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GCC Factories Subject Requirements for Engineer (Route 1) Applicants

Updated: 1 day ago

  1. Introduction


To obtain the GCC Factories, you need to write and pass the GCC Factories plant engineering and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS Act) exams. To write the GCC Factories exams, you need to meet the subject, experience, and general requirements.


GCC Factories plant engineering and ohs act exam

The GCC Factories subject requirements differ depending on your undergraduate mechanical or electrical engineering qualification. The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Commission of Examiners offers three main routes for eligibility to write the GCC Factories exams:

  • Engineers (Route 1),

  • Technicians & Technologists (Route 2), and

  • Artisans (Route 3).


In this post, I will provide a complete guide to the GCC Factories subject requirements for Engineers (route 1) seeking acceptance as candidates eligible to write the GCC Factories exams.


If you do not have a bachelor's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, you need to view these guidelines:

  • [Route 2] - GCC Factories subject requirements for Technicians & Technologists

  • [Route 3] - GCC Factories subject requirements for Artisans

  • [Foreign] - GCC Factories subject requirements for Foreign mechanical or electrical engineering qualifications

  • [Other] - GCC Factories subject requirements for engineering qualifications other than mechanical or electrical engineering (e.g., chemical, industrial, etc.)


Now, let's unpack the GCC Factories subject requirements for Engineer (Route 1) applicants.


  1. What are the GCC Factories Subject Requirements for Engineers?


The short answer is that Engineer (Route 1) applicants need to have a bachelor's degree (e.g., BEng, BIng, BSc, BSc(Eng)) in mechanical or electrical engineering recognised by the Commission of Examiners.


At this point, you will realise that the Route 1 requirement says nothing about GCC Factories subjects. However, there are nuances in the GCC Factories information brochure and the Certificate of Competency Regulations (CoCR):

  • Firstly, the mechanical or electrical engineering bachelor's degree curriculum must cover the plant engineering subjects stipulated in Annexure IV(a) of the GCC Factories information brochure.

  • In general, all "recognised" mechanical or electrical engineering degrees cover plant engineering subjects, and Engineer (route 1) applicants do not need to add or take extra GCC Factories subjects after completing their 4-year bachelor's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering that is accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).


Let's unpack the above further.


  1. Which mechanical or electrical engineering bachelor's degrees are recognised by the Commission of Examiners?


The GCC Factories rules are not explicit on which mechanical or electrical engineering bachelor's degrees are recognized by the commission of examiners. However, in general, the Commission of Examiners recognises mechanical or electrical engineering bachelor's degrees that are:

  • Registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA),

  • Obtained from a recognised South African University, and

  • Accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) in terms of the Higher Education Act and the Engineering Professions Act.


The easiest way to ensure that you have the "recognised" mechanical or electrical bachelor's degree is to review the ECSA E-20-PE (University Degrees Accredited as meeting the Educational Requirement for Registration as a Professional Engineer).


Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) accredited degrees that align with the GCC Factories.

The safest way to access the list of accredited degrees is to view it on the ECSA website, as it is updated periodically.

  • Visit https://www.ecsa.co.za/,

  • Click on the 'Accreditation & Training' tab, and

  • Scroll down to the documents to find E-20-PE.


The following bachelor's degrees usually don't have issues when submitting GCC Factories applications as an Engineer (Route 1) applicant:

  • BSc (Eng) (Electrical Engineering) - UCT, UKZN, WITS

  • BSc (Eng) (Mechanical Engineering) - UCT, UKZN, WITS

  • BIng / BEng (Mechanical Engineering) - NWU, UP, UJ, SU, Monash

  • BIng / BEng (Electro-mechanical Engineering) - NWU

  • BIng / BEng (Electrical & Electronic) - NWU, UJ, SU, Monash

  • BIng / BEng (Electrical Engineering) - UP


  1. What does the Commission of Examiners say about the GCC Factories subject requirements for Engineer (Route 1) applicants?


The GCC Factories subject requirements for Engineers are not explicitly stipulated by the Commission of Examiners, CoCR, or GMR. However, they are indirectly stipulated in the information brochure. Annexure IV(a) stipulates that the "theoretical section of the subject plant engineering to be covered by universities and technikons."


Annexure IV(a) providing the GCC Factories subject requirements for engineers.

Reading the GCC Factories information brochure may be a bit confusing because Annexure IV(a) is used in different contexts. In the current context, we are making the point that the mechanical or electrical engineering bachelor's degree curriculum must cover the Annexure IV(a) plant engineering subjects.


Annexure IV(a) requires a bachelor's degree to cover the following subjects:

  • Safety and management

  • Electrical technology

  • Applied thermodynamics

  • Structures and strength of materials

  • Theory of machines

  • Fluid mechanics

  • Environmental


Annexure IV(a) further breaks down each subject into the topics or content that needs to be covered from the plant engineering subjects.


It's important to note that subject is interchangeable with the word module. Most higher education institution use the word module to refer to the curriculum content. Whereas the GCC Factories rules refers to subjects to refer to the curriculum content.

As a mechanical or electrical engineering bachelor's degree applicant (Route 1), you don't need to worry much about this Annexure IV(a) plant engineering subject requirement because the ECSA-accredited mechanical and electrical engineering degrees have historically been evaluated by the commission of examiners as sufficiently covering the Annexure IV(a) plant engineering subjects.


  1. Engineering drawing is not mentioned in Annexure IV(a), but the Commission of Examiners requires it?


We take this GCC Factories subject requirements a bit further by reviewing Annexure II (Previous Technikon college course, mechanical and electrical engineering) and Annexure III (Technical college course, mechanical and electrical engineering).


GCC Factories subjects from Annexure II and Annexure III of the GCC Factories information brochure

Granted, Annexure II and III do not directly address the Engineer (Route 1) applicant GCC Factories' subject requirements. However, there are two things I want to demonstrate here:

  • Engineering drawing is an implied GCC Factories subject requirement.

  • The engineering drawing requirement is already embedded in the "degree in mechanical or electrical engineering recognised by the Commission of Examiners."


In general, the recognised bachelor's degrees include engineering drawing, either directly or indirectly.


  1. I did a bachelor's in electrical engineering, but I don't have some of the mechanical engineering subjects included in the Annexure IV(a) plant engineering subjects. What must I do?


The short answer: submit your application. It is likely to be approved, provided you meet the GCC Factories general and experience requirements.


Annexure IV(a) requires electrical engineering applicants to complete some topics/content from the plant engineering subjects. We can use Annexures II and III as a guide to the Commission of Examiners' evaluation of electrical engineering applicants:

  • You will realise that Annexure II explicitly requires electrical engineering applicants to have strength of materials at the S4 level (Technikon), which is the second year level (University). It so happens that strength of materials is part of the electrical engineering degree curriculum, either directly or indirectly.

  • Annexure II does not require electrical engineering applicants to complete a full subject/module in mechanics of machines (i.e., Theory of machines), fluid mechanics, and applied thermodynamics. However, reviewing the bachelor's degree in electrical engineering curriculum, you will realise that these topics are covered either directly or indirectly, and therefore Annexure IV(a) subject topic/content requirements are covered.


At this point, I want to re-emphasise that I am not implying that Annexure II and III are the GCC Factories subject requirements for Engineer (Route 1) applicants. I am merely using the two annexures as an example of how the Commission of Examiners somewhat recognized the ECSA-accredited mechanical and electrical engineering degrees for the GCC Factories.


The takeaway message for BEng, BIng, and BSc (Eng) in electrical engineering applicants is that you should submit your application as Route 1, and it's unlikely that the Commission of Examiners will require you to do additional GCC Factories subjects.


  1. What if I have a bachelor's degree in electronics or "light-current"?


Bachelor's degrees in electronics or light-current are treated as "other" applicants since their degrees are not to the "satisfaction" of the Commission of Examiners.


As mentioned earlier, the bachelor's degree needs to cover the Annexure IV(a) plant engineering subjects.

We usually notice that electronics or light-current degree applicants are required to complete heavy-current subjects. For example:

  • Electrical Engineering Heavy-Current or Power Engineering (T4/S4/II)

  • Electrical Machines (T4/S4/II), or Electrotechnics (N6)


Another shortcoming for some applicants is the lack of engineering drawings. To close this gap, you may need to complete:

  • Engineering drawing N3/N4 (TVET),

  • Engineering T1/S1 (Technikon), or

  • Engineering drawing I (university).


The last shortcoming is the mechanical engineering subjects. The gap is usually closed by completing:

  • Power machines (N6), Mechanical Technology (T3/S3/I), Thermofluids II

  • Strength of Materials (T4/S4/II)


So, what must you do if you have a bachelor's degree in electronics or light-current and want to obtain the GCC Factories?


If you at least meet the GCC Factories experience requirements, submit your application for consideration to the commission of examiners. They will evaluate your eligibility and will stipulate the exact subjects they want you to complete. The above gives the likely response you will receive from the commission regarding the GCC Factories subjects for electronics engineering applicants.


  1. What if I have a bachelor's degree in mechatronics or electro-mechanical?


The bachelor's degrees in mechatronics or electro-mechanical applicants generally meet the Annexure IV(a) plant engineering subject requirements and may be eligible to follow the Engineer (Route 1) applicant guidelines. The success of your application may be highly dependent on meeting the GCC Factories experience requirements.


  1. What if I have a mechanical or electrical engineering degree from another country?


The mechanical or electrical engineering degree from a country other than South Africa is classified as a "foreign" qualification.


In this case, obtain a SAQA Certificate of Evaluation (SCoE):

  • Visit https://saqa.org.za/

  • Navigate to the 'Services' tab, scroll to 'Evaluation of foreign qualification', and click 'Apply for an Evaluation'


Screenshot of the SAQA website when applying for foriegn qualification evaluation

The SCoE will stipulate the South African equivalent qualification and NQF level for your foreign qualification. You will fall under the Engineer (Route 1) applicant if the SCoE explicitly stipulates that your foreign qualification is a bachelor's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering at NQF 8.


If that's the case, then follow the Engineer (Route 1) applicant guidelines. Alternatively:

  • Follow the Technician or Technologist (Route 2) applicant guidelines if the SCoE classified your qualification as a NQF 6 (National Diploma) or NQF 7 (Bachelor of Technology or Advanced Diploma).

  • Follow the Artisan (Route 3) applicant guidelines if the SCoE classified your qualification as a Technical Diploma at NQF 6.


  1. What if I have a chemical, industrial, agricultural, computer engineering, metallurgical, or aeronautical engineering?


Applicants with chemical, industrial, agricultural, computer engineering, metallurgical, or aeronautical engineering degrees are treated as "other" during the GCC Factories application process.


The GCC Factories application is taken on a case-by-case basis and will be highly dependent on:

  • Your degree consists of most or all of the Annexure IV(a) plant engineering subjects,

  • Meeting the GCC Factories experience requirements.


If you meet the GCC Factories experience requirements, then submit your application to the commission of examiners for consideration. They will provide the official response on your eligibility.


  1. Can I meet the GCC Factories subject requirements with a civil engineering degree?


No. Civil engineering graduates are unlikely to be working in an operations and maintenance environment, and to meet the GCC Factories experience requirements. Furthermore, the GCC Factories subject requirements gap is too wide. Closing the gap may feel like you are doing a new qualification altogether.


Your options:

  • Option 1: Forget about the GCC Factories and focus on certification relevant to the civil engineering field, such as ECSA professional registration.

  • Option 2: Complete a mechanical or electrical engineering qualification and ensure that you work in a workplace that will make you meet the GCC Factories experience requirements.


  1. Can I meet the GCC Factories subject requirements with a degree in mining engineering?


No. The mining engineering degree does not sufficiently cover the GCC Factories subject requirements for any of the three routes. Furthermore, the scope of experience for mining engineers will make it difficult to meet the GCC Factories experience requirements, because experience gained from a workplace governed by the Mine Health and Safety Act is not eligible for the GCC Factories.


Your options:

  • Option 1: Forget about the GCC Factories and focus on the Mine Manager Certificate of Competency (MMCC), Mine Overseer Certificate of Competency, and/or Mine Blaster Certificate of Competency.

  • Option 2: Complete a mechanical or electrical engineering qualification and ensure that you work in a workplace that will make you meet the GCC Factories experience requirements.


  1. What is an Engineer in the context of the GCC Factories subject requirements?


I think it will be prudent at this point that we define what is an Engineer in the context of the GCC Factories subject requirements.


Firstly, the regulation establishing the issue and qualifying rules for the GCC Factories is set out in the Certificate of Competency Regulations, 1990 (CoCR). The CoCR does not directly provide a definition of an Engineer, but there is a mention of it under the DEL GCC Factories information brochure:


GCC Factories information brochure mention of mechanical or electrical engineer

We can establish then from the above that an Engineer is a person who has a "BSc degree in mechanical or electrical engineering recognised by the commission of examiners."


We have already established that the ECSA-accredited programmes in terms of E-90-PE are recognised degrees by the commission of examiners.


So, in this context, 'Engineer' refers to someone with a 4-year bachelor's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering.


  1. Conclusion


Engineer (Route 1) applicants need to have a bachelor's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering recognised by the commission of examiners. The mechanical or electrical engineering bachelor's degree curriculum must cover the plant engineering subjects stipulated in Annexure IV(a) of the GCC Factories information brochure.


In general, all "recognised" mechanical or electrical engineering degrees cover plant engineering subjects, and Engineer (Route 1) applicants do not need to add or take extra GCC Factories subjects after completing their 4-year bachelor's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering that is accredited by the ECSA.


  1. Next Steps


Here are your next steps:


Palucraft is the leading GCC Factories brand in South Africa, and we have assisted thousands of engineers, technologists, technicians, and artisans in getting their GCC Factories and protecting their legal liability as GMR 2(1) appointees.

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