In Namibia, there are two types of higher education institutions, public and private. These two types of institutions offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. You can get a competency certificate through the polytechnic by looking at the requirements and qualifications required and enrol for a course like electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, automotive etc.

 Competency certificate for high school leavers

If you are a high school leaver who already completed your grade 12 matric but you want to do further studies, then you can go for a competency certificate. This is when you take the subjects that relate to your career and apply for a certificate in them.

You will be tested on the knowledge of these subjects and if the assessors think that you have enough knowledge about those subjects, then they will issue a certificate for you. In order to get these certificates, there must be an application form filled by yourself before submitting it with all other required documents at the designated offices where applications are being accepted.

What is a competency certificate? 

A competency certificate is a certificate issued by the Ministry of Education in Namibia. The Competency Certificate shows that you have successfully completed your course. It is an important document for any person to have, especially if they want to move on to another course or get into the job market.

How long will it take to get a competency certificate in Namibia?

A competency certificate is not something a person can get after one year, it takes two years to get a competency certificate.

It depends on the course you choose and also what field you want to work in. For example, if you want to be an electrician then it will take two years for you to be certified as an electrician but if you are planning on being an engineer or a civil engineer, then it will take four years for you to get certified because these are highly skilled fields and require more time and effort than others.

You can get a competency certificate in many fields such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or even IT support technician (ITST) however some professional bodies may require additional qualifications such as advanced certificates or diplomas before they allow someone with only a bachelor’s degree into their programs.

Some employers prefer hiring people who have completed higher education so that they can give them higher salaries compared to those employees who have just completed secondary school education only worth $10 per month which is insufficient enough for living expenses here in Namibia