If you have been hearing that NATED courses are being phased out and you are not sure what to make of it, this post will break it down clearly. What is happening, what it means for you right now, and what your options are going forward.
The short version
N1 to N3 is done. N4 to N6 is still running but will eventually be replaced. Occupational Certificates are the future. You can still apply for NATED N4 in 2027 at most colleges, but you should confirm with the college first.
What is NATED?
NATED (also called Report 191) is the name for the N1 to N6 programmes offered at public TVET colleges. These cover two main streams.
Business Studies includes courses like Business Management, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing Management, Public Management and Management Assistant.
Engineering Studies includes Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and related fields.
After completing N4, N5 and N6 plus 18 months of workplace experience (for business) or 24 months (for engineering), students qualify for a National N Diploma. NATED has been one of the most popular post-matric pathways in South Africa for decades.
What is changing and when
The Department of Higher Education and Training has been phasing out NATED in stages. Here is where things stand.
N1 to N3 is fully phased out. No new students have been allowed to enrol since 1 January 2024. This was confirmed by Government Gazette No. 49518, signed by the Minister of Higher Education on 20 October 2023. If you were already enrolled before that date, you can still complete your studies.
N4 to N6 is still active. Colleges across South Africa are still accepting new N4 students for 2027. If you start N4, complete N5 and N6, and finish your workplace experience, you will still receive your National N Diploma. It remains a valid, nationally recognised qualification accepted by employers, SETAs and higher education institutions.
Some colleges have already moved. A handful of colleges, including False Bay TVET College and Sedibeng TVET College, have already announced that their NATED programmes are in teach-out. This means they are only allowing students who are already enrolled to finish. They are no longer accepting new N4 applications. This is not the case everywhere, but it is worth checking before you apply.
What is replacing NATED?
The qualifications taking over from NATED are called Occupational Certificates (OCs). They are registered on the National Qualifications Framework and quality assured by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).
Examples of Occupational Certificates already available at TVET colleges include Electrician, Bookkeeper, Chef, Welder, Fitter and Turner, Computer Technician, Automotive Motor Mechanic, Boilermaker and many others.
The key difference is that OCs are built around specific jobs and trades, designed in partnership with industry. They are more directly aligned with what employers are hiring for right now. For trade-related qualifications they also lead to artisan registration through the National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB), which is a recognised professional credential.
Many colleges are already offering both NATED and Occupational Certificates side by side, and some have switched over to OCs entirely for certain fields.
What you should do right now
If you are applying for 2027, do these three things.
Confirm the programme is still open. Contact the college or check their website to make sure they are accepting new N4 students. On UniApplyForMe, each college programme page will tell you if the programme is in teach-out or still taking applications.
Check if an OC is available. Search for an Occupational Certificate in the same field at the same college. In many cases it offers the same career pathway with a more current, industry-aligned qualification.
Apply early. Whether you choose NATED or an OC, spaces fill up fast. Applications for 2027 are open now at most colleges.
If you are already in N4 or N5, you do not need to worry. Keep going. Your National N Diploma will still be valid when you finish.
The smart move is to know what is available at your chosen college, compare your options, and apply before deadlines close.
UniApplyForMe shows you all college programmes in one place, including which ones are in teach-out, and matches them against your subjects and marks so you can see what you qualify for before you apply.
