| ABET | Adult Basic Education and Training |
| AFETISA | Association of Further Education and Training Institutions of South Africa |
| CAT | Continuous Assessment Task |
| CCFO | Critical-Cross Field Outcomes |
| CEPD | Centre for Education Policy Development |
| HE | Higher Education |
| CNAA | Council for National Academic Awards |
| CTP | Committee of Technikon Principals |
| DoE | Department of Education |
| DoL | Department of Labour |
| ECD | Early Childhood Development |
| ECSA | Engineering Council of South Africa |
| ELOAC | Exit Level Outcomes and Assessment Criteria |
| ETD | Education, Training and Development |
| FET | Further Education and Training |
| FETC | Further Education and Training Certificate |
| FETMIS | Further Education and Training Management Information System (DoE) |
| GEC/GETC | General Education (Training) Certificate |
| GET | General Education and Training |
| HEQC | Higher Education Quality Committee |
| HET | Higher Education and Training |
| HRD | Human Resource Development |
| InCCA | Inter-Consortium Credit Agreement |
| NACWC | National Access Consortium Western Cape |
| NCS | National Curriculum Statement |
| NCVQ | National Council for Vocational Qualifications |
| NGO | Non-Government Organization |
| NOCN | National Open College Network |
| NSA | National Skills Authority |
| NUCCAT | National Universities Consortium for Credit Accumulation and Transfer |
| OBE(T) | Outcomes-Based Education (and Training) |
| SADC | Southern African Development Community |
| SAUVCA | South African Universities’ Vice Chancellors’ Association |
| SETA | Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | SOC | Standards Occupational Class |
| CEEQ | Centre for the Evaluation of Education Qualifications |
| DQAD | Directorate Quality Assurance and Development |
| DSSD | Directorate Standards Setting and Development |
| ETQA | Educational and Training Quality Assurance Body |
| NLRD | National Learners’ Records Database |
| NQF | National Qualifications Framework |
| NSB | National Standards Body |
| PHEI | Private Higher Education Institution |
| QA | Quality Assurance |
| RPL | Recognition of Prior Learning |
| SAQA | South African Qualifications Authority |
| SGB | Standards Generating Body |
| CIDA | Canadian International Development Agency |
| DANIDA | Danish International Development Agency |
| EU | European Union |
| GTZ | German Technical Co-operation |
| NICATS | Northern Ireland Credit Accumulation and Transfer System |
| NVQ | National Vocational Qualification |
| NZQA | New Zealand Qualifications Authority |
| SCAA | Schools Curriculum Assessment Authority |
| SCOTCAT | Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme |
| SEEC | South East England Consortium |
| | AGRISETA | Agriculture Sector Education and Training Authority | |
| | BANKSETA | Banking Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | CETA | Construction Education and Training Authority | |
| | CHE | Council on Higher Education |
| | CHIETA | Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority |
| | CTFL SETA | Clothing, Textiles, Footwear and Leather Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | ESETA | Energy Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | ETDP SETA | Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | FASSET | Financial and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | FIETA | Forestry Industries Education and Training Authority |
| | | Food and Beverages Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | HPCSA | Health Professions Council of SA |
| | HWSETA | Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | INSETA | Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | ISETT | Information Systems, Electronics and Telecommunication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | LGWSETA | Local Government Water and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | MAPPP | Media, Advertising, Publishing, Printing and Packaging Sector education and Training Authority |
| | MERSETA | Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority |
| MQA | Mining Qualifications Authority |
| | PAB | Professional Accreditation Body of Health and Skincare |
| | PSETA | Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | SABPP | South African Board for Personnel Practice |
| | SAICA | South African Institute for Chartered Accountants |
| | SSETA | Services Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | SANC | South African Nursing Council |
| | SAPC | | South African Pharmacy Council | |
| | SASSETA | | Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority | |
| | Services SETA | Services Sector Education and Training Authority |
| | TETA | Transport Education and Training Authority |
| | THETA | Tourism and Hospitality Education and Training Authority |
| UMALUSI (GENFETQA) | General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Council |
| | W&RSETA | Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority |
