| 10. | A professional body must, in terms of the NQF Act, Section 13(1)(i) (i-ii), apply to SAQA in accordance with this P&C for professional bodies, for recognition as a professional body and registration of its professional designations. |
| 11. | A body constituted to represent and/or regulate a recognised community of expert practitioners will be recognised by SAQA as a professional body on fulfilment of the criteria for recognition as a professional body. |
| 12. | Proliferation of professional bodies within the same community of practice will be discouraged, but will be balanced with the acknowledgement that healthy competition and freedom of association should not be impeded. |
| 13. | In cases where more than one professional body for a specific community of practice applies for recognition, or where SAQA has already recognised a professional body in the same sector, SAQA will consider recognition based on the following: |
| a. | There must be no legal impediment to the operation of a second or subsequent body applying for recognition; |
| b. | The favourable outcome of a broad consultation within the community of practice and the wider society; and |
| c. | The distinctiveness of multiple bodies in the same community of practice. |
| 14. | SAQA will not recognise an additional professional body in a sector in which a professional body has been established through an Act of Parliament. |
| 15. | In administering the P&C for professional bodies SAQA will: |
| a. | charge professional bodies a cost recovery fee for all services rendered, including an application fee for new applications for recognition, and in instances where SAQA is forced to incur unnecessary and wasteful expenditure because of delays and lack of compliance by the professional body concerned; |
[Clause 15(a) substituted by section 2(b) of Notice No. 1054, GG 43764, dated 2 October 2020]
| b. | ensure that a professional body seeking recognition meets all the criteria for recognition; |
| c. | invite public comment on its intention to recognise a professional body and register its professional designations by publishing its intention in the Government Gazette for thirty (30) days; |
| d. | implement a review mechanism, periodically, to monitor recognised professional bodies for continued compliance; and |
| e. | investigate an alleged lack of compliance with the P&C for professional bodies, and give due notice to the professional body concerned. In the case of a statutory body, SAQA will also notify the relevant Minister. |
| 16. | A recognised professional body may neither be accredited as an education and training provider by a QC, nor be registered as an education and training provider with the Department of Higher Education and Training. |
| 17. | International professional bodies operating in South Africa must meet South African requirements as outlined in this P&C for professional bodies, including the data requirements. |
| 18. | A body that meets the criteria for recognition as a professional body, by SAQA, will be recognised for an initial period of five (5) years. |
| 19. | In the second year of recognition of the professional body, SAQA will conduct a mid-term monitoring review to ensure compliance with the P&C for professional bodies. |
| 20. | SAQA will re-recognise a professional body for subsequent five (5) year periods, subject to the favourable outcome of a monitoring and evaluation process. |
| 21. | SAQA may temporarily extend the recognition period of a professional body to conclude the re-recognition process. |
| 22. | SAQA may withdraw the recognition status from a professional body if: |
| a. | the body no longer complies with this P&C for professional bodies; or |
| b. | the professional body ceases to exist; or |
| c. | the professional body fails to pay the fees for the services rendered. |
| 23. | SAQA will inform the relevant Minister, in the case of recognised statutory professional bodies, before withdrawing the recognition status of such bodies. |
| 24. | If a professional body loses its recognition status, its professional designations will be removed from SAQA records: |
| a. | The records of the holders of the designation will reflect the date of de-registration. |
| 25. | A professional body has the right to appeal if it: |
| a. | has its recognition status withdrawn; or |
| b. | was declined recognition as a professional body. |
| 26. | A professional body may appeal within a period not exceeding sixty (60) working days from the date of notification by SAQA. |
| 27. | SAQA will publish the withdrawal of the recognition status of a professional body in the Government Gazette and on the SAQA website. These means will be considered sufficient communication regarding this change in status to the specific community of practice and the wider society. |
