WATCH OUT FOR THOSE “BOGUS NURSING SCHOOLS” AND “BOGUS NURSING PROGRAMMES”

It is that time of the year when many school leavers, seeking opportunities to better their future, are exposed to being lured into paying huge amounts of money and enrolling at institutions purporting to offer nursing education programmes when they are not accredited by the South African Nursing Council (SANC).

A list of institutions that are accredited to offer nursing education programmes are published on the SANC website: www.sanc.co.za/education-institutions. Details of such publications include the name of the accredited institution, a nursing programme the institution is accredited for and the number of students allowed per intake.

The list is updated as and when other institutions apply, comply with accreditation requirements and get accredited. Students, parents and the public are implored NOT to pay money into accounts of institutions claiming to offer nursing programmes before verifying information with the SANC.

Students who are enrolled into programmes that are not accredited by the SANC, even if the institution is accredited for other programmes, will not be registered with the South African Nursing Council and education and training undergone will not be recognised by the SANC.

Be warned of Institutions that recruit students into: “pre-nursing” programme as a pre-requisite for any nursing education programme. There is no such legitimate programme, it is a scam.

Please note that legacy (old) nursing programmes have been phased out. The end date of these nursing programmes was on 30 November 2023 when the last examinations were written.

The SANC has introduced the following nursing programmes:

• Higher Certificate in Nursing, which is a one-year programme.
• Diploma in Nursing, which is a three-year programme.
• Bachelor of Nursing, a four-year programme at a university.

Important: Admission to these programmes depends on grading of your National Senior certificate whether you meet the minimum requirements for admission to a Higher certificate or Diploma or Bachelor`s Degree study as gazetted for admission to higher education.

Please report suspicious institutions and advertisements to the SANC through the SANC Fraud Hotline @