To work as a flight attendant on a South African registered aircraft you need a cabin crew member licence from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). Under Part 64 of the Civil Aviation Regulations, 2011, an applicant must be at least 18, hold a valid aviation medical certificate, complete approved training, pass the SACAA theoretical examination and pass a skills test with a designated examiner.
So the flight attendant course requirements that matter are not a college’s entry rules but whether the course is delivered under a SACAA-approved Aviation Training Organisation (ATO) or an airline’s own approved programme, and whether it leads to that licence. Many flight attendant courses in South Africa do not.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- Minimum age: 18 years (regulation 64.02.1)
- A valid Class 4 aviation medical certificate issued under Part 67 of the regulations
- Training completed through a SACAA-approved provider, taught by an instructor accredited by the SACAA
- A pass in the SACAA cabin crew theoretical knowledge examination
- A pass in the skills test conducted by a SACAA designated examiner
- A South African ID or passport (foreign applicants: a passport) to sit the examination
- Competence in English, which the SACAA assesses for cabin crew licensing
- Any extra criteria the airline or training organisation sets, such as a matric certificate
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The regulations themselves set only the age, medical, training, examination and skills-test requirements. They do not set a school-leaving qualification. Academic entry requirements come from the training organisation or airline, commonly a National Senior Certificate (matric) or equivalent. Confirm the exact requirement in the provider’s prospectus or the airline’s vacancy.
The medical comes first. The SACAA confirms that cabin crew have required a Class 4 medical since the 2019 amendment to the regulations. Book it with a SACAA designated aviation medical examiner before paying course fees: if a condition rules you out, you want to know that before you spend money, not after.
Consider airline intakes too. A licence is endorsed only for the aircraft types you trained on, and some airlines recruit through their own cabin crew learnerships or training intakes. Check airline careers pages for open intakes before paying for a private course.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
There is no APS score and no required school subject for a flight attendant course. Selection is by the provider’s or airline’s own assessment rather than academic points.
- Language: English is the working language of aviation, and the SACAA uses an English language competency assessment as part of cabin crew licensing. Additional languages help on international routes.
- Qualification you are working towards: the SACAA cabin crew member licence, endorsed for the aircraft type or types you were trained on. It does not expire, but you may only use it while you hold a valid medical certificate and are up to date with recurrent training.
- Course content follows the SACAA technical standards for Part 64 (SA-CATS 64), which cover safety and emergency procedures and the knowledge tested in the theoretical exam.
Documents and Application Requirements
There are two applications: one to the training provider or airline, and later one to the SACAA for the licence itself. The licence application is made on SACAA form CA 64-09 (Application for Cabin Crew Licence), available on the SACAA licensing page. Regulation 64.02.5 requires it to include:
- A certified copy of proof of your identity and age
- A valid medical certificate issued under Part 67
- Original or certified proof that you passed the theoretical knowledge examination
- A skills test report signed by a designated examiner
- The licence fee prescribed in Part 187 of the regulations
- Two recent passport-size photographs
Timing matters: the skills test must be taken within six months of passing the theory exam and within the 90 days before you apply for the licence. For the training provider or airline, expect to supply a certified ID copy, your matric certificate and a CV, plus whatever else the specific vacancy or prospectus lists.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Check the provider is approved before you pay. The SACAA advises prospective students to ask the provider for a copy of its ATO approval certificate and its Training Operations Specification, and to verify both with the SACAA. The SACAA also publishes a list of approved training organisations.
Watch for scams. The SACAA has warned about fake training organisations that offer cabin crew training followed by a promised job at a named airline, and ask for money to be paid into a personal bank account or by cash transfer. A legitimate airline does not charge you to apply, interview or be hired.
Airline criteria differ. Each airline sets its own recruitment criteria in its vacancy, which can include height or reach (to access safety equipment), swimming ability, grooming standards and visible tattoo policy, and it runs its own assessment days. Read the specific vacancy rather than relying on general lists.
Keeping the licence usable. The licence itself does not expire, but its privileges depend on a current medical certificate and recurrent training under Part 121. The SACAA does not grant extensions on a cabin crew licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a licence to be a flight attendant in South Africa?
Yes. To act as cabin crew on a South African registered aircraft you need a SACAA cabin crew member licence, which requires approved training, a theory exam, a skills test and a valid medical certificate.
How old must I be for a flight attendant course?
You must be at least 18 to be issued a cabin crew member licence. Some training organisations and airlines set their own minimum ages, so check the specific provider.
Do I need matric to become a flight attendant?
The SACAA regulations do not require it, but airlines and training organisations set their own academic requirements, commonly a National Senior Certificate or equivalent.
What medical do cabin crew need?
A Class 4 aviation medical certificate issued under Part 67, according to the SACAA. Book it with a SACAA designated aviation medical examiner.
Are all flight attendant courses recognised?
No. Only training under a SACAA-approved organisation or an approved airline programme counts towards the licence. Ask for the provider’s ATO certificate and Training Operations Specification and verify them with the SACAA before paying.
How long does the licence last?
A cabin crew member licence is valid indefinitely, but you may only use it while your medical certificate is valid and your recurrent training is current.
Licensing, medical and training rules are set by the South African Civil Aviation Authority and can be amended, and each airline sets its own recruitment criteria. Confirm current requirements with the SACAA and the airline before enrolling. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.