Qualifications To Become A Nurse In South Africa
To qualify as a nurse, you can do one of the following:
- a four-year bachelor degree in nursing
- a three-year diploma
- a one-year higher certificate in auxiliary nursing
- one-year postgraduate advanced diploma in nursing and midwifery on top of your degree or diploma.
After you get your qualification, you have to register with the South African Nursing Council (SANC).
You can choose to complete your qualification at a public tertiary institution or at a private nursing college. These private colleges, such as Mediclinic, Netcare Education or Life College, offer the same diplomas or degrees as the universities and universities of technology.
Bachelor Degree in Nursing Sciences (BCur)
Entry Requirements:
It is recommended that you take Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences, but this is not compulsory at all institutions. You will need a National Senior Certificate (NSC) or equivalent qualification at exit level 4, with:
- English (50-59%)
- First additional or home language (50-59%)
- Life Sciences (50-59%)
- Maths Literacy (50-59%)
- Life Orientation (50-59%)
What does the course look like?
The BCur usually prepares students to work in four specific fields:
- general nursing (working in hospitals and medical practices)
- community nursing
- psychiatric nursing
- midwifery (caring for mothers and babies)
Your course will have a practical component. You will learn how to do the kind of practical work you will need to be able to do when you become a nurse. In the theoretical component, you will learn the theory of what it is to be a nurse and you will study medical, biological and natural sciences, psychological and social sciences, and pharmacology so that you have the knowledge you need to be a competent and successful healthcare professional.
Diploma in Nursing
Entry Requirements
You will need a National Senior Certificate (NSC) or equivalent qualification at exit level 3 or 4, depending on the institution, to qualify to study this course. However, it is not as important that you have taken mathematics and/or physical sciences as it is for the BCur. You will also need:
- English (50-59%)
- First additional or home language (50-59%)
- Four other subjects (50-59%)
- Life Orientation (50-59%)
What does the course look like?
During this course, you will cover similar work to what you would cover in the BCur degree. You will go less in-depth with the work as the course is shorter. You will learn how to provide nursing care, apply your knowledge in the nursing practice, diagnose and treat minor illnesses and provide reproductive health care.
Higher Certificate in Auxillary Nursing
Entry Requirements:
You will need a National Senior Certificate (NSC) or equivalent qualification at exit level 3 or 4, depending on the institution, to qualify to study this course, however, it is not as important that you have taken mathematics, physical sciences or life sciences as it is for the BCur. You will also need:
- English (50-59%)
- First additional or home language (50-59%)
- Four other subjects (50-59%)
- Life Orientation (50-59%)
What does the course look like?
This course will teach you how to apply your knowledge of the theory, the practice of basic nursing and how to asses, plan, implement and evaluate basic nursing care for individuals and groups.
Postgraduate Advanced Diploma in Nursing
Entry Requirements
In order to enrol in a course like this you have to have completed:
- Bachelor in Nursing Sciences (or equivalent) or a degree and comprehensive diploma
- Diplomas in nursing and midwifery
- Advanced diploma in midwifery, staff nurse and advanced diploma
You also have to have some experience to apply to this course – excluding your community service year. You have to have two years of experience as a Professional Nurse and/or Midwife (including at least one year in the field of speciality within the last five years).
What does the course look like?
This course is designed to teach you how to work like a nurse who is clinically focused, well-informed, competent and innovative. At the end of this course, you will have specialised as a nurseor midwife/accoucheur and you will be able to give well-informed scientific care to your patients.