SACE does not issue anything called a temporary SACE certificate. The closest thing is provisional registration, which SACE grants to student educators who are studying towards a teaching qualification. It gives you a confirmation letter with an expiry date, which you can use while you complete the requirements for full registration.
Registration with the South African Council for Educators (SACE) is compulsory before you can be employed as an educator. This page explains how provisional registration works and what you need to apply.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Provisional registration is for student educators enrolled for a teaching qualification, such as a BEd, a PGCE, an Advanced Diploma in TVET or a Diploma in Grade R Teaching. SACE registers prospective educators provisionally in their final year of study, and it accommodates student educators for four years until they graduate. The council may also set the validity period of a provisional registration, so check the expiry date on your confirmation letter.
As a South African student teacher you need:
- Your ID
- Your National Senior Certificate (a statement of results is not accepted)
- A police clearance certificate
- Current proof of registration for your education qualification
- An academic record for your studies after first year, on letterhead, stamped, dated, signed and certified
- Proof of payment of the R200 registration fee (R50 for an update)
The fee is not refundable and SACE says council fees are subject to change.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
There is no admission test and no APS score. SACE checks that you are enrolled for a qualification that leads to registration and that you satisfy the ethical standards in the SACE Code of Professional Ethics.
PGCE and Advanced Diploma in TVET student teachers must also submit the complete academic record and certificate of their junior qualification.
Provisional registration is granted where SACE expects you to meet the requirements within a reasonable time. If you do not meet them in the period set, the provisional registration lapses and your name is removed from the register, although the period may be extended.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
No subjects or APS apply to SACE registration. The qualification matters instead: the minimum for full registration is a diploma in education at NQF level 6, and student teachers qualify for provisional registration while they work towards one.
If you studied outside South Africa, your teaching qualification must be at NQF level 7 and come with a SAQA evaluation that carries a QR code.
Documents and Application Requirements
All applications are made online at www.eservices.gov.za. Every copy must be certified as a true copy of the original and be no older than six months. To apply:
- Go to www.eservices.gov.za, click Education, then SACE professional registration.
- Create a profile and log in.
- Choose your registration type and upload your documents. Save them as PDFs, because pictures and screenshots are rejected.
- Pay online or upload your proof of payment, then submit.
The full list for students is in SACE’s student teacher registration requirements. If you are a newly qualified teacher on a provisional letter, you move to full registration by updating your status with your certified ID, police clearance, qualification certificate and academic record, and the R50 update fee, as set out in SACE’s 2020 guidance, so confirm the current process with SACE.
Foreign applicants need a valid passport and a work permit, permanent residence, refugee or asylum document valid for at least six months when they submit, with conditions that allow teaching. They also need a police clearance and pay R400, per the SACE registration requirements.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
SACE has no application window. Apply early in your studies, because you cannot be employed as an educator until you are registered, and submit only when you have every document, since the fee cannot be refunded.
SACE can set the length of a provisional registration, and older SACE guidance gave foreign educators 12 months. Ask SACE how long yours will run and what you must do before it expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a temporary SACE certificate?
SACE publishes no document by that name. Provisional registration, with its confirmation letter, is the nearest equivalent.
How do I apply for provisional registration?
Apply online at www.eservices.gov.za under Education, then SACE professional registration, with your ID, NSC, police clearance, proof of current registration, academic record and the R200 fee.
Do I need SACE registration to teach?
Yes. No employer may employ an educator who is not registered with SACE. Registration applies to public and recognised independent schools, FET institutions and adult learning centres, among others.
How long is provisional registration valid?
Student educators are accommodated for four years until they graduate, and the council may determine the validity period. Check the expiry date on your confirmation letter and ask SACE about renewal.
What if my qualification is from another country?
It needs to be at NQF level 7 and evaluated by SAQA, and you need a permit valid for at least six months that allows you to teach. The registration fee is R400.
What happens if I do not meet the requirements in time?
The provisional registration lapses and your name is removed from the register. Contact SACE before it expires if you need an extension.
SACE sets the registration categories, validity periods and fees and revises them, so confirm current requirements with SACE before you apply. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.