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GCC Factories Subject Requirements For Foreign Qualification Applicants

  1. Introduction


It is possible to get the GCC Factories if you have a mechanical or electrical engineering qualification from non-South African institutions. The Department of Employment and Labour refers to these qualifications as foreign qualifications.


It is important to understand the legal context of the GCC Factories and how it relates to South African Occupational Health and Safety (Act) before you start your journey.


In this post, I will provide a brief background of the GCC Factories legal context and detailed guidelines on how you can meet the GCC Factories subject requirements if you have a foreign qualification.


  1. Legal Context


Employers in South Africa are required to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act). Part of complying with the OHS Act is complying with the Section 43 Regulations.


  1. General Machinery Regulations (GMR)


One of these Section 43 regulations is the General Machinery Regulations (GMR), which require employers or users of machinery to appoint a competent person to supervise machinery in or at the workplace. This competent person is referred to as the GMR 2(1).


  1. GMR 2(1) Comptency Requirements


As part of the competency requirements, the GMR 2(1) must have the Government Certificate of Competency in Factories whenever the sum of the power generated by machinery exceeds 3000 kW or the maximum demand exceeds 10 000 kVA, if the machinery is used for electricity distribution. This Government Certificate of Competency in Factories is what we refer to as the GCC Factories.


  1. What is the GCC Factories?


The GCC Factories is basically a "License" issued by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), which is required in terms of the GMR and, in part, confirms the competency of the GMR 2(1).


  1. Who issues the GCC Factories?


The DEL issues the GCC Factories in mechanical or electrical engineering. The GCC Factories is specifically for persons with a mechanical or electrical engineering qualification.


Text listing certificates of competency issued by the Department of Labour: Mechanical and Electrical Engineer (Factories).

  1. How to obtain the GCC Factories?


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


Text outlines requirements for a Mechanical or Electrical Engineering Certificate: Plant Engineering and Occupational Health and Safety.

  1. What are the GCC Factories subject requirements?


To write the GCC Factories exams, you need to meet the subject, experience, and general requirements.


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

  • Engineers (Route 1) - Must at least have a Bachelors Degree in mechanical or electrical engineering,

  • Technicians & Technologists (Route 2) - Must have at least a National Diploma, Diploma, or BEngTech in mechanical or electrical engineering, and

  • Artisans (Route 3) - Must have at least a National N Diploma (Technical Diploma) or Occupational Diploma in mechanical or electrical engineering.


The qualification required in terms of the GCC Factories subject requirements must be:

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

  • Obtain from a registered South African education institution that is authorised and accredited to offer and issue such qualifications.


  1. What are the GCC Factories subject requirements if you have a foreign qualification?


The DEL does allow persons with a mechanical or electrical engineering qualification obtained from another country to apply to write the GCC Factories exams.


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


If you have a Foreign qualification, the first step you need to do to meet the GCC Factories subject requirements is to obtain a SAQA Certificate of Evaluation (SCoE). Here is how to do it:

  • 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 one of the three GCC Factories routes:

  • Engineers (Route 1) - Foreign qualification evaluated as being a Bachelors Degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, which is typically at NQF 8,

  • Technicians & Technologists (Route 2) - Foreign qualification evaluated as being a National Diploma, Diploma, or BEngTech in mechanical or electrical engineering, which is typically at NQF 6 for the Diplomas and NQF 7 for the BEngTech, and

  • Artisans (Route 3) - Foreign qualification evaluated as being a National N Diploma (Technical Diploma) or Occupational Diploma in mechanical or electrical engineering, which is typically at NQF 6.


  1. What must you do once you have your SCoE for your foreign qualification?


Once you have your SCoE, you can then review the GCC Factories requirements for the three routes:

  • Click here to review the Engineer (Route 1) GCC Factories subject requirements.

  • Click here to review the Technician & Technologist (Route 2) GCC Factories subject requirements.

  • Click here to review the Artisan (Route 3) GCC Factories subject requirements.


If you meet the GCC Factories subject requirements aligned with your SCoE foreign qualification, you can then review the GCC Factories general and experience requirements for foreign applicants.


  1. What if my foreign qualification is not in mechanical or electrical engineering?


You can review the GCC Factories subject requirements for other qualifications. What you will realise is as follows:

  • Non-engineering qualification: If you don't have an engineering qualification, you will need to obtain a mechanical or electrical engineering qualification that aligns with one of the three routes and must comply with the respective GCC Factories subject requirements. Thereafter, you must meet the GCC Factories' general and other requirements.

  • Electronics (low current) qualification: In general, the DEL accepts the electronics qualification, but you will be required to complete the minimum subjects/modules for the respective GCC Factories routes and still meet the GCC Factories general and other requirements.

  • Chemical and industrial engineering qualifications: In general, the DEL accepts the chemical and industrial qualifications, but you will be required to complete the minimum subjects/modules for the respective GCC Factories routes and still meet the GCC Factories general and other requirements.

  • Civil and Mining engineering qualifications: You will need to obtain a mechanical or electrical engineering qualification that aligns with one of the three routes and must comply with the respective GCC Factories subject requirements. Thereafter, you must meet the GCC Factories' general and other requirements.


  1. Conclusion


The GCC Factories is a "License" issued by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), which is required in terms of the GMR and, in part, confirms the competency of the GMR 2(1). To obtain the GCC Factories you must meet the qualification and subject requirements, thereafter register to write and pass the plant engineering and OHS Act exams.


Persons with foreign qualifications may pursue the GCC Factories, provided that:

  • They have a mechanical or electrical engineering qualification.

  • They obtain a SAQA Certificate of Evaluation (SCoE) confirming that their mechanical or electrical engineering qualification aligns with one of the three GCC Factories routes (Engineer, Technician, or Artisan).

  • They meet the GCC Factories subject requirements for the route they fall under.

  • They meet the GCC Factories general and experience requirements.


It is essential to understand the legal context of the GCC Factories and pursue it if you have a relevant mechanical or electrical engineering qualification, and your career plan is to be appointed as a GMR 2(1).


Once you have your SCoE, you can then review the GCC Factories requirements for the three routes:

  • Click here to review the Engineer (Route 1) GCC Factories subject requirements.

  • Click here to review the Technician & Technologist (Route 2) GCC Factories subject requirements.

  • Click here to review the Artisan (Route 3) GCC Factories subject requirements.


  1. Next Steps


If you have a foreign mechanical or electrical engineering qualification and wish to obtain the GCC Factories, your first step is to obtain the SCoE. Thereafter, evaluate whether your foreign qualification meets the GCC Factories subject requirements for one of the three routes.


Here are more next steps to consider:


 

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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