FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: EXEMPTIONS

1. What does exemption mean?

An Equivalency (Exemptions) Matrix has been constructed by the EAAB as a living document, for the purposes of granting recognition for relevant qualifications previously obtained by candidates after a proper assessment process.


2. What is the difference between Assessment and Exemption?

Exemption is applied where previously achieved qualifications meet the requirements of the EAAB and a candidate does not have to complete the qualification or identified unit standards within the qualification.
Assessment is the process where a candidate is required to submit a Portfolio of evidence and this is then assessed by a registered assessor to enable the learner to achieve the required credits towards the qualification.


3. What role does the EAAB play in the exemption process?

The EAAB has produced an exemption matrix for both the NQF 4 and NQF 5 Real Estate Qualification.  This matrix is followed by all Providers to ensure that exemption is granted in a standard manner.
The EAAB may revise this matrix from time to time.
This matrix is published on the EAAB website:

NQF 4

Equivalency Matrix for NQF 4

NQF 5

Equivalency Matrix for NQF 5

4. Who can award exemptions?

Only Accredited Training Providers who are recognised by the EAAB may conduct the exemption process
A list of the Accredited Providers can be obtained by the Services SETA and the EAAB.
DITASA is a Full Accredited Training Provider that can award your exemption.

5. What is the process of application for exemption?

You may contact the DITASA Helpdesk and they will send you the applicable form to complete or you can download the applicable exemption form from the following link:

Exemption Forms

Ensure that you take note that the following documentation accompanies your application when it is sent to DITASA:

• Evidence relating to a Degree / Diploma/ National Certificate / National Diploma / Post Graduate Diploma
• Statement of Results from the Institution from where any qualification was conferred.
• Applicant’s ID
• Marriage certificate where applicable

6. Does any degree count towards exemption for the NQF 4 Qualification?

Degrees and diplomas may qualify for FULL exemption if they include business-type subjects that are relevant to the real estate profession.
Exemption can only be granted if similar subjects appear in the NQF 4 Real Estate.  Degrees in the humanities and social sciences generally do not contain enough relevant subjects to be considered.  Subjects that are NOT considered for exemption include:  Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work, Languages, Linguistics, Politics, Geology, etc.
Post graduate degrees must also be relevant to Real Estate and business to qualify the candidate for full exemption –a Masters degree in history is not relevant – but the candidate may have enough business subjects in their undergraduate degree to be exempt.

7. Does any degree count towards exemption for the NQF 5 Qualification?

Tertiary degrees and diplomas may qualify for a full exemption provided that the course of study for such qualifications included legal and/or commercial and/or accounting subjects which are both relevant to the Real Estate profession and which appear in the curriculum for the NQF Level 5 real estate qualification.  Tertiary qualifications obtained in the humanities, natural and social sciences will generally not contain sufficient relevant subjects to be considered.  Subjects, for example, that cannot be considered for exemption purposes will include Anthropology; Sociology; Social Work; Languages; Linguistics; Politics; History; Public Administration; Geology; Astronomy; etc.
Post-graduate degrees obtained must, similarly, be relevant to Real Estate and/or management for candidates to qualify for a full equivalency exemption.  While, for example, a Master of Arts degree in history will not usually be relevant to Real Estate it may be that the candidate concerned passed sufficient relevant subjects for the award of an undergraduate degree to qualify for an exemption.

8. What documentation must be submitted for exemption?

The relevant application documentation AND:

• Evidence relating to a Degree / Diploma/ National Certificate / National Diploma / Post Graduate Diploma
• Statement of Results from the Institution from where any qualification was conferred.
• Applicant’s ID
• Marriage certificate where applicable

9. Why must the exemption documentation be original?

The exemption process is a legal process and each Accredited Provider will undergo scheduled audits by the Services SETA and the EAAB to validate the process of exemption awards.
If any fraudulent activities are uncovered, all exemptions awarded, may be null and void.

10. I have lost my previous qualifications’ certificates, what can I do?

The exemption process will not be possible if the correct documentation has not been submitted.
The Department of Education can assist in obtaining lost certificates or the Institution where your qualification has been achieved.
If you are unable to obtain these certificates, you will have to embark on either the RPL or Full Training process.
DITASA is able to assist you in this process.

11. Will Qualifications that I am currently busy with, count towards exemption?

All tertiary qualifications MUST be completed in FULL to qualify for an exemption. 
Even if the candidate is ONE SUBJECT short of a degree or diploma no exemption will be granted because the traditional education system is “all-or-nothing” and only recognises whole qualifications;

12. Does my experience in Real Estate count towards exemption?

Due to the fact that exemption is a formal academic process, your experience does not enable the process of exemption.
Your experience will however ensure that you are able enrol for the RPL process and complete the Portfolio of Evidence.

13. Does my Matric certificate count towards exemption?

FETC:  Real Estate, NQF 4:
Credits will be awarded for two official languages (40 literacy fundamental credits).  Where the candidate has mathematics at Grade 12 level credit may also be awarded for the numeracy fundamentals (16 fundamental credits).

A Matric Certificate with two official South African languages MUST be produced to qualify for the language exemptions.  Even candidates with a relevant degree may not be fully exempt from the FETC:  Real Estate if they cannot produce their Matric certificate with two languages.
National Certificate:  Real Estate, NQF 5

Your Matric Certificate will not count for any exemption on this qualification.

14. Will the previous EAAB Board exam count towards exemption?

If you wrote the EAAB Board exam after 1995:
Exemption will be granted for unit standards 246733 and 246737 (18 core credits)
If you wrote the EAAB Board exam prior to 1995:
Exemption will be granted for unit standards 246733 and 246737 (18 core credits) and 7468 (6 fundamental credits)

15. Will my Fidelity Fund Certificate count towards exemption?

The award of exemptions is only based on achieved Academic Qualifications.
The FFC will therefore not be used in the exemption process.

16. Will the Qualification SAQA 24454 count towards exemption?

This is the Qualification registered before the new Qualification, SAQA 59097.
Persons holding this qualification will be granted full exemption from the FETC:  Real Estate (NQF Level 4) SAQA - QUAL ID: 59097.
Note:  The qualification (SAQA 24454) must have been completed in full.

17. Will my Qualifications from other countries count towards exemption?

No Training Provider may use non-South African Qualifications to award exemptions.
All foreign Qualifications must be evaluated and mapped towards South African Qualifications.  This process is conducted by SAQA and you can visit www.saqa.org.za
In addition to the above, you will have to prove competency in a second South African language if you have a foreign school leaving certificate.

18. Do any short courses or programmes count towards exemption?

In-house training courses provided by estate agency enterprises or other short courses and workshops attended:
In-house courses are not considered to be qualifications as such but, rather, Continuing Professional Development (CPD). 
The RPL process must validate these training interventions.  Actual assessments completed may, however, be submitted in Portfolios of Evidence to support requests for credit. 
Learners must align such assessments to the relevant unit standards on submission.

19. How many subjects do I need to be exempt from the NQF 4 Real Estate Qualification?

Candidates with at least two relevant subjects (DITASA will assist you with this information) may be considered for full exemption.  A subject is defined as a full year of study.  For example:
Accounting 1, 2, 3 is equal to three years of study and therefore count as three separate subjects;
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Economics 1A + 1B is equal to two semester subjects which is equal to one year of study, and therefore count together as one separate subject;

20. How many subjects do I need to be exempt from the NQF 5 Real Estate Qualification?

Candidates holding a tertiary qualification(s) with at least four relevant subjects (DITASA will assist you with this information) may be considered for the grant of a full exemption.  A subject is defined as one full year of study such as, for example:
Accounting 1, 2, 3 will be regarded as three years of study and, therefore, count as three separate subjects;
Economics 1A + 1B will be regarded as two semester subjects who are equal to one single year of study and count, taken together, as one separate subject.

21. How long will the exemption process take?

All the submitted documentation will be evaluated and signed off by a registered Assessor.
The exemption documentation will be evaluated once payment has been received.
The duration from payment to the printing of the certificate should not take more than one month.

22. Will partially completed qualifications count towards exemption?

For full exemption to be awarded, all qualifications must be completed in full.  Some qualifications contain subjects where exemption on individual unit standards may be awarded.

23. What must I do once I have received my exemption certificate

You are required to take your exemption certificate to the EAAB for registration purposes.