The South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) sets out the requirements for accreditation and professional registration within the architectural profession in South Africa. All architectural qualifications are benchmarked against SACAP competencies, which must be clearly addressed in the curriculum, teaching approach, and assessment systems of each Architectural Learning Site (ALS)[1].
The SACAP competencies are organized into ten essential outcome fields required for the practice of architecture:
- Office practice, legal aspects, and ethics
- Computer applications
- Urban relationship
- Architectural history & theory
- Architectural design
- Environmental relationship
- Contract documentation and administration
- The structure of buildings
- Construction technology
- Building services & related technologies
These competencies are aligned with the Identification of Work (IDoW) policy, outlined under Board Notice 27 of 2021. The IDoW policy structures eligibility for specific work types based on the project’s complexity and site sensitivity[1].
For ALS validation, reporting must detail how the SACAP competencies are met, with supporting evidence including institutional policies, curriculum strategy, sample project briefs, and assessment criteria. The ALS report must include:
- Intellectual position, impact, and future vision
- Transformation objectives (quantitative and qualitative indicators)
- Quality assurance mechanisms (e.g., program reviews, peer review, feedback processes)
- Previous validation reports and relevant supporting documentation
- Explanation of how the curriculum delivers the SACAP competencies for each qualification exit level
SACAP requires that at least 50% of course content for accredited programs focuses on design, and documentation must demonstrate both horizontal and vertical integration of content across each program[6].
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