Auxiliary nursing is the entry level of nursing in South Africa. It is trained through a one-year Higher Certificate in Nursing (Regulation R.169), and you register with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) as an auxiliary nurse. The national minimum is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) or an equivalent qualification, but each college or school sets its own subject and points requirements on top, so the figures below differ by provider.
Applications for the 2027 intake have already closed at the providers checked: the Western Cape College of Nursing, Ukwazi and, by its fixed window, Mediclinic. Use this page to plan for the next cycle.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- The legal minimum: an NSC or equivalent, and an application to a nursing institution that is accredited for the programme.
- Provider requirements on top of that: English, Life Sciences (or Physical Science at some providers) and a mathematics subject, at the levels each provider sets.
- One academic year of full-time study, combining theory and clinical practice.
- Registration with SANC as an auxiliary nurse once you have completed an accredited programme and been found competent.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Regulation R.169 requires only that a person holds at least a National Senior Certificate or an equivalent qualification, and sets the programme at one academic year of full-time study. You qualify for registration by completing an accredited programme and being assessed as competent in all its exit-level outcomes.
Section 42 of the Nursing Act makes it illegal to offer nursing education unless both the institution and the programme are accredited by SANC. SANC publishes lists of accredited nursing education institutions. Check the institution against that list before you apply or pay anything.
An auxiliary nurse is defined in the Nursing Act as a person educated to provide elementary nursing care. The older enrolled nursing auxiliary course closed to new enrolments on 30 June 2015, and today’s Higher Certificate is not a replacement for it. Anyone already enrolled under the old course is not affected.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
R.169 sets no subject requirements, so the subject levels come from the provider. The three providers checked ask for the following.
- Western Cape College of Nursing (public): for NSC applicants from 2008, English (First Additional Language) code 3, Home Language code 3, Mathematics code 2 or Mathematical Literacy code 3, Life Science code 3 or Physical Science code 2, and a minimum total score of 20 (six subjects, Life Orientation excluded), with a Higher Certificate endorsement or better. See the college’s Higher Certificate page.
- Mediclinic (private): NSC at NQF level 4 with a Higher Certificate endorsement, English level 4, Life Sciences or Physical Science level 3, and Mathematical Literacy level 4 or Mathematics level 3. The minimum is 19 points, or 20 points if Mathematical Literacy applies, with Life Orientation excluded.
- Ukwazi School of Nursing (private): an NSC endorsed for higher education, 40% (NSC level 3) in English and 50% (NSC level 5) in Life Sciences or Biology.
So Mathematical Literacy is accepted by the providers checked, and a science subject (Life Sciences, or Physical Science at some providers) is part of each one’s requirements. Mediclinic allows recognition of prior learning for one missing science subject if you are 25 or older, have at least five years’ healthcare experience and pass its RPL course.
These are the providers’ own figures for the 2027 intake. They are not a national standard, and they change by intake.
Documents and Application Requirements
Documents differ by provider. The checked lists are below.
- Western Cape College of Nursing: certified documents no older than three months, including your ID and National Senior Certificate (a statement of results is not accepted; Grade 12 applicants submit Grade 11 marks plus the latest Grade 12 marks), a marriage certificate if it applies, SANC registration and your annual practising certificate if you are already a nurse, and proof of the R250 non-refundable application fee. Applications are online only, and you may apply for one programme at one campus at a time.
- Mediclinic: a short CV, your certified Grade 12 certificate or Grade 11 results, a certified ID, proof of the paid non-refundable application fee, and proof of citizenship if applicable, submitted through its online portal.
- Ukwazi: proof of Hepatitis B vaccination, a declaration of good health and police clearance, and an application fee of R1 500.
The Western Cape College of Nursing says it does not charge assistance fees. Do not pay anyone to “secure” a place.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Application windows are fixed and differ by provider:
- Western Cape College of Nursing: applications run from the first Monday in May to the second Friday in August. Its home page states that applications for 2027 are closed.
- Mediclinic: applications are accepted from 6 May to 30 June, and the programme starts in January.
- Ukwazi: the 2027 closing date was 30 June 2026, with the intake on 12 January 2027.
Costs also differ. The Western Cape College of Nursing’s 2027 tuition for the Higher Certificate is R28 899.60 for the year. Ukwazi’s 2027 Higher Certificate tuition is R93 000.
Progression is worth planning for. The Western Cape College of Nursing accepts a Higher Certificate in Nursing (R169), with proof of SANC registration, as an alternative entry route into its three-year Diploma in Nursing (R171). The old “enrolled nurse” category no longer exists: the current SANC categories include auxiliary nurse, general nurse and professional nurse and midwife.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is auxiliary nursing?
Auxiliary nursing is the SANC registration category for nurses who provide elementary nursing care. You qualify through the one-year Higher Certificate in Nursing (R.169) at an accredited institution and then register with SANC.
What are the requirements for auxiliary nursing in South Africa?
The legal minimum is an NSC or equivalent. Providers add their own subject levels: for example, the Western Cape College of Nursing needs a total score of 20 with English, a mathematics subject and a science subject at set codes, and Mediclinic needs 19 points (20 with Mathematical Literacy).
What are the Ukwazi nursing college requirements?
For its Higher Certificate in Nursing (the auxiliary nurse programme), Ukwazi asks for an NSC endorsed for higher education, 40% in English, 50% in Life Sciences or Biology, proof of Hepatitis B vaccination, a declaration of good health and police clearance. The 2027 closing date was 30 June 2026. Ukwazi is on SANC’s February 2026 list of accredited private institutions, with campuses in Roodepoort and Potchefstroom.
Does it accept Mathematical Literacy?
Yes, at the providers checked. The Western Cape College of Nursing takes Mathematics code 2 or Mathematical Literacy code 3, and Mediclinic takes Mathematical Literacy level 4 or Mathematics level 3. Confirm the level with your provider.
Do I need Life Sciences?
The providers checked all ask for a science subject: Life Science or Physical Science at the Western Cape College of Nursing and Mediclinic, and Life Sciences or Biology at Ukwazi. If you are missing one, ask about recognition of prior learning, which Mediclinic offers in limited cases.
Can I progress to professional nursing?
Yes. The Western Cape College of Nursing accepts the Higher Certificate in Nursing (R169) as an entry route into its R171 Diploma in Nursing, and the professional nurse and midwife programme (R.174) is a four-year programme with its own entry requirements. See nursing requirements.
How long is the programme?
One academic year of full-time study, with integrated theory and clinical education.
Confirm requirements and dates with the institution you apply to, and its SANC accreditation with the South African Nursing Council. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.