NOSA does not list a course called “safety officer”. “Safety officer” is a job title, and NOSA’s health and safety route runs through Introduction to SAMTRAC (Grade 12 or equivalent), then SAMTRAC, which has Introduction to SAMTRAC as its prerequisite.
This page sets out the NOSA entry requirements for that route, and what a course alone will and will not do for a safety officer career.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Per NOSA’s own course pages (Introduction to SAMTRAC page and NOSA SAMTRAC page):
- Introduction to SAMTRAC: Grade 12 or equivalent; 5 days in the classroom; R8 920 classroom or R6 670 webinar, including VAT
- SAMTRAC: Introduction to SAMTRAC as the prerequisite; NQF level 5, 16 credits, 10 days in the classroom; R19 940 classroom or R15 340 webinar, including VAT
- Assessment: a written assessment at the end of the course, with a minimum of 65% to pass
NOSA does not state the year those prices apply to, so confirm current prices and dates with NOSA before you budget. Advanced SAMTRAC follows SAMTRAC in NOSA’s range; ask NOSA for its entry requirements.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The only academic entry requirement NOSA states for its first step is Grade 12 or equivalent. Introduction to SAMTRAC is described as a stepping stone towards the SAMTRAC certificate, so you complete it before you can enrol for SAMTRAC.
A course is not the whole picture for a safety officer role. The qualification, any statutory appointment an employer makes under health and safety legislation, and any professional registration are three different things, and a course supplies only the first. SAMTRAC lists SAIOSH as its professional body.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
NOSA does not list specific matric subjects or an APS for Introduction to SAMTRAC or SAMTRAC. An APS applies to diploma and degree study at a university or university of technology, not to these NOSA courses. If you do not have Grade 12, ask NOSA whether an equivalent qualification is accepted in your case before you pay.
SAMTRAC is pitched at NQF level 5. NOSA names its target groups as health, safety and environmental (HSE) and occupational health practitioners, Department of Employment and Labour inspectors, risk and insurance assessors, line managers and supervisors, and HSE representatives and committee members.
Documents and Application Requirements
NOSA’s course pages do not list an enrolment document checklist. Ask NOSA, through the booking process on its site, what it needs from you. Have these ready, as providers commonly ask for them:
- A copy of your South African ID or passport
- Proof of Grade 12 or your equivalent qualification
- Your employer’s details and approval, if your employer is paying
Book through the course pages on nosa.co.za, where current dates and prices are published.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Plan the order. You cannot go straight to SAMTRAC; the 5-day Introduction comes first, then the 10-day SAMTRAC.
Prepare for the pass mark. Both courses end in a written assessment with a 65% minimum.
Employers hire on more than a certificate. Experience with incident investigation, safety files and audits matters, and a course cannot supply it. Volunteering for the health and safety committee or taking a junior role is the usual way to build it. If your employer is paying, ask the skills development facilitator about funding before you self-fund.
Check what the certificate supports. Ask NOSA, and your target employer, which roles it prepares you for, and whether refresher training is expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the safety officer course requirements at NOSA?
NOSA lists no course by that name. Its route starts with Introduction to SAMTRAC (Grade 12 or equivalent, 5 days), then SAMTRAC (Introduction to SAMTRAC as prerequisite, NQF level 5, 10 days, 65% pass mark).
Is there a NOSA safety officer course?
NOSA’s flagship health and safety route is SAMTRAC, preceded by Introduction to SAMTRAC. Check nosa.co.za for current dates and prices.
Does one course make me a safety officer?
No. Employers look at the qualification, any statutory appointment the role carries, and practical experience. A course supplies only the first.
What is a statutory appointment?
A written designation by an employer to a specific role with specific duties under health and safety legislation. It is separate from a qualification. Ask what authority it carries, in writing, before you accept it.
How do I get experience without a job?
Through the health and safety committee, incident investigations and safety file work in your current role, or through a learnership or junior appointment. Keep evidence of what you produced.
NOSA sets its own entry requirements, prices and dates, so confirm them on the NOSA course pages before you enrol. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.