4 April 2012

South African Nursing Council – Easter Holidays Closure
5 April 2012 – 10 April 2012

Please be informed that the South African Nursing Council (SANC) offices will be closing at 13:00 on 5 April 2012 in preparation for Easter holidays, and re-opening on 10 April 2012 at 08:00.

Kindly inform all persons in your institutions so that they are aware in advance of the dates the Council will be closed.

We wish you safe Easter holidays.

Signed
Mr T Mabuda
Registrar and CEO

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

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20 November 2012

Licensing of Nursing Agencies by South African Nursing Council

PURPOSE

The purpose of this circular is to provide clarity on matters relating to the licensing of the Nursing Agencies.

BACKGROUND

South African Nursing Council (SANC) Circular 1 of 2011 has reference.

SANC has in its meeting held on the 27^th of September 2012 resolved that:

	The files of Nursing Agencies which were previously licensed by the South African Nursing Council be handed over to the National Department of Health as the South African Nursing Council has no mandate to regulate Nursing Agencies under the Nursing Act, 2005.
	All enquiries relating to Nursing Agencies should be directed to the National Department of Health, Nursing Services Directorate.

In this regard, all the Nursing Agencies files on South African Nursing Council database as of 31 December 2010 have been handed over to the National Department of Health.

Also note that the SANC will continue to regulate the Scope of Practice of Nurse Practitioners in terms of the Nursing Act, 2005 and relevant South African Nursing Council rules and regulations.

Sincerely

Signed
Tendani Mabuda (Mr)
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

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30 October 2012

Extension of the Date of Submission of New Nursing Programmes for Accreditation by the South African Nursing Council and Council on Higher Education (Dual Submission: Circular No. 6/2012)

PURPOSE

To inform Nursing Education Institutions about the new date of submission of new nursing programmes to the South African Nursing Council and Council on Higher Education (Dual submission).

Background

The South African Nursing Council Circular No. 7/2012, extended the date of offering legacy nursing qualifications to June 2015, and further outlined some of the processes that are to be completed to facilitate the implementation of Circular No. 6 /2012.

Extension date of dual submission of the new nursing programmes to the South African Nursing Council and Council on Higher Education

In view of the contents of Circular No. 7 of 2012, the new date for dual submission of the new nursing programmes for accreditation is 30 November 2013.  Nursing Education Institutions are urged to abide by this extension date.

Yours Sincerely,

Signed
Mr Tendani Mabuda
Registrar and CEO: 
South African Nursing Council

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

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Exam Schedule

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

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Extension…

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

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27 July 2012

Dual Submission of Programmes for Accreditation to South African Nursing Council (SANC) and Council on Higher Education (CHE)

1.    PURPOSE

	To meet requirements for registration of programmes and registration of professional designation
	To guide nursing education institutions (NEI’s) when developing curriculum/s for submission to SANC and CHE

2.    BACKGROUND

The South African Nursing Council as a statutory body and ETQA has responsibility of ensuring compliance by nursing education institutions with the Nursing Act No. 33 of 2005 and other relevant legislation in provisioning of nursing education and training.  The Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005), chapter 2, section 42, sub-sections (1), (2), (3) and (4) states that:

“(1)    An institution intending to conduct a nursing education and training programme in order to prepare persons for practice in any one of the categories contemplated in section 31 (of the Act) must first—

(a)    apply to the Council in writing for accreditation and submit information on—

(i)    the education and training programme to be provided; and

(ii)    how it will meet the prescribed standards and conditions for education and training;

(b)    furnish the Council with any additional information required by the Council for purposes of accreditation of the education and training programme; and

(c)    pay the prescribed fee.”

The Higher Education Act of 1997 assigns responsibility for quality assurance in higher education in South Africa to the Council on Higher Education (CHE).  This responsibility is discharged through its permanent sub-committee, the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC).  The mandate of the HEQC includes quality promotion, institutional audit and programme accreditation.  The HEQC’s criteria for programme accreditation should be used as the basis for an institution’s self-evaluation of the programme(s) submitted for accreditation, along with additional benchmarks which the institution might set for itself.  The HEQC will use the criteria, the self-evaluation report and supporting evidence provided by the institution, in the evaluation of applications for programme accreditation (new programmes) or reaccreditation (existing programmes).

3.    SCOPE AND PRIMARY FOCUS OF SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

All providers/applicant provider organizations that fall within the scope of the SANC and which offer education and training programmes which culminate in specified qualifications or who manage the assessment thereof, or both, must be accredited by the South African Nursing Council, as stipulated in the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005), section 42, in order to offer such education and training and assessment.

In this regard, the SANC will only:

	accredit constituent providers that fall within its primary focus area
	perform both institutional and learning programme accreditation for constituent providers in co-operation with Higher Education Quality Committee
	perform education and training or assessment in terms of specific NQF qualifications that fall within its scope

4.    GENERAL CRITERIA FOR ACCREDITATION OF PROGRAMME

The conformance criteria that are set by SANC are as follows:

	Programme design
	Student recruitment, admission and selection
	Staff selection, appraisal and development
	Teaching and learning strategy
	Learning programmes
	Student assessment and procedures
	Physical, administrative and financial resources
	Management of clinical practice learning
	Management of assessment and moderation
	Appeal process
	Record keeping and reporting
	Quality management system

HEQC has set the following criteria:

	Programme design
	Student recruitment, admission and selection
	Staffing
	Teaching and learning strategy
	Student assessment and procedures
	Infrastructure and library resources
	Programme administrative services
	Post graduate policies, regulations and procedures
	Programme coordination
	Academic development for student success
	Teaching and learning interactions
	Student assessment practices
	Coordination of work-based learning
	Delivery of post basic programmes
	Student retention and throughput rates
	Programme impact

5.    ACCREDITATION PROCESS

All prospective providers will be treated as new applicants as these will be new qualifications.  Approach to accreditation is based on:

	Self-evaluation against general criteria and specific requirements specified in the relevant occupational curriculum components (subjects and or modules)
	A culture of self-regulation and strong links to relevant professional, occupational and industry bodies and associations will be encouraged to maintain and raise standards.  The process includes the following steps which can lead to provisional, conditional or full accreditation of the provider:  (See flowcharts below)

Click here to see SANC ACCREDITATION PROCESS flowchart

Click here to see CHE ACCREDITATION PROCESS flowchart

6.    OUTCOMES OF ACCREDITATION

The review panel first evaluates the programme(s) against each individual criterion as set out in the Criteria for Programme Accreditation.  The following categories are used to classify the results in each instance:

a)    Commend/Accredit: the minimum standards specified in the criterion were fully met and, in addition, good practices and innovation were identified in relation to the criterion

b)    Meets minimum standards/Accredit:  Minimum standards as specified in the criteria were met

c)    Needs improvement/ accredit provisionally:  Did not comply with all the minimum standards specified in the criterion.  Problems/weaknesses could be addressed in a short period of time

d)    Does not comply/ Not accredited:  Did not comply with the majority of the minimum standards specified in the criterion

7.    PERIOD OF ACCREDITATION

SANC:  New programmes will be accredited as follows:

	New one and two year programmes may be accredited for a maximum of three years.
	New programmes with a duration of three years and longer may be accredited for a maximum of six years

HEQC:  New programmes will be accredited as follows:

	New one and two year programmes may be accredited for a maximum of three years.
	New programmes with a duration of three years and longer may be accredited for a maximum of six years

8.    HANDLING OF AN APPLICATION THAT DOES NOT MEET ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS

Office of the Council sends a letter giving prospective provider another three (3) months to rectify outstanding requirements

Prospective provider may apply for an extension of up to an additional three (3) months

9.    HANDLING OF RE-SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION

Office of the Council reviews re-submission and decides on the following:

	to send re-submission to Accreditation committee
	to schedule further accreditation visit; or
	to decline application

10.    APPEALS

Appeals are dealt with in line with the Appeals Policy and Procedure.  An applicant provider or organisation may access the SANC Appeals Policy and Procedure should the organisation be dissatisfied with any of the following during the accreditation process:

	the accreditation decision
	the accreditation process itself; or
	the evidence requirements for accreditation

NB:  The policy stipulates time frames for appeals.  If no appeal is forthcoming within the specified period, the results will be accepted as final and binding.

11.    PROVIDER MONITORING AND AUDITS

Providers will receive a monitoring visit in the first year after accreditation and will be audited at least once per accreditation period.

Additional monitoring and auditing will take place at the discretion of SANC.  Such monitoring and auditing can take place without prior notice.

Any queries regarding above-mentioned circular must be directed to:

Dr. S. W. Mkhize: Senior Manager: Education and Training

Phone: 012  420-1022

E-mail:  [email protected]

Signed
Mr. T. Mabuda
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

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Implementation of Revised Fees Payable to the South African Nursing Council for Accreditation of Nursing Education Institutions

PURPOSE

The purpose of this circular is to inform providers of Nursing Education and Training, Provincial Departments of Health and stakeholders about the implementation of revised fees payable to the South African Nursing Council (SANC) for accreditation of nursing education institutions (NEI’s).  This circular amends South African Nursing Council Circular 4/2012.

IMPLEMENTATION

The Council, at its meeting of 28-29 March 2012, approved the fees stated below.  The revised fees are in accordance with the cost of processing applications, conducting accreditation visits and service to the nursing education institutions.

1.    Motivation for fees payable for the accreditation of nursing education institution

1.1    The SANC, as an accredited Education and Training Quality Assurance body (ETQA), is required to promote the quality of education and training amongst the nursing education and training providers.

1.2    These quality promotion activities have impact on the administrative and resources requirements, with considerable financial implications.

1.3    With the implementation of these fees for accreditation, the South African Nursing Council will be in position to improve on the quality and quantity of resources required for the accreditation process.

2.    Accreditation fees

2.1    Fees are determined in the following manner:

N.B.:    Please note that these fees are subject to 14% VAT.  The above fee structure is applicable with effect from 1 June 2012.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Nursing education institutions are assessed in the following manner:

	Accreditation of a new nursing education institution (programme/s offered; number of intakes per programmes).
	Routine accreditation of existing nursing education institution (programme/s offered, number of intake of students per intake).
	Application of additional learning facilities or relocation.
	Application of additional clinical facilities or relocation.
	Application for additional programme/s to be offered.

Signed
Mr T Mabuda
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

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