Here is a detailed breakdown of how NQF Levels work. Starting at NQF Level 1 (school grade 9) ending at NQF Level 10.

1. School Grade 9 = NQF 1
NQF10
NQF 9
NQF 8
NQF 7
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
Doctorate
Degree
Masters Degree
Honours Degree
Degree
Diploma
Higher
Certificate
University
Grade 12 -
Matric
Grade 11
Grade 10
School
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
third year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
second year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
first year
College
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
N6 - NATED Diploma
(after 18 months work
experience)
N4, N5 & N6 - NATED
Certificate
N3 - NATED Certificate
N2 - NATED Certificate
N1 - NATED Certificate
College
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
Higher Certificate:
Office Administration
Certificate: Office
Administration
FET Certificate:
Bookkeeping &
National Certificate:
Small Business
Financial Management
National Certificate:
Bookkeeping
College
-
ICB
List of NATED (National
Diploma) Programmes
• Business Management
• Financial Management
• Management Assistant
• Legal Secretary
• Educare
• Marketing Management
• Human Resource
Management

2. School Grade 9 = NQF 1
NQF10
NQF 9
NQF 8
NQF 7
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
Doctorate
Degree
Masters Degree
Honours Degree
Degree
Diploma
Higher
Certificate
University
Grade 12 -
Matric
Grade 11
Grade 10
School
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
third year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
second year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
first year
College
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
N6 - NATED Diploma
(after 18 months work
experience)
N4, N5 & N6 - NATED
Certificate
N3 - NATED Certificate
N2 - NATED Certificate
N1 - NATED Certificate
College
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
Higher Certificate:
Office Administration
Certificate: Office
Administration
FET Certificate:
Bookkeeping &
National Certificate:
Small Business
Financial Management
National Certificate:
Bookkeeping
College
-
ICB
List of NATED (National
Diploma) Programmes
• Business Management
• Financial Management
• Management Assistant
• Legal Secretary
• Educare
• Marketing Management
• Human Resource
Management

3. School Grade 9 = NQF 1
NQF10
NQF 9
NQF 8
NQF 7
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
Doctorate
Degree
Masters Degree
Honours Degree
Degree
Diploma
Higher
Certificate
University
Grade 12 -
Matric
Grade 11
Grade 10
School
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
third year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
second year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
first year
College
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
N6 - NATED Diploma
(after 18 months work
experience)
N4, N5 & N6 - NATED
Certificate
N3 - NATED Certificate
N2 - NATED Certificate
N1 - NATED Certificate
College
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
Higher Certificate:
Office Administration
Certificate: Office
Administration
FET Certificate:
Bookkeeping &
National Certificate:
Small Business
Financial Management
National Certificate:
Bookkeeping
College
-
ICB
List of NATED (National
Diploma) Programmes
• Business Management
• Financial Management
• Management Assistant
• Legal Secretary
• Educare
• Marketing Management
• Human Resource
Management

4. School Grade 9 = NQF 1
NQF10
NQF 9
NQF 8
NQF 7
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
Doctorate
Degree
Masters Degree
Honours Degree
Degree
Diploma
Higher
Certificate
University
Grade 12 -
Matric
Grade 11
Grade 10
School
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
third year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
second year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
first year
College
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
N6 - NATED Diploma
(after 18 months work
experience)
N4, N5 & N6 - NATED
Certificate
N3 - NATED Certificate
N2 - NATED Certificate
N1 - NATED Certificate
College
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
Higher Certificate:
Office Administration
Certificate: Office
Administration
FET Certificate:
Bookkeeping &
National Certificate:
Small Business
Financial Management
National Certificate:
Bookkeeping
College
-
ICB
List of NATED (National
Diploma) Programmes
• Business Management
• Financial Management
• Management Assistant
• Legal Secretary
• Educare
• Marketing Management
• Human Resource
Management
Post-School Qualification

5. School Grade 9 = NQF 1
NQF10
NQF 9
NQF 8
NQF 7
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
Doctorate
Degree
Masters Degree
Honours Degree
Degree
Diploma
Higher
Certificate
University
Grade 12 -
Matric
Grade 11
Grade 10
School
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
third year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
second year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
first year
College
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
N6 - NATED Diploma
(after 18 months work
experience)
N4, N5 & N6 - NATED
Certificate
N3 - NATED Certificate
N2 - NATED Certificate
N1 - NATED Certificate
College
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
Higher Certificate:
Office Administration
Certificate: Office
Administration
FET Certificate:
Bookkeeping &
National Certificate:
Small Business
Financial Management
National Certificate:
Bookkeeping
College
-
ICB
List of NATED (National
Diploma) Programmes
• Business Management
• Financial Management
• Management Assistant
• Legal Secretary
• Educare
• Marketing Management
• Human Resource
Management
Traditional Way Of Study

6. School Grade 9 = NQF 1
NQF10
NQF 9
NQF 8
NQF 7
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
Doctorate
Degree
Masters Degree
Honours Degree
Degree
Diploma
Higher
Certificate
University
Grade 12 -
Matric
Grade 11
Grade 10
School
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
third year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
second year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
first year
College
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
N6 - NATED Diploma
(after 18 months work
experience)
N4, N5 & N6 - NATED
Certificate
N3 - NATED Certificate
N2 - NATED Certificate
N1 - NATED Certificate
College
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
Higher Certificate:
Office Administration
Certificate: Office
Administration
FET Certificate:
Bookkeeping &
National Certificate:
Small Business
Financial Management
National Certificate:
Bookkeeping
College
-
ICB
List of NATED (National
Diploma) Programmes
• Business Management
• Financial Management
• Management Assistant
• Legal Secretary
• Educare
• Marketing Management
• Human Resource
Management
Certificate
Vocational – Study
Without Matric

7. School Grade 9 = NQF 1
NQF10
NQF 9
NQF 8
NQF 7
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
Doctorate
Degree
Masters Degree
Honours Degree
Degree
Diploma
Higher
Certificate
University
Grade 12 -
Matric
Grade 11
Grade 10
School
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
third year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
second year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
first year
College
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
N6 - NATED Diploma
(after 18 months work
experience)
N4, N5 & N6 - NATED
Certificate
N3 - NATED Certificate
N2 - NATED Certificate
N1 - NATED Certificate
College
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
Higher Certificate:
Office Administration
Certificate: Office
Administration
FET Certificate:
Bookkeeping &
National Certificate:
Small Business
Financial Management
National Certificate:
Bookkeeping
College
-
ICB
List of NATED (National
Diploma) Programmes
• Business Management
• Financial Management
• Management Assistant
• Legal Secretary
• Educare
• Marketing Management
• Human Resource
Management
NQF 4 = Same Academic Level As School Matric

8. School Grade 9 = NQF 1
NQF10
NQF 9
NQF 8
NQF 7
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
Doctorate
Degree
Masters Degree
Honours Degree
Degree
Diploma
Higher
Certificate
University
Grade 12 -
Matric
Grade 11
Grade 10
School
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
third year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
second year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
first year
College
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
N6 - NATED Diploma
(after 18 months work
experience)
N4, N5 & N6 - NATED
Certificate
N3 - NATED Certificate
N2 - NATED Certificate
N1 - NATED Certificate
College
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
Higher Certificate:
Office Administration
Certificate: Office
Administration
FET Certificate:
Bookkeeping &
National Certificate:
Small Business
Financial Management
National Certificate:
Bookkeeping
College
-
ICB
List of NATED (National
Diploma) Programmes
• Business Management
• Financial Management
• Management Assistant
• Legal Secretary
• Educare
• Marketing Management
• Human Resource
Management
National Certificate & National Diploma (NATED)
NATED N3 (NQF 4) =
Same Academic Level As
School Matric

9. School Grade 9 = NQF 1
NQF10
NQF 9
NQF 8
NQF 7
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
Doctorate
Degree
Masters Degree
Honours Degree
Degree
Diploma
Higher
Certificate
University
Grade 12 -
Matric
Grade 11
Grade 10
School
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
third year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
second year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
first year
College
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
N6 - NATED Diploma
(after 18 months work
experience)
N4, N5 & N6 - NATED
Certificate
N3 - NATED Certificate
N2 - NATED Certificate
N1 - NATED Certificate
College
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
Higher Certificate:
Office Administration
Certificate: Office
Administration
FET Certificate:
Bookkeeping &
National Certificate:
Small Business
Financial Management
National Certificate:
Bookkeeping
College
-
ICB
List of NATED (National
Diploma) Programmes
• Business Management
• Financial Management
• Management Assistant
• Legal Secretary
• Educare
• Marketing Management
• Human Resource
Management
National Certificate & National Diploma (NATED)
N4 – N6 (NQF 5 – NQF 6)
Post School Level
Qualification

10. School Grade 9 = NQF 1
NQF10
NQF 9
NQF 8
NQF 7
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
Doctorate
Degree
Masters Degree
Honours Degree
Degree
Diploma
Higher
Certificate
University
Grade 12 -
Matric
Grade 11
Grade 10
School
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
third year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
second year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
first year
College
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
N6 - NATED Diploma
(after 18 months work
experience)
N4, N5 & N6 - NATED
Certificate
N3 - NATED Certificate
N2 - NATED Certificate
N1 - NATED Certificate
College
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
Higher Certificate:
Office Administration
Certificate: Office
Administration
FET Certificate:
Bookkeeping &
National Certificate:
Small Business
Financial Management
National Certificate:
Bookkeeping
College
-
ICB
List of NATED (National
Diploma) Programmes
• Business Management
• Financial Management
• Management Assistant
• Legal Secretary
• Educare
• Marketing Management
• Human Resource
Management
Institute Of Certified Bookkeepers - ICB

11. School Grade 9 = NQF 1
NQF10
NQF 9
NQF 8
NQF 7
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
Doctorate
Degree
Masters Degree
Honours Degree
Degree
Diploma
Higher
Certificate
University
Grade 12 -
Matric
Grade 11
Grade 10
School
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
third year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
second year
NCV - National
Certificate Vocational
first year
College
NQF 6
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
NQF 2
N6 - NATED Diploma
(after 18 months work
experience)
N4, N5 & N6 - NATED
Certificate
N3 - NATED Certificate
N2 - NATED Certificate
N1 - NATED Certificate
College
NQF 5
NQF 4
NQF 3
Higher Certificate:
Office Administration
Certificate: Office
Administration
FET Certificate:
Bookkeeping &
National Certificate:
Small Business
Financial Management
National Certificate:
Bookkeeping
College
-
ICB
List of NATED (National
Diploma) Programmes
• Business Management
• Financial Management
• Management Assistant
• Legal Secretary
• Educare
• Marketing Management
• Human Resource
Management
List of ICB Study Programmes
• Business Management
• Office Administration
• Financial Accounting