Obtaining the GCC Factories is an excellent way for engineers, technicians, and artisans working in the factory/plant environment to advance their careers.
People new to GCC Factories find it challenging to find and interpret how to get the GCC Factories in South Africa. It is pretty simple, and in this post, I will summarise it for you.
There are five main steps to obtaining the GCC Factories:
Now, let us discuss each of these steps in more detail.
Step 1 - Meet the GCC Factories exam entry requirements
To obtain the GCC factories, one needs to write and pass the GCC Factories plant engineering and OHS Act exams. But, not everyone can write these exams.
You will have to be approved by the Commission of Examiners from the Department of Employment and Labour to write the exams.
The Commission of Examiners will allow you to write the exam if you meet the minimum requirements. Three main routes may lead to you qualifying to be a GCC factories candidate:
Route 1 - Must have a Bachelor's Degree in mechanical or electrical engineering. You must have at least two years of post-graduate experience in mechanical/electrical machinery maintenance and operation.
Route 2 - Must have a National higher Diploma (T4) or National Diploma (S4) in mechanical or electrical engineering. You must have passed all your subjects by at least 50% and have at least two years of post-graduate experience in mechanical/electrical machinery maintenance and operation. One year of the experience needs to be in a factory.
Route 3 - Must have a National Technical Diploma (N6) in a mechanical or electrical engineering related trade. The experience required will depend on your trade.
The above is a high-level summary of the three routes. Click here to read a detailed explanation of the three routes.
Step 2 - Apply to write GCC Factories exams
You will need to complete the prescribed application form and attach the required supporting documents, including your qualifications & required letters.
The documents you will need to submit with your application include:
Official GCC Factories application form
Letter of sobriety
Record of qualifications and experience
Record of experience
Certified copy of qualifications
Certified copy of the statement of results (route 2 & 3 applicants only)
Certified copy of identity document
Application cover letter
GCC Factories application fee proof of payment
You can then collate and submit all your documents to the Department of Employment and Labour postal address or physical address.
The postal address details:
The Secretary
Commission of Examiners Department of Labour
Private bag X117
Pretoria
0001
The physical address details:
215 Francis Baard Street
Pretoria Central
Pretoria
0001
Step 3 - Prepare for the GCC Factories plant engineering & OHS Act exams
The Department of Employment and Labour usually takes between two and eight weeks to respond to your eligibility. If accepted, you will receive a letter of acceptance and can then start preparing for the exam.
You will need to prepare and write the plant engineering and OHS Act exam. The Department of Employment and Labour provides a high-level description of the exam content.
Trying to prepare for the exam using the Department's guidelines is time-consuming and often leads to frustration. Palucraft does have self-study books and an online course to assist.
Step 4 - Register, write & pass the GCC Factories plant engineering & OHS Act exams
The GCC Factories plant engineering and OHS Act exams are written every year during June and November.
Approved TVET colleges administer the written exams. You need to register to write the exams at your nearest approved TVET college.
Step 5 - Apply to be issued with the GCC Factories
Once you have written and passed the two exams, you must send your statement of results to the Commission of Examiners.
The Chief Inspector may grant you the Certificate of Competency upon recommendation from the Commission of Examiners. The Commission of Examiners will recommend you to the Chief Inspector once you have passed the plant engineering and OHS Act exam within the stipulated duration.
You need to write and pass the two exams within three years of receiving your acceptance letter from the Commission of Examiners.
Conclusion
Getting the GCC Factories is easy if you follow the above five steps.
It is also important to note that the GCC Factories is not for everyone. It is essential to understand the context of the GCC Factories before starting your journey. The basic questions you should answer before beginning the journey are as follows:
Do you have a mechanical or electrical qualification?
Are you above the age of 23?
Do you have relevant operations and maintenance working experience in a factory? (e.g., FMCG, manufacturing, production, utilities, etc.)
Do you want to secure a position as a GMR 2 soon?
Do you have a strong desire to develop the temperament and leadership skills to fulfil the GMR 2 position?
If you answer yes to all the above questions, then the GCC Factories might be for you.
It is important at this point that you review: