The SACE requirements are simple to state: to teach in South Africa you must be registered with the South African Council for Educators (SACE). No employer may employ you as an educator unless you are registered. For full registration as a professionally qualified South African citizen you need a certified ID, your matric certificate, a professional teaching qualification with its academic record, a police clearance certificate and proof of payment of the R200 registration fee.
This page covers the requirements for SACE registration and what SACE expects of you once you are registered: the code of ethics, professional development points and the complaints process.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Registration is compulsory for educators at public schools, recognised independent schools, FET institutions, adult learning centres, Waldorf and Montessori centres, and Grade R educators with an NQF level 4 qualification. SACE’s registration requirements for a professionally qualified South African citizen are:
- South African ID (both sides if it is a smart ID card)
- Senior Certificate, National Senior Certificate or National Certificate (Vocational) Level 4
- A valid police clearance certificate, not a name clearance, no older than six months
- A professional teaching qualification, such as a BEd or PGCE, with a complete academic record that is signed and stamped
- Proof of payment of the R200 registration fee
Foreign applicants pay R400. All copies must be certified as true copies of the original and be no older than six months. SACE says its fees are subject to change, and the registration fee is not refundable.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
SACE does not admit you to study, so there is no admission test. It decides whether your qualification fits a registration category. The minimum entry level for full registration is a diploma in education at NQF level 6. You must also satisfy the ethical standards in the SACE Code of Professional Ethics.
If you are still studying towards a teaching qualification, SACE can register you provisionally as a student teacher. Provisional registration also lapses, and your name is removed from the register, if you do not meet the requirements in the period set.
Once registered, you are accountable to SACE for your conduct. Anyone can lodge a complaint: an educator, a learner, a community member (including anonymously), Department of Education officials or the media. Complaints go to SACE in writing to the CEO, by telephone, or by email to [email protected]. SACE then asks the educator for a written reply, normally within 10 days and in some cases within 5, and its Ethics Committee decides whether to investigate, mediate, start discipline or refer the matter elsewhere. The offences SACE lists include sexual relationships with learners, corporal punishment, fraud, theft and employing unregistered educators. Read how to lodge a complaint on the SACE site for the process.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
No APS score or school subject list applies to SACE registration. Those only matter when a university decides whether to admit you to a BEd. SACE looks at the qualification you have completed or are studying for.
Foreign applicants need a teaching qualification at NQF level 7 and a SAQA evaluation with a QR code. SACE also sets a continuing professional teacher development (CPTD) system. Its CPTD handbook, dated January 2014, expects each teacher to earn at least 150 professional development points in every three-year cycle. Only SACE-endorsed activities from approved providers count, so check that a course is endorsed before you pay. SACE sets and revises these rules, so confirm the current points target with SACE.
Documents and Application Requirements
Everything is submitted online; you do not complete a paper form. Gather these before you start:
- Certified ID (both sides of a smart ID card)
- Matric certificate (Senior Certificate, NSC or NC(V) Level 4)
- Police clearance certificate no older than six months
- Teaching qualification and a complete academic record on letterhead, signed and stamped; PGCE holders also submit their first qualification and its academic record
- Proof of payment of the registration fee
- For foreign applicants: a valid passport and a work permit, permanent residence, refugee or asylum document valid for at least six months when you submit, with conditions that allow you to teach, plus the SAQA evaluation
If your qualification certificate is lost, SACE needs a declaration from the institution or the Department of Education, on letterhead, dated, stamped and signed.
To apply:
- Go to www.eservices.gov.za, choose Education, then SACE professional registration.
- Create a profile and log in.
- Choose your registration type and upload your documents. Save each one as a PDF; photos and screenshots are rejected.
- Pay online or upload your proof of payment, then submit.
SACE can also issue a letter of good standing. Its notice on the letter of good standing lists a formal request, certified ID, police clearance no older than six months, a school testimonial, a R400 request fee and up-to-date annual fees, with issue within 30 days. The notice is older, so confirm it with SACE.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
SACE has no intake window or closing date. Apply when you qualify and before you take up a post, because an employer may not appoint you until you are registered. Student teachers register provisionally while studying.
After registration you pay SACE an annual subscription. SACE’s own documents give it as R198 a year (R16.50 a month) since 1 April 2021, although one SACE web page still shows R180. Educators paid through PERSAL have the levy deducted automatically.
Keep your own records of professional development activities, and check that your registration category is correct and your registration is current.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to be a member of SACE to teach in South Africa?
Yes. No person may be employed as an educator by any employer unless the person is registered with the council.
What are the requirements for SACE registration?
A certified ID, matric certificate, police clearance no older than six months, a professional teaching qualification with its academic record, and proof of the R200 fee. Foreign applicants pay R400 and need a permit and a SAQA evaluation.
How do I apply for SACE?
Apply online at www.eservices.gov.za: choose Education, then SACE professional registration, create a profile, upload your certified documents as PDFs, pay and submit.
Which SACE documents are needed?
Certified ID, matric certificate, police clearance, teaching qualification with a complete academic record, and proof of payment. Every copy must be certified and no older than six months.
Do professional development points expire?
The CPTD handbook sets a target of 150 points per three-year cycle. Confirm the current cycle and target with SACE, since these are set by the council and can change.
Who can lodge a complaint against an educator?
An educator, a learner, a community member (including anonymously), Department of Education officials or the media. Send it to the SACE CEO in writing, by telephone or to [email protected].
What happens if I am removed from the SACE register?
An educator who is not registered may not be employed as an educator. Ask SACE about the sanctions and the process that apply to your case.
SACE sets the registration categories, documents and fees and revises them, so confirm current requirements with SACE before you apply. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.