By Ontonda Teczo | December 21, 2025
Accredited learnerships combine work experience and NQF qualifications, helping South African youth gain skills and improve employability.
For many young South Africans, the biggest challenge after finishing school is not a lack of ambition, but a lack of opportunity. Jobs require experience, yet experience is impossible to gain without a foot in the door. This gap has left thousands of capable young people stuck between education and employment.
Accredited learnerships, offered through platforms like Training Portal, provide a practical way forward. By combining structured learning with real workplace exposure, these programmes help young people gain recognised qualifications while preparing them for the realities of work.
What an Accredited Learnership Really Means
A learnership is not just a short course or informal training programme. It is a structured learning pathway that combines classroom-based education with hands-on work experience in a real working environment.
All accredited learnerships are registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). This means that learners who complete the programme successfully receive a nationally recognised qualification, not just a certificate of attendance.
Through Training Portal, learnerships are designed to meet the needs of specific occupations across multiple industries, ensuring that what learners study is relevant to the job market.
How Learnerships Combine Learning and Work
One of the key strengths of a learnership is its dual structure. Learners are not expected to choose between studying and working. Instead, they do both at the same time.
Learnerships typically include:
- Structured theoretical learning
- Practical, work-based training
- Continuous assessment and support
- A fixed-term employment contract
Learners gain exposure to workplace systems, expectations, and professional behaviour while still receiving guidance and mentorship. This approach helps bridge the gap between education and employment more effectively than classroom learning alone.
Who Is Involved in a Learnership Programme?
A successful learnership involves several parties working together. Each plays a specific role in ensuring the learner benefits fully from the programme.
The key parties include:
- The learner, who commits to learning and workplace responsibilities
- The employer, who provides practical work experience
- The sponsor, who may support funding and programme implementation
- The training provider, who delivers the theoretical learning and assessments
This shared responsibility ensures that learners are supported academically and professionally throughout the programme.
Why Learnerships Matter in South Africa Today
Youth unemployment remains one of South Africa’s most urgent challenges. Many young people complete school or college but struggle to gain entry-level experience.
Accredited learnerships help address this reality by:
- Providing structured work experience
- Offering access to recognised qualifications
- Creating pathways into permanent employment
- Supporting skills development in key sectors
For learners, this can mean the difference between long-term unemployment and a sustainable career path.
Benefits of Learnerships for Learners
For young people, the value of a learnership goes far beyond the qualification itself.
Learners benefit through:
- Skills development aligned with real jobs
- Practical work experience in professional environments
- Monthly stipends during the learnership period
- Mentorship and coaching from experienced professionals
- Improved employability after completion
Many learners also gain confidence, workplace discipline, and communication skills that are essential for long-term career growth.
Why Employers and Sponsors Participate
Learnerships are not only beneficial for learners. Employers and sponsors also gain value by participating in accredited programmes.
Key benefits include:
- Building a pipeline of skilled young talent
- Contributing to skills development and social responsibility
- Improving B-BBEE scorecard points
- Assessing learners before offering permanent employment
- Strengthening organisational capacity
This shared value makes learnerships a sustainable model for skills development.
Accessing Learnerships Through Training Portal
Training Portal provides a central platform where learners can register, manage profiles, and apply for accredited learnerships.
Once registered, learners can:
- Create and manage a learner profile
- Access available learnership opportunities
- Receive notifications about new programmes
- Track applications and progress
This digital access is especially important for young people who may not have direct networks into companies or training institutions.
What Learners Should Know Before Applying
Before applying for a learnership, it is important for learners to understand that these programmes require commitment.
Learners should be prepared to:
- Attend training sessions consistently
- Meet workplace expectations
- Complete assessments and practical tasks
- Balance learning and work responsibilities
Learnerships are structured programmes, not casual opportunities, and full participation is essential for success.
Useful Link
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is a learnership the same as an internship?
No. A learnership leads to an NQF-registered qualification, while internships usually do not.
2. Do learnerships pay a stipend?
Most learnerships include a monthly stipend, though amounts vary by programme.
3. Who can apply for learnerships?
Requirements differ, but most programmes are open to unemployed youth who meet the minimum education criteria.
4. Are learnership qualifications recognised?
Yes. Accredited learnerships lead to nationally recognised qualifications.
5. How do I apply for learnerships?
Learners can register and apply through platforms such as Training Portal’s Learner Portal.
Final Thoughts
Accredited learnerships offer a realistic and structured pathway for young South Africans who want skills, experience, and recognised qualifications. In a job market where experience is often the biggest barrier, learnerships help open doors that would otherwise remain closed.
By combining learning with work, platforms like Training Portal support both personal growth and national skills development. For many learners, this is not just training—it is a first step toward long-term opportunity.
