Financial Advisor Occupational Certificate NQF 6 ยท 515 Credits
The Financial Advisor Occupational Certificate NQF 6 is an online Financial Advisor course for South Africa. This QCTO Financial Advisor programme is an NQF 6 Financial Advisor course that helps you become a Financial Advisor who can offer compliant, holistic wealth management and financial planning advice on insurance, retirement funding, health care benefits and investments.
Purpose & rationale
Purpose of the qualification
The Occupational Certificate: Financial Advisor is a financial services qualification NQF 6 and a recognised Financial Advisor qualification South Africa learners can use to enter or advance in the industry. The qualification prepares a learner to operate as a Financial Advisor.
A Financial Advisor analyses the financial needs of clients and facilitates the implementation of solutions that protect and grow their wealth over the long term.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Provide advice on using Long Term Insurance to manage risks and protect wealth.
- Provide advice on the implementation of Employee Benefits and Retirement Funds.
- Provide advice on the use of Health Care benefit programmes.
- Provide advice to grow and protect wealth through appropriate Investments and related methods.
Why this qualification matters
The qualification builds competence at NQF Levels 5 and 6 through a three-part structure (Knowledge, Practical Skills and Work Experience). It supports the development of new entrants into the financial services sector and provides a clear pathway to become a fully fledged Financial Advisor.
Effective use of wealth creation tools is essential for the protection and wellbeing of citizens. Professional financial advice helps households and businesses to:
- Protect income and assets against life, disability and health risks.
- Save and invest for retirement and other long-term goals.
- Access appropriate health care funding arrangements.
- Grow wealth in a responsible, compliant and sustainable way.
This industry provides an essential service in support of the countryโs development and the achievement of the National Development Plan (NDP) objectives. The qualification contributes directly to:
- Job creation and professionalisation of the financial services workforce.
- Improved financial literacy and financial inclusion.
- Social stability and long-term household financial resilience.
To learn more about how occupational qualifications are structured in South Africa, visit the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).
Entry requirements & duration
Entry requirements
- NQF Level 4 qualification with Communication (or an equivalent qualification).
Learners should have sufficient literacy and numeracy skills to cope with the technical content, regulatory requirements and workplace-based learning in a financial services environment.
Programme duration
- 12 months (full qualification, including knowledge, practical skills and structured work experience).
The learning schedule can be adapted between online/self-paced components and workplace exposure, in line with QCTO requirements and host employer arrangements. This wealth management and financial planning course is designed to fit alongside real work.
Ideal learners & career pathways
This qualification is relevant to learners working in, or aspiring to work in, the following areas:
Typical career pathways after completing this qualification include:
- Entry-level roles such as Financial Services Call Centre Agent or Client Service Consultant.
- Intermediate advisory roles such as Financial Advisor, Personal Financial Planner or Broker Consultant.
- Specialist roles such as Retirement Fund Consultant, Medical Scheme Consultant, Product Developer or Compliance Officer.
The qualification therefore supports growth into the industry and progression within the broader financial advice, retirement funds, investments and health care benefits ecosystems.
Knowledge, Practical Skills & Work Experience
Knowledge Modules
Total: 140 CreditsBuild the theoretical foundation you need to give compliant, holistic financial advice.
- Overview of the investment advisory industry.
- Regulatory requirements for insurance and investments.
- Health care benefits advisory services.
- Employee and pension fund benefit principles.
- Fundamentals of investments.
- Insurance, savings and retirement planning.
- Advanced investment advice at NQF Level 6.
View detailed Knowledge Modules
- 241301-001-00-00-KM-01 ยท Overview of the Investment Advisory Industry ยท Level 5 ยท 13 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-KM-02 ยท Regulatory requirements for advising clients regarding insurance and investments ยท Level 5 ยท 17 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-KM-03 ยท Health Care benefits advisory services ยท Level 5 ยท 15 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-KM-04 ยท Principles of providing advice on Employee and Pension Fund Benefits ยท Level 5 ยท 20 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-KM-05 ยท Fundamentals of Investments ยท Level 5 ยท 30 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-KM-06 ยท Principles of providing advice on Insurance, Savings and Retirement Planning ยท Level 5 ยท 16 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-KM-07 ยท Principles of providing advice on Investments ยท Level 6 ยท 29 Credits
Practical Skill Modules
Total: 256 CreditsApply your knowledge to real client cases, product comparisons and implementation processes.
- Analyse client wealth creation and protection needs.
- Evaluate and compare long-term solutions and products.
- Recommend and implement appropriate financial plans.
- Assess retirement fund and employee benefit options.
- Advise on health care benefit structures and programmes.
- Research, analyse and conduct due diligence on investments.
- Advise on and implement agreed investment decisions.
View detailed Practical Skill Modules
- 241301-001-00-00-PM-01 ยท Analyse clientsโ long-term wealth creation/protection needs ยท Level 5 ยท 31 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-PM-02 ยท Evaluate available long-term wealth creation/protection options ยท Level 5 ยท 27 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-PM-03 ยท Recommend and implement the most appropriate wealth creation/protection options ยท Level 5 ยท 26 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-PM-04 ยท Analyse client organisationsโ needs relating to retirement funds and employee benefits ยท Level 5 ยท 11 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-PM-05 ยท Evaluate various employee benefit and retirement fund options and structures ยท Level 5 ยท 8 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-PM-06 ยท Advise on structuring retirement funds and employee benefits ยท Level 6 ยท 18 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-PM-07 ยท Analyse client needs regarding Health Care Benefits ยท Level 6 ยท 17 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-PM-08 ยท Provide advice on introducing Health Care Benefit Programmes ยท Level 6 ยท 26 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-PM-09 ยท Research, analyse and conduct due diligence of investment opportunities ยท Level 6 ยท 42 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-PM-10 ยท Advise clients regarding potential investment opportunities ยท Level 6 ยท 41 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-PM-11 ยท Facilitate implementation of agreed investment decisions ยท Level 6 ยท 9 Credits
Work Experience Modules
Total: 119 CreditsGain structured workplace exposure under the guidance of qualified mentors and supervisors.
- Participate in the processes of wealth creation.
- Support advice on employee benefits and retirement structures.
- Participate in implementing health care benefit programmes.
- Support investment advice and implementation over time.
View detailed Work Experience Modules
- 241301-001-00-00-WM-01 ยท Participate in the processes of wealth creation ยท Level 5 ยท 50 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-WM-02 ยท Support advice on employee benefits and retirement structures (3โ6 months) ยท Level 5 ยท 23 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-WM-03 ยท Participate in providing advice on Health Care Benefit Programmes ยท Level 5 ยท 14 Credits
- 241301-001-00-00-WM-04 ยท Participate in processes of advising on investment decisions (ยฑ six months) ยท Level 5 ยท 32 Credits
Exit Level Outcomes
On successful completion of this qualification, learners will be able to:
- Outcome 1: Provide advice to clients regarding the use of Long Term Insurance to manage risks and protect wealth.
- Outcome 2: Provide advice to clients regarding the implementation of Employee Benefits and Retirement Funds.
- Outcome 3: Provide advice regarding the use of Health Care benefit programmes.
- Outcome 4: Provide advice to clients to grow and protect wealth through appropriate Investments and related methods.
Ready to start your journey as a Financial Advisor?
Enrol in the Occupational Certificate: Financial Advisor (NQF 6, 515 Credits) and complete your qualification over 12 months, including structured workplace-based learning. This is a practical Financial services qualification NQF 6 and a focused Financial Advisor course for South Africa.
You can also explore our other financial services and compliance courses to complement this programme.