The Skills Development Act compels employers to train their employees and report on that training on an annual basis. In addition, it provides for learnerships (apprenticeships), which are occupationally directed learning. Learnerships are work-based learning programs, also referred to as "apprenticeships", "articles" or "training contracts" in the market. They consist of two elements - an education (formal classroom training) leg, and a training (workplace instruction) leg, with the emphasis on the on-the-job training component. They are therefore practical in nature and are intended to provide a structured approach to the experience gained by the aspiring professional. It also provides for consistency in the basic experience gained by professionals, while the classroom component provides a platform for consistent theoretical knowledge on the basics. Upon completion they lead to the awarding of a registered occupational qualification.

Once you have completed your training/learnership, the Academy will assist you in registering for your final summative assessment with the relevant Professional Body. You must pass that assessment in order to obtain the qualification. Once you have obtained the qualification, the relevant professional may confer a related professional designation on you.

You do not need to do anything extra to retain your qualification, but once a professional designation has been conferred on you, the Professional Body's requirements must be met in order for you to retain the designation. You must adhere to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements as stipulated by the Professional Body and in some cases there may be additional requirements such as the annual payment of a recertification fee.

A Skills Development Provider is a body registered with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations and is accredited to provide training that lead up to a registered national qualification.

An Assessment Quality Partner is the body which is responsible for the summative assessments of the related qualifications. These are typically the Professional Bodies for the related professions.