching

Session recording

Learning and growth

Action planning

Client progress record

This matrix must ultimately cover the entire current COMENSA framework, not just these examples.

3.3 Learning materials to develop

Produce:

Facilitator guide.
Learner handbook.
Module workbooks.
Presentation slides.
Reading materials.
Practical exercises.
Case studies.
Role-play scenarios.
Coaching practice instructions.
Assessment guides.
Assessment rubrics.
Learner logbooks.
Reflection journals.
Ethics scenarios.
Coaching contract templates.
Client feedback forms.
Learner development plans.
Supervision guidelines.

3.4 Assessment instruments

Develop separate assessments for knowledge and practical competence.

Assessment

Evidence

Multiple-choice examination

Knowledge

Written assignments

Understanding

Case study analysis

Applied knowledge

Contracting simulation

Practical competence

Recorded coaching sessions

Coaching behaviours

Direct observation

Demonstrated competence

Client feedback

Client experience

Reflective journal

Self-awareness

Coaching portfolio

Integrated competence

Final practical assessment

Overall competence

For the COMENSA Gold route, each learner must be evaluated against the entire relevant Behavioural Standards Framework, in accordance with the confirmed current criteria.

Phase 4 – Staffing, professional competence and practical delivery

Weeks 8–12

Level123 needs to demonstrate that the people delivering and evaluating the programme are competent and appropriately qualified.

4.1 Establish the training team

Role

Responsibilities

Evidence required

Academy Director

Overall accountability

CV and appointment

Programme Manager

Training administration

CV and role description

Lead Facilitator

Programme delivery

Qualifications and experience

Subject Matter Expert

Coaching content

CV and credentials

Assessor

Learner competence assessment

Registration and qualifications

Moderator

Assessment quality assurance

Registration and qualifications

COMENSA Evaluator

Behavioural framework evaluation

COMENSA training and designation, if required

Learner Support Officer

Learner administration and support

CV and appointment

Internal Quality Assurer

Internal quality checks

CV and appointment

The assessor and moderator requirements depend on the specific qualification and regulatory route. ETDP SETA's historical qualification route has its own registration criteria. QCTO programmes require personnel who meet the relevant curriculum requirements.

ETDP SETA+1

4.2 Staff evidence files

Every facilitator, assessor and moderator should have a file containing:

Updated CV.
Certified qualifications.
Professional designations.
Relevant coaching experience.
Relevant training experience.
Assessor registration, where applicable.
Moderator registration, where applicable.
COMENSA membership evidence, where applicable.
Professional development records.
Signed employment or service agreement.
Code of conduct.
Confidentiality agreement.

4.3 Two COMENSA evaluator requirement

There is a discrepancy between the February 2025 policy and current COMENSA website criteria.

I would budget and plan for two appropriately qualified evaluators, but only formally appoint and pay for their training after COMENSA confirms the current requirements.

4.4 Practical coaching arrangements

The academy must demonstrate that learners can practise coaching in a structured environment.

Develop:

Client recruitment process.
Client matching procedure.
Coaching session allocation.
Client consent forms.
Confidentiality agreements.
Coaching session logbooks.
Supervisor review procedures.
Recording and observation permissions.
Client feedback mechanisms.
Complaints and escalation procedures.

I recommend establishing a supervised practice-client pool.

This could include individuals who receive coaching at no cost or at a subsidised rate in return for structured feedback.

The academy must distinguish between:

Training hours.
Coaching practice hours.
Paid coaching hours.
Supervised coaching hours.
Assessment hours.

These are not interchangeable for professional credentialing.

Phase 5 – Quality assurance and internal audit

Weeks 13–16

Before submitting an application, conduct an internal accreditation audit.

5.1 The internal audit checklist

Use this as the first formal audit of the academy.

Level123 accreditation readiness audit

0/56 complete

Tick each item only after documentary evidence exists and has been checked.

1. Legal and regulatory

CIPC documentation verified

Tax compliance confirmed

Correct regulator identified

Correct qualification identified

Programme registration verified

Training site documentation complete

Insurance evidence available

2. Quality management

QMS approved

Document control operational

Assessment policy approved

Moderation policy approved

Appeals procedure operational

RPL procedure operational

Complaints procedure operational

POPIA compliance documented

Ethics policy approved

3. Curriculum and training

Registered curriculum obtained

Learning outcomes mapped

COMENSA framework mapped

Facilitator guide complete

Learner handbook complete

Learning materials complete

Assessment instruments complete

Practical exercises complete

4. Personnel

Facilitator qualifications verified

Assessor requirements verified

Moderator requirements verified

Staff files complete

Evaluator requirements confirmed

Staff responsibilities documented

5. Learner administration

Application forms complete

Learner agreements ready

Learner register operational

Attendance tracking operational

Learner support process established

Learner records protected

Feedback forms ready

6. Practical competence

Client consent process operational

Coaching logbooks developed

Observation rubrics complete

Recording permissions established

Supervision process operational

Client feedback process operational

7. Financial and operational

Business plan complete

Financial projections complete

Training budget approved

Venue and equipment verified

Internet and technology tested

Workplace agreements signed where required

8. Submission readiness

Evidence index complete

All documents version controlled

Internal audit completed

Corrective actions closed

Application forms completed

Regulatory submission reviewed

COMENSA application reviewed

0% evidence checklist completed

Reset checklist

5.2 Conduct a mock accreditation audit

The mock audit should simulate the actual regulator's review.

The auditor should:

Select a random learner file.
Trace the learner from enrolment to assessment.
Verify the facilitator's qualifications.
Check the learning materials against the curriculum.
Check the assessment instrument.
Review assessment decisions.
Verify moderation.
Examine practical coaching evidence.
Review learner feedback.
Check the corrective action register.

Record every shortcoming in a corrective action register.

Finding

Priority

Required action

Closure evidence

Missing policy

High

Approve policy

Signed document

Curriculum gap

Critical

Amend learning materials

Updated mapping

Missing assessment rubric

High

Develop instrument

Approved rubric

Incomplete staff file

Medium

Obtain documentation

Completed file

Missing client consent

Critical

Implement consent process

Signed forms

No critical finding should remain open when the application is submitted.

Phase 6 – Formal accreditation submissions

Weeks 17–24

The submission process should be separated into two distinct applications.

6.1 Regulatory application

For a QCTO occupational qualification or skills programme:

Register the organisation and confirm its eligibility.
Identify the exact qualification or skills programme.
Complete the QCTO online application.
Submit the legal and institutional evidence.
Provide staff CVs and qualifications.
Provide financial stability evidence.
Provide the OHS audit report.
Provide site and facility documentation.
Submit the required programme implementation plan.
Submit the learning material matrix.
Provide workplace agreements where required.
Prepare for the programme delivery readiness evaluation/site visit.
Address any findings.
Obtain the formal accreditation decision.

The QCTO guidelines describe a desktop evaluation followed by programme delivery readiness assessment. The published guideline gives a 90-working-day processing objective after all required supporting documents have been submitted, not a guaranteed completion date.

qcto.org.za+1

For a historical qualification under ETDP SETA's delegated scope, the relevant application is through its AIMS system, with the applicable institutional and learning programme approval requirements.

ETDP SETA

6.2 COMENSA programme approval

Prepare the following:

Submission item

Evidence

Provider registration

CIPC certificate

Quality Council registration

CHE/QCTO evidence

Programme approval

Qualification and programme evidence

Credit requirements

Official credit allocation

Behavioural alignment

Full COMENSA mapping

Learning materials

Learner handbook and module indexes

Assessment

Assessment instruments and rubrics

Learner evaluation

Full-framework evaluation evidence

Student membership

Registration and payment records

Evaluator arrangements

Evidence as confirmed by COMENSA

The February 2025 COMENSA policy specifies that the application is submitted using the online List Your Programme process. Approved programmes are valid for three calendar years and must be submitted for re-evaluation at least three months before expiry.

comensa.org.za+1

3. Complete policy and procedure register

I would prepare the following policy suite for Level123.

This is deliberately more comprehensive than a basic training-provider application checklist.

No.

Policy / procedure

Priority

Quality Management System Manual

Critical

Quality Assurance Policy

Critical

Training and Development Policy

Critical

Assessment Policy

Critical

Moderation Policy

Critical

Learner Appeals Policy

Critical

Recognition of Prior Learning Policy

High

Learner Admission Policy

High

Learner Support Policy

High

Learner Records Management Policy

High

Code of Ethics

Critical

Coaching Professional Boundaries Policy

Critical

Coaching Contracting Policy

Critical

Confidentiality Policy

Critical

POPIA Policy

Critical

Complaints and Disputes Policy

High

Workplace Learning Policy

High

Facilitator and Staff Recruitment Policy

High

Facilitator Performance Management Policy

Medium

Continuous Professional Development Policy

High

Internal Audit Policy

High

Document Control Policy

Critical

Corrective Action Policy

High

Health and Safety Policy

Critical

Risk Management Policy

High

Financial Management Policy

High

Marketing and Advertising Policy

High

Equality and Non-discrimination Policy

High

Disability and Accessibility Policy

High

Data Retention and Destruction Policy

High

My recommendation: Create these as one controlled policy manual with separate supporting procedures and forms. This avoids having 30 disconnected documents that contradict each other.

4. Financial and resource planning

I would create a separate accreditation budget before starting.

Cost category

Budget consideration

Regulatory application

Confirm applicable fees

COMENSA application

Current published first application fee: R5,020

Evaluator training

Confirm current fees and requirements

Facilitator development

Training and professional development

Assessor/moderator development

Qualification and registration costs

Learning materials

Design, development and printing

Legal documentation

Contracts and policy review

OHS audit

External inspection

Insurance

Public liability and professional indemnity

Technology

Google Workspace, LMS and learner records

Training venue

Rental or facility costs

Quality assurance

Internal and external audits

Learner administration

Registration and recordkeeping

The COMENSA application fee is subject to change. Confirm it before payment.

Coaches and Mentors of South Africa

I would avoid spending heavily on premises or developing a completely new qualification until Phase 1 has been completed.

5. Accreditation project management

Establish a project governance structure.

Workstream

Accountable person

Main output

Regulatory compliance

Academy Director

Accreditation

QMS

Quality Manager

Quality manual

Curriculum

Programme Manager

Curriculum

COMENSA alignment

Coaching Lead

Alignment matrix

Assessment

Assessment Lead

Assessment instruments

Human resources

Academy Director

Staff files

Learner administration

Programme Administrator

Learner management

Finance

Academy Director

Business plan

Internal audit

Quality Manager

Audit report

Key project performance indicators

100% of required policies approved.
100% of curriculum outcomes mapped.
100% of relevant COMENSA standards mapped.
100% of staff files verified.
100% of assessment instruments moderated.
100% of learner records complete.
Zero critical findings outstanding at submission.
All regulator and COMENSA submissions acknowledged.

6. Major risks to manage

Risk

Consequence

Mitigation

Wrong qualification selected

Accreditation rejection

Verify qualification first

Insufficient relevant credits

Gold application fails

Confirm eight-credit requirement

Outdated COMENSA criteria

Incorrect application

Obtain written confirmation

Inadequate evaluator capacity

Programme approval delayed

Plan evaluator resources early

Incomplete curriculum mapping

Programme rejected

Full framework mapping

Inadequate assessor credentials

Regulatory non-compliance

Verify requirements

No workplace arrangements

Site readiness failure

Secure relevant agreements

Poor learner records

Audit findings

Implement learner management

Unclear professional boundaries

Ethical complaints

Establish policies and training

Premature marketing claims

Regulatory risk

Advertise only approved status

7. The first 15 actions I would undertake

These are the actual starting tasks, in priority order.

Initial implementation task list

0/15

1. Obtain the latest signed COMENSA Training Provider Programme policy.

2. Email COMENSA requesting written clarification of Gold credit and evaluator requirements.

3. Obtain the exact QCTO/CHE qualification or skills programme specifications.

4. Check the SAQA registration status and credit allocation.

5. Confirm the appropriate accreditation route with the regulator.

6. Compile Level123 CIPC and SARS documents.

7. Create the accreditation Google Drive repository.

8. Develop the master accreditation evidence register.

9. Complete the institutional compliance gap analysis.

10. Develop the QMS manual.

11. Develop the 30-policy suite.

12. Map the existing coaching curriculum against COMENSA standards.

13. Identify the required facilitators, assessors and moderators.

14. Develop the assessment and moderation instruments.

15. Conduct the first internal accreditation audit.

8. My strategic recommendation for Level123

There is an important commercial opportunity here.

I would build Level123 around three products:

SuccessCOACHING | Customer Success Training and Enablement

Product 1 – Professional Coach Training

The flagship programme, mapped to COMENSA professional standards and the applicable registered qualification.

Why Mentorship Is Essential For Entrepreneurs

Product 2 – Professional Mentoring Training

A separate programme for workplace mentors, supervisors and managers.

Corporate Training Solutions - Custom Programs for Your Team | Synergy Bahamas

Product 3 – Corporate Coaching and Leadership Development

Shorter corporate programmes, CPD workshops and leadership development interventions.

This creates three different revenue streams without confusing professional coach training with general leadership development.

9. Important official contacts and resources

COMENSA training provider applications: Training Provider Programme.
COMENSA policy contact: tpp@comensa.org.za.
QCTO provider accreditation: Skills Development Providers.
ETDP SETA quality assurance: ETDQA overview.
SAQA qualification information: SAQA website.

10. The next deliverable I recommend

Rather than writing all the policies independently, I would build a complete Level123 Accreditation Submission Pack.

It should contain:

Accreditation project charter.
Master evidence register.
QMS manual.
Thirty policies and supporting procedures.
Coaching curriculum.
COMENSA Behavioural Standards alignment matrix.
Assessment and moderation instruments.
Facilitator and assessor evidence templates.
Learner administration pack.
Coaching logbooks and practical assessment portfolio.
Internal audit workbook.
Final regulatory and COMENSA submission checklist.

One important decision before we build the pack: I would first resolve the qualification route and Gold criteria, because that determines the exact content and evidence required throughout the portfolio.

My suggested immediate next step is to build the complete QMS manual and policy suite, using the confirmed accreditation requirements as the design standard. I can work through the submission pack with you in stages.

LEVEL123 COACHING ACADEMY

Accreditation Project Charter

Project: Level123 Coaching Academy – Training Provider Accreditation
Document: Project Charter
Version: 1.0
Date: 7 November 2026
Project Sponsor: Academy Director
Project Manager: Gavin Dick
Project Owner: Level123 Coaching Academy
Project Status: Initiation

1. PROJECT PURPOSE

The purpose of this project is to establish Level123 Coaching Academy as a compliant, quality-assured and professionally recognised coaching and mentoring training provider in South Africa.

The project will establish the institutional, regulatory, academic, operational and quality assurance systems necessary to:

Obtain the appropriate accreditation as a Skills Development Provider through the relevant Quality Council.
Identify and secure approval to deliver an appropriate registered coaching or mentoring qualification or occupational skills programme.
Obtain COMENSA approval for the Level123 coaching training programme.
Align the curriculum with the applicable COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework.
Establish credible learner assessment, moderation and professional evaluation arrangements.
Establish a sustainable training academy capable of delivering quality coaching and mentoring education.

The intended outcome is a professionally governed academy that can demonstrate compliance with the applicable National Qualifications Framework requirements and COMENSA professional standards.

2. PROJECT BACKGROUND

Level123 Coaching Academy intends to offer professional coach training, mentoring education and related leadership development programmes.

The academy recognises the importance of distinguishing between:

Regulatory accreditation of a training provider.
Registration and approval of a learning programme.
Professional programme approval by COMENSA.
Individual professional coach and mentor credentialing.

These are separate processes and must be addressed through the appropriate regulatory and professional channels.

The academy will investigate the appropriate QCTO, CHE or other applicable Quality Council route, including any relevant delegated ETDP SETA responsibilities.

The academy will also pursue COMENSA Training Provider Programme approval, with Gold status as the strategic target, subject to confirmation of the current eligibility requirements.

3. PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The project has the following objectives:

3.1 Regulatory objectives

Establish the correct regulatory accreditation route.
Identify an appropriate registered coaching or mentoring qualification or skills programme.
Verify qualification registration, NQF level and credit allocation.
Establish compliance with applicable provider accreditation requirements.
Prepare and submit the required accreditation application.
Achieve regulatory approval where eligibility requirements are met.

3.2 Professional objectives

Obtain COMENSA training programme approval.
Align the programme with all applicable COMENSA Behavioural Standards.
Establish the required professional evaluation arrangements.
Ensure learners are evaluated against the relevant professional framework.
Establish appropriate learner membership and credentialing pathways.

3.3 Quality assurance objectives

Develop and implement a comprehensive Quality Management System.
Establish controlled policies, procedures and operational documentation.
Develop assessment and moderation systems.
Establish learner administration and recordkeeping.
Implement continuous improvement and internal audit procedures.

3.4 Commercial objectives

Establish a sustainable professional coach training academy.
Develop marketable coaching and mentoring programmes.
Create corporate and individual training revenue streams.
Develop partnerships with employers and relevant professional organisations.
Build a reputation for ethical, credible and measurable coaching education.

4. PROJECT SCOPE

4.1 Included in scope

The project includes:

Regulatory research and qualification selection.
Provider registration and accreditation preparation.
Institutional governance and legal compliance.
Quality Management System development.
Policy and procedure development.
Curriculum development and alignment.
Learning material development.
Assessment instrument development.
Moderation and quality assurance systems.
Facilitator and assessor recruitment.
Professional evaluator arrangements.
Learner administration systems.
Practical coaching arrangements.
Workplace learning arrangements, where required.
Internal accreditation audits.
Regulatory application preparation and submission.
COMENSA programme application and evaluation.
Accreditation maintenance and continuous improvement.

4.2 Excluded from scope

The following are not automatically included:

Creation of a new SAQA-registered qualification.
Independent awarding of NQF credits by Level123.
Guaranteeing individual COMENSA professional designations.
Accreditation of unrelated training programmes.
CHE institutional registration or higher education accreditation unless specifically required.
International accreditation.
Approval of programmes not included in the formal application.

Any additional work will require a documented change request.

5. ACCREDITATION STRATEGY

The project will operate through two coordinated workstreams.

Workstream A: Regulatory accreditation

The project will:

Identify the applicable Quality Council.
Investigate relevant registered qualifications and skills programmes.
Confirm provider eligibility.
Develop the institutional QMS.
Prepare curriculum and learning materials.
Establish staff competence and assessment capacity.
Prepare the regulatory evidence portfolio.
Submit the relevant application.
Respond to findings and complete corrective actions.

Workstream B: COMENSA programme approval

The project will:

Obtain the current COMENSA Training Provider Programme policy.
Confirm the current Gold eligibility requirements in writing.
Confirm the relevant credit requirements.
Establish the full COMENSA behavioural standards mapping.
Establish the required professional evaluator arrangements.
Develop in-programme evaluation instruments.
Establish learner membership and administration procedures.
Submit the programme for COMENSA evaluation.

Strategic target: COMENSA Gold Programme Approval.

Gold approval will only be claimed once formally awarded for the specific programme.

6. PROJECT DELIVERABLES

The project will produce the following controlled deliverables.

Reference

Deliverable

D01

Accreditation Project Charter

D02

Master Accreditation Evidence Register

D03

Regulatory Route and Qualification Report

D04

Institutional Compliance Assessment

D05

Quality Management System Manual

D06

Policy and Procedure Suite

D07

Curriculum and Learning Programme

D08

COMENSA Behavioural Standards Alignment Matrix

D09

Learner Handbook

D10

Facilitator Guide

D11

Assessment Instruments

D12

Moderation Framework

D13

Staff and Facilitator Evidence Files

D14

Learner Administration Pack

D15

Coaching Practice Logbooks

D16

Workplace Learning Documentation, where applicable

D17

Internal Accreditation Audit Report

D18

Corrective Action Register

D19

Regulatory Accreditation Submission

D20

COMENSA Programme Approval Submission

D21

Accreditation Maintenance Plan

7. PROJECT GOVERNANCE

The following governance structure will apply.

Role

Responsibility

Project Sponsor

Strategic direction and approval

Project Manager

Overall coordination and delivery

Academy Director

Business and regulatory accountability

Quality Manager

QMS and compliance

Programme Manager

Curriculum and training delivery

Coaching Lead

COMENSA framework alignment

Assessment Lead

Assessment and moderation

Facilitators

Training delivery

Evaluators

Professional competency evaluation

Administrator

Learner and document administration

Where one individual performs multiple roles, the relevant responsibilities must be documented. Independent assessment and moderation controls must still be maintained.

8. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE

The proposed implementation period is six months, followed by regulatory assessment and any required remediation.

Phase

Activities

Target

Regulatory research and qualification selection

Weeks 1–2

Institutional compliance

Weeks 3–5

Curriculum and learning materials

Weeks 4–9

Staffing and operational readiness

Weeks 8–12

Internal quality assurance

Weeks 13–16

Regulatory and COMENSA submissions

Weeks 17–24

The timeline is a project planning estimate and is dependent on regulator response times, availability of registered programmes and completion of prerequisites.

9. PROJECT BUDGET

A detailed project budget will be developed during the initiation phase.

Budget categories will include:

Regulatory application fees.
COMENSA application fees.
Evaluator training.
Staff recruitment and development.
Curriculum development.
Learning materials.
Quality assurance and audits.
Insurance.
Legal and compliance support.
Training facilities and technology.
Learner administration.
Marketing and business development.

All costs must be approved by the Project Sponsor before expenditure.

10. PROJECT RISKS

Risk

Potential impact

Mitigation

Incorrect qualification selected

Application rejection

Verify registration and scope

Incorrect regulatory route

Delays and unnecessary expenditure

Obtain written regulatory guidance

COMENSA criteria change

Programme redesign

Confirm current policy

Insufficient programme credits

Gold eligibility failure

Verify credits before curriculum finalisation

Inadequate evaluator capacity

Delayed approval

Plan evaluator arrangements early

Incomplete QMS

Accreditation findings

Conduct internal audits

Insufficient staff competence

Programme delivery failure

Verify qualifications and experience

Weak assessment instruments

Poor learner evaluation

Independent review and moderation

Inadequate financial resources

Project interruption

Establish approved budget

Incomplete learner evidence

Audit findings

Implement controlled recordkeeping

11. PROJECT SUCCESS CRITERIA

The project will be considered successfully implemented when:

The correct regulatory route has been established.
The relevant qualification or programme has been verified.
The required provider accreditation has been obtained, where applicable.
The Quality Management System is implemented.
All required policies and procedures are approved.
The curriculum is aligned to the applicable registered programme.
The COMENSA Behavioural Standards mapping is complete.
Qualified personnel are appointed.
Assessment and moderation arrangements are operational.
Learner administration systems are functional.
The COMENSA programme application has been evaluated.
The applicable COMENSA programme approval has been awarded.

Application submission alone does not constitute accreditation or programme approval.

12. PROJECT REPORTING

The Project Manager will provide:

Weekly progress updates.
Monthly project status reports.
Risk and issue register updates.
Deliverable completion reports.
Budget reports.
Corrective action updates.
Formal phase completion reports.

All project documents will be maintained in the Level123 Accreditation Evidence Repository.

13. CHANGE CONTROL

Changes to the project scope, objectives, budget, qualification route or timeline must be:

Documented.
Assessed for impact.
Reviewed by the Project Manager.
Approved by the Project Sponsor.
Reflected in the relevant project documentation.

Regulatory or COMENSA policy changes must be assessed for their impact on the project.

14. ASSUMPTIONS AND DEPENDENCIES

The project assumes:

Level123 is appropriately registered as a legal entity.
The academy can access a suitable registered qualification or programme.
Required staff and professional evaluators can be recruited or contracted.
The relevant Quality Council accepts the proposed provider application.
COMENSA confirms the current programme approval criteria.
Sufficient funding is available.
The academy can establish suitable training and practical learning arrangements.

The project depends on the availability and approval of the relevant regulatory and professional bodies.

15. PROJECT APPROVAL

By signing this charter, the authorised parties approve the initiation of the Level123 Coaching Academy Accreditation Project.

Project Sponsor

Name: ______________________________

Position: _____________________________

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ________________________________

Project Manager

Name: ______________________________

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ________________________________

Academy Director

Name: ______________________________

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ________________________________

DOCUMENT CONTROL

Document owner: Level123 Coaching Academy
Document reference: L123-ACC-001
Version: 1.0
Classification: Internal
Review frequency: Quarterly or when regulatory requirements change
Next review: 7 February 2027

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