PROGRAMME ACCREDITATION

The South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions is empowered to accredit project and construction management educational programs within any department, school or faculty in institutions of higher learning. This is in line with Section 13(a)(b)(c) of the Project and Construction Management Act (Act No. 48 of 2000), which mandates the Council to conduct accreditation visits within its term of office.

Programme accreditation refers to the assessment of an academic programme, department or institution against predetermined criteria in order to determine whether the programme meets prescribed standards of educational quality, or specified minimum standards set by the accrediting body.

Institutional accreditation seeks to broadly evaluate the overall instructional operations of an educational institution, while programme accreditation evaluates the programmes that prepare graduates for specific careers or professions. Accreditation aims to ensure, and certify, that graduates from these programmes are qualified and competent.

By assuring prospective students and the public that graduates of an accredited institution or programme have achieved a minimum level of competence in their chosen fields of study, it therefore serves as a form of consumer protection (Prados et al, 2005).

The key principle behind accreditation is therefore to ensure that the educational processes produce graduates who are fit for the purpose, are technically competent, and possess the range of skills required (Institute of Engineers, 1996).

By providing standards by which to judge programmes, accreditation also serves to promote the mobility of graduates and academic staff and increases competitiveness.

In the case of the SACPCMP, which enforces its statutory accreditation mandate, programme accreditation is enforced by government on behalf of the public where the public interest is at stake and needs to be ensured.

In the context of the Act no. 48 of 2000: Project and Construction Management Professions Act ’accreditation’ means recognition by the Council of educational programmes offered by educational institutions relating to the project and construction management professions, and after the process of evaluation.

In a nutshell accreditation offers the following benefits:

  1. It ensures the protection of public interest by guaranteeing competent and ethically oriented professionals.
  2. It acts as a quality assurance tool to programme providers.
  3. It performs an oversight role to the government.
  4. It ensures that there a standard benchmark for evaluating similar programmes.
  5. It secures greater employment mobility for programme graduates.

It should be noted that professionals need to participate in accreditation in order to convey to the institutions that the industry will only allow graduates from accredited programmes to practice professionally.

ACCREDITED UNIVERSITIES

ITEM INSTITUTION ACCREDITED PROGRAMMES Accreditation Status as at
31 March 2021
1. University of the Witwatersrand (WITS)
  • Bachelor of Science: Construction Studies
  • Bachelor of Science: (Hons) Construction Management
  • Master of Science: Building in Construction Project Management
 To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation. (Provisionally approved)
2. University of Johannesburg (UJ)
  • National Diploma: Building
  • Bachelor of Technology: Construction Management
 To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation.
3. University of Pretoria (UP)
  • Bachelor of Science: Construction Management
  • Bachelor of Science: (Hons) Construction Management
  • Master of Science in Project Management
 To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation.
4. Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
  • National Diploma: Building
  • Bachelor of Technology: Construction Management
 To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation.
5. University of the Free State (UFS)
  • Bachelor of Science: Construction Management
  • Bachelor of Science: (Hons) Construction Management
  • Masters of Land and Property Management (MLPM)
 To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation.
6. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) BHSD

  • National Diploma: Building
  • Bachelor of Technology: Construction Management
 To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation.
7. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) CM

  • Baccalaureus Scientiae in Construction Studies – BSc (Construction Studies)
  • Baccalaureus Scientiae in Construction Management – BSc (Hons) (Construction Management)
  • Magister Scientiae in Built Environment, Construction Management Specialisation
  • Magister Scientiae in Built Environment, Construction Health and Safety Management specialisation
  • Magister Scientiae in Built Environment, Project Management specialisation
 To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation.
8. University of Cape Town (UCT)
  • Bachelor of Science: Construction Studies
  • Bachelor of Science: (Hons) Construction Management
 To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation.
9. Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
  • National Diploma: Building
  • Bachelor of Technology: Construction Management
 To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation.
10. Central University of Technology (CUT)
  • Higher Certificate in Construction (NQF Level 5)
  • Bachelor of Construction Management (NQF Level 7)
  • Bachelor of Construction in Health and Safety Management (NQF Level 7)
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Construction in Construction Management (NQF Level 8)
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Construction in Health and Safety Management (NQF Level 8)
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Construction in Urban Development (NQF Level 8)
 To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation.
11. Durban University of Technology (DUT)
  • National Diploma: Building
  • Bachelor of Technology: Construction Management
 To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation.
12. Mangosuthu University of Technology
  • National Diploma Building
 One (1) year conditional accreditation
CPD ACCREDITED COURSES

POLICIES & FRAMEWORKS

2017 Accreditation – Download

STUDENT CHAPTER

The Construction Industry provides a great deal of opportunities for many different professions. You have seen many of these professionals living out their career choices at construction sites all over the country and, indeed, the world.

We know that the Construction Industry, like many other sectors, is plagued with perceptions that might prevent people from pursuing careers in the field. Many think, for example, that construction workers never attended school, while the Construction Industry is a vital employer in the nation’s economy, providing a vast array of much needed jobs.

It offers you the opportunity to create and build. The industry itself is diverse and embraces all kinds of construction projects such as offices, buildings, highways and hospitals.

The purpose of this guide is to give you a clear understanding of what is required of you to embark on a career in the Construction Industry. You are about to enter an exciting and life changing period in your life. Do not rush into decisions about your career without clearly understanding what it is all about.

Career Guide

RESEARCH

In its efforts to support South Africa’s youth who are in the process of finalising their Construction Health and Safety, Construction Management or Project Construction Management studies, the SACPCMP has provided a platform that enables students to access the Construction Sector for university research requirements.

The Council receives, on a regular basis, requests from students and researchers to conduct research involving employees or Registered Persons. Through a systematic request process, and following the submission of the necessary application documents, the SACPCMP will, on behalf of the student and/or researcher, invitations to participate in surveys or interviews, or distribute questionnaires etc to the relevant stakeholder group within the SACPCMP’s ambit. Application forms and the relevant standard operating procedure pertaining to application for permission to conduct research via the SACPCMP can be accessed via the SACPCMP’s website.

It is recommended that research requests are provided to the Council well in advance of the associated deadlines as:

  1. Research request distributions will be executed by the SACPCMP on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  2. Research requests will not be distributed over public holidays or during the December industry break.

It must be noted that the SACPCMP does not subscribe to any particular views, inferences or subject matter included in the distributed research-requests, and in distributing the said requests to its stakeholders, does so in the interest of supporting the development of the Built Environment skills pipeline.

Information and Consent Form
Application for the permission to conduct research
Annexure A Application Form
Annexure B Applicant Declaration

WHAT IS CPD?

CPD (Continuing Professional Development) is the continuous process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge, and experience that you gain formally and informally as you work beyond your initial training.

Importance of CPD:

  • Helps you become more effective at work.
  • Increase the understanding of the implications of your work.
  • Enhances your confidence with your work.
  • Promotes growth.
  • Increases your understanding.
  • Equips you for new challenges.
  • Provides a professional sense of direction.

CPD REQUIREMENTS AND COMPLIANCE

A CPD cycle runs for 5 years. In these 5 years, a registered person is required to engage in CPD activities in order to be compliant.
The Council has classified CPD into 3 categories that you need to engage in to comply.
Category A: Core and Non-Core Knowledge (focused on acquiring knowledge through learning)
Category B: Mentorship and Development (focuses on mentorship and development)
Category C: On the job training (focused on your day-to-day activities at work)

VALIDATED CPD ACTIVITIES AND COURSES

When you decide to engage in CPD activities with the aim of acquiring CPD Hours for Category A, make sure that the activity/course is validated by SACPCMP. Activities and courses that are validated have been assessed and their outcome, effectiveness and relevance have been measured and the relevant CPD Hours have been allocated.
Activities and courses that are not validated by the Council cannot be considered for Category A. To ensure that an activity or course is validated by the Council, click here for a list of CPD Accredited courses.

CPD HOURS

To determine the value of the CPD activities undertaken by an individual, the Council has assigned hours to the learning outcome.
CPD activities will be rewarded based on hours in line with:

  1. Relevance and importance of the core areas of the professions.
  2. Contribution made towards professional development.

So, the hours are not determined by how long the activity was, but rather the effectiveness of the learning outcome in connection to your skills and knowledge.
In your 5 years of the CPD Cycle, you need to accumulate 50 CPD Hours from Category A, B and C.
Refer to the table below for how many CPD hours you will need for each Category

CATEGORIES PROFESSIONALS: PrCPM, PrCM, PrCMentor and PrBInsp OTHER CATEGORIES: CHSM, CHSO, CMentor and CBInsp
Category A 30 CPD Hours 20 CPD Hours
Category B 10 CPD Hours 20 CPD Hours
Category C 10 CPD Hours 10 CPD Hours
TOTAL CPD HOURS NEEDED AFTER 5 YEARS 50 CPD Hours 50 CPD Hours

CPD ONLINE PORTAL

To ensure that you easily manage your CPD activities, SACPCMP has an online portal that you can access at any time. You can do the following on the MyMembership portal:

  • Upload CPD activities
  • View and download your CPD Statement
  • Purchase Video Bundles
  • Access invoices and statements

CPD POLICY

It is of utmost importance for you as a registered professional to familiarise yourself with the SACPCMP CPD Policy, the policy can be found here.