MQA Skills Development Learnerships: Opportunities to Build a Career in South Africa’s Mining Sector

The Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) plays a major role in developing skills for South Africa’s mining and minerals sector. As a registered Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA), MQA supports a range of learning programmes designed to develop a skilled workforce and improve access to occupational training.

For unemployed young people, mining employees, aspiring artisans and people interested in technical careers, MQA learnerships and skills-development programmes can provide valuable pathways into workplace-based learning and recognised qualifications.

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What Is the Mining Qualifications Authority?

The Mining Qualifications Authority, commonly known as MQA, is a statutory body established under the Mine Health and Safety Act and registered as a SETA for the mining and minerals sector under the Skills Development Act.

MQA's responsibilities include supporting skills development, quality assurance, occupational qualifications, research and learning programmes throughout the mining and minerals sector.

Its skills-development initiatives are designed to help ensure that the sector has competent workers whose skills are recognised and valued within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

What Is an MQA Learnership?

An MQA learnership is a structured vocational education and training programme that combines institutional learning with practical workplace experience.

According to MQA, a learnership is governed by an agreement involving the learner, employer and accredited training provider. A successful programme leads to a qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework.

A learnership must include:

• A structured learning component

• Institutional learning

• Practical workplace experience

• A qualification registered on the NQF

• An occupational focus

• Registration with the Department of Higher Education and Training

• Alignment with the Organising Framework for Occupations (OFO)

This makes a learnership different from simply attending a short course because learners receive both theoretical training and structured workplace exposure.

MQA Non-Artisan Learnerships

MQA supports non-artisan learnerships for the mining and minerals sector.

The programme is described by MQA as an occupationally directed learning programme leading to an NQF-registered qualification that is not trade-related.

Both employed and unemployed learners can potentially access these programmes.

However, there is an important requirement for unemployed applicants: MQA states that unemployed learners need to approach mining companies to access training because MQA facilitates and funds training for employers in the mining and minerals sector.

Examples of Non-Artisan Learnerships

MQA's registered learnership list includes programmes such as:

• National Certificate: Mining Operations for Underground Hard Rock

• National Certificate: Jewellery Manufacturing

• National Certificate: Occupational Health, Safety and Environment: Mining and Minerals

• National Certificate: Rockbreaking: Surface Excavations

• National Certificate: Diamond Processing

• Further Education and Training Certificate: Jewellery Designing

• National Certificate: Mining Operations: Underground Coal

• Further Education and Training Certificate: Jewellery Manufacturing Operations

• National Certificate: Chemical Operations

• National Certificate: Rockbreaking: Underground Hard Rock

• National Certificate: Mining Technical Support

• Laboratory-related qualifications

The exact programmes available for recruitment can depend on funding, employer participation and the relevant MQA programme cycle.

MQA Artisan Learnerships and Apprenticeships

For people interested in becoming artisans, MQA also supports artisan learnerships and apprenticeships.

These programmes are trade-related and provide structured occupational training that combines learning with practical experience.

MQA's funded trades include:

• Fitting, including machining

• Heavy equipment mechanic/earthmoving

• Electrical

• Millwright

• Welding

• Instrumentation mechanician

• Diesel fitting

• Goldsmithing

• Diamond cutting

• Diamond and gemstone setting

• Auto electrician/autotronics

• Plater welding

• Plater boilermaking

• Earthmoving-related trades

This makes MQA an important organisation for people interested in technical and artisan careers within mining, engineering, minerals processing and related industries.

Artisan Aide Opportunities

MQA also supports Artisan Aide programmes.

These programmes can help learners gain foundational workplace experience related to artisan development. MQA lists a funded qualification in Engineering Maintenance and Repairing for Underground Coal Mining under its Artisan Aides programme.

Both employed and unemployed learners can potentially access Artisan Aide opportunities, subject to the programme requirements and placement arrangements.

Recognition of Prior Learning

People who already have substantial workplace experience can also benefit from MQA's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiatives.

RPL is intended to recognise skills and competencies that a person has already gained through workplace experience. MQA states that its Non-Artisan RPL programme is aimed at opening access to workplace-based learning opportunities and occupationally directed programmes for people with prior experience.

Examples of RPL-related learnerships include qualifications in:

• Mining operations

• Jewellery manufacturing

• Occupational health, safety and environment

• Rockbreaking

• Diamond processing

• Chemical operations

• Mining technical support

• Laboratory practice

• Precious-metal laboratory practice

This can be particularly useful for experienced workers who have developed practical skills but need formal recognition of their competencies.

MQA Skills Programmes

MQA's skills-development portfolio extends beyond learnerships.

The organisation supports various skills programmes, including occupational health and safety representative development and other MQA-approved skills programmes. In 2024/25, MQA's sector skills plan recorded 3,969 completed OHS Representative Development and other MQA-approved skills programmes.

These programmes help employers and workers address specific skills requirements within the mining and minerals sector.

MQA Work Experience Programmes

MQA also supports workplace experience for students from universities, universities of technology and TVET colleges.

The Work Experience Programme aims to provide on-the-job training required for learners to complete their qualifications and pursue careers in the mining and minerals sector.

Eligible learners can be placed with host employers for structured workplace learning.

MQA identifies areas including:

• Industrial Engineering

• Occupational Health and Safety

• Occupational Hygiene

The programme can include P1/P2 training and vacation-work requirements for eligible learners.

MQA Internships

Internships are another part of MQA's broader skills-development activities.

MQA's 2026/27 Sector Skills Plan reports that 634 learners completed internships during 2024/25, compared with 588 in 2023/24.

Internships can provide graduates and other eligible learners with practical exposure that complements their academic qualifications.

For young people trying to enter the mining industry, workplace experience can be particularly valuable because it allows them to develop professional skills and understand real-world working environments.

MQA Skills Development for People with Disabilities

MQA also has programmes aimed at promoting inclusion in skills development.

Its non-artisan learnership information specifically identifies a programme for people with disabilities, aligned with MQA's priority of supporting transformation in the sector through skills development.

This demonstrates that skills development within the mining sector is not limited to traditional occupational pathways.

Who Can Apply for MQA Opportunities?

Depending on the specific programme, opportunities can be relevant to:

• Unemployed South African youth

• Mining-company employees

• TVET college students

• University students

• University of technology students

• Graduates

• Aspiring artisans

• Existing workers seeking formal recognition of skills

• People with disabilities

• Individuals interested in mining and minerals careers

However, eligibility requirements differ from one programme to another.

For example, MQA's unemployed learnership programmes generally require unemployed learners to secure placement or access through participating mining companies, because MQA funds and facilitates training through mining and minerals sector employers.

How to Access an MQA Learnership

One of the most important things applicants should understand is that MQA does not simply operate as a general public application portal where every unemployed person can independently enrol.

For non-artisan learnerships, MQA states that employers, through their MQA-accredited Skills Development Providers, are responsible for registering learners on the MQA learner management system.

The same principle applies to artisan learnerships and apprenticeships. Employers are responsible for registering learners through their accredited training providers.

For unemployed applicants, this means it is important to:

1. Monitor mining-company vacancies and training opportunities.

2. Look for MQA-supported learnership advertisements.

3. Apply directly to the participating employer when instructed.

4. Check the qualification and entry requirements.

5. Prepare all required documents.

6. Confirm that the training provider is accredited.

7. Complete the required learning programme agreement if selected.

Documents Applicants May Need

MQA indicates that employers registering learners may need supporting documentation such as:

• Certified ID copy

• Highest qualification

• Training plan

• Proof of disability, where applicable

• Employment contract, where applicable

• Confirmation of employment

• Signed learning programme agreements

Applicants should always follow the document requirements in the specific advertisement because requirements can differ between programmes.

Does an MQA Learnership Guarantee a Job?

No.

Completing a learnership or skills programme does not automatically mean that a participant will receive permanent employment.

However, a learnership can provide valuable workplace experience and a recognised qualification, potentially improving a learner's competitiveness when applying for future positions.

The MQA's broader skills-development strategy focuses on developing competent people who can contribute to improved productivity, employment equity, health and safety and transformation in the mining and minerals sector.

MQA Learnerships and the Mining Industry

South Africa's mining and minerals industry requires people with diverse technical, scientific, engineering, operational and administrative capabilities.

MQA's current sector skills planning documents continue to identify learnerships, internships, bursaries, artisan programmes, mine-community training and other interventions as important components of skills development.

The MQA's five-year skills planning also highlights the importance of developing skills for areas such as environmental sustainability and addressing occupational skills shortages.

This creates opportunities for people interested in both traditional mining occupations and emerging areas linked to the future of the sector.

Career Opportunities in the Mining and Minerals Sector

An MQA-supported learning pathway can potentially lead to careers in areas such as:

• Mining operations

• Electrical engineering

• Mechanical maintenance

• Fitting and machining

• Welding

• Boilermaking

• Instrumentation

• Occupational health and safety

• Occupational hygiene

• Mineral processing

• Chemical operations

• Jewellery manufacturing

• Diamond processing

• Diamond cutting

• Laboratory practice

• Environmental and sustainability-related fields

The MQA Career Guide is specifically designed to help young people and other individuals understand career choices, fields of study and learning pathways within the mining and minerals sector.

Important: Stipends and Funding

Applicants should be careful when reading advertisements that state a specific stipend amount.

MQA's programmes involve different funding arrangements, and amounts shown on MQA's website may refer to grants paid to employers or training providers rather than a learner's monthly stipend.

For example, the MQA apprenticeship page lists an artisan grant of R206,290 in two tranches, while the non-artisan page lists separate grant amounts for particular projects. These are programme funding grants and should not be interpreted as monthly learner stipends.

Applicants should therefore rely on the official advertisement and learner agreement for the actual stipend or allowance applicable to a particular opportunity.

Avoid Learnership Scams

People searching for mining learnerships should be especially cautious about fraudulent advertisements.

Remember:

• Do not pay anyone to secure an MQA learnership.

• Verify opportunities through the official MQA website or participating employer.

• Check the identity of the employer and training provider.

• Do not provide banking PINs or passwords.

• Be cautious of unofficial WhatsApp groups requesting money.

• Check whether a training provider is accredited.

• Read the full advertisement before submitting documents.

A legitimate learning opportunity should clearly identify the employer, programme, requirements and application process.

The Mining Qualifications Authority provides a range of skills-development pathways for people who want to build careers in South Africa's mining and minerals sector.

MQA-supported opportunities extend beyond traditional learnerships. They include artisan learnerships, non-artisan learnerships, apprenticeships, Artisan Aide programmes, Recognition of Prior Learning, internships, work experience and other skills-development initiatives.

For unemployed youth, one of the most important things to understand is that MQA generally works through mining and minerals sector employers and accredited training providers. Unemployed learners should therefore actively monitor participating mining companies and official MQA announcements rather than waiting for a single central application window.

If you are interested in building a career in mining, engineering, occupational health and safety, mineral processing, jewellery, diamonds or related technical fields, MQA's learning programmes are worth exploring.

Official MQA Resources

MQA Learnerships:

Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) Skills Development Learnership Programmes (X152 Learnerships)
Visit the official MQA Learnerships page

MQA Non-Artisan Learnerships:
View Non-Artisan Learnership information

Disclaimer: Programme availability, eligibility criteria, funding arrangements, stipends, application dates and participating employers can change. Applicants should verify all current information directly with MQA or the relevant mining company before applying.