Accredited Quantity Surveying Viability Planner Course (NQF 5) in South Africa
The Occupational Certificate: Quantity Surveying Viability Planner is Wheelset Academy's focused route into construction cost estimation and financial viability work — performing project cost estimation, conducting a viability study and producing a viability report, working as a Quantity Surveyor Assistant alongside a qualified Quantity Surveyor during the pre-construction phase of a project.
It's registered at NQF Level 5 with 53 credits (SAQA ID 124426, curriculum code 214904-001-00-01), with the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) as quality partner for both development and assessment. If you've been searching for a "quantity surveying viability planner course South Africa" or a genuine, QCTO-aligned entry route into cost estimation and viability study work, this is that qualification — delivered from Wheelset Academy's Pretoria and Kempton Park branches.
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What the NQF 5 Quantity Surveying Viability Planner course covers
The 53-credit Part Qualification is built from 2 knowledge modules (16 credits), 3 practical skill modules (20 credits) and 2 work experience modules (17 credits).
Knowledge modules · 16 credits
- Project scope (5 credits) — the Quantity Surveyor/Quantity Surveyor Assistant/Quantity Surveying Viability Planner profession, the environments they operate in, quantity surveying terms and terminology, project scope, and the contract between the Quantity Surveyor and client
- Project cost estimation and viability planning and reporting (11 credits) — project cost estimation, an introduction to viability studies, the project viability study itself, and the viability report
Practical skill modules · 20 credits
- Participate as a Quantity Surveyor Assistant in project scope definition, pre-construction phase (5 credits)
- Participate as a Quantity Surveyor Assistant in cost estimation, performing a viability study and completing a viability study report (10 credits)
- Participate in self-development processes — communication, time management and teamwork (5 credits)
Work experience modules · 17 credits
- Processes to participate as a Quantity Surveyor Assistant in project scope definition, pre-construction phase (5 credits)
- Processes to participate as a Quantity Surveyor Assistant in cost estimation, performing a viability study and completing a viability study report (12 credits)
On completion, learners receive a Letter of Competence from Wheelset Academy, followed by an Occupational Certificate issued by the QCTO.
What the viability study and report actually cover
Most pages that mention "viability studies" describe the concept in one sentence. This qualification is specific about what you actually calculate and produce — the same detail a working Quantity Surveyor Assistant needs on a real project.
Cost estimation calculations
Brick, mortar, brickforce, plaster, paint and roofing material quantities; unit rates for materials, plant, equipment, labour, overheads and sub-contractors; total daily cost, profit, contingencies and selling price.
Viability study steps
Analysing the client's brief and site details, market research (trends, competitor and demand/supply analysis), estimating total capital outlay and total project income, a cash-flow projection for the development period, and assessing risk.
Returns and figures
For a letting scheme: initial return, payback period, internal rate of return (IRR), net present value (NPV) and accumulative residual cashflow. For a selling scheme: return on capital investment, return on equity and return on cash.
Viability report structure
Cover, contents page, executive summary (project description, programme assumptions, project areas, financial analysis per m² and estimated returns) and supporting documentation covering capital outlay, income, returns and annexures.
Real cost estimation and viability work, not just theory
- Contribute to identifying project stakeholders, their roles, needs and expectations, and verify project deliverables against them
- Identify assumptions, constraints, exclusions, inclusions and deliverables of a project, and compile scope documentation for stakeholder approval
- Interpret and analyse construction drawings and specifications to enable cost estimation
- Calculate brick, mortar, brickforce, plaster, paint and roofing material quantities
- Calculate unit rates per work item for materials, plant, equipment, labour, overheads and sub-contractors, then determine total cost, profit, contingencies and selling price
- Analyse a client's brief, market trends and the competitive environment, then perform a market viability exercise
- Estimate a project's total capital outlay and total project income, and prepare a cash-flow projection for the development period
- Assess risks, uncertainties and financial returns for a proposed construction project
- Produce a complete viability study report — cover, contents page, executive summary and supporting documentation
- Perform PA-related duties for the quantity surveyor: telephone and meeting etiquette, setting up meetings, preparing documentation and reporting back
This Part Qualification vs. the full professional Quantity Surveyor route
This isn't a substitute for a full quantity surveying degree, and it doesn't pretend to be — use this to see exactly what it is and isn't.
| Consideration | Quantity Surveying Viability Planner (this course) | Full professional Quantity Surveyor route |
|---|---|---|
| Formal recognition | NQF Level 5-registered Part Qualification (SAQA ID 124426), 53 credits, QCTO-aligned, CETA quality partner | A 3–4 year BSc/BTech Quantity Surveying degree, plus professional registration with SACQSP |
| Entry requirement | NQF Level 4, with mathematics and science | Matric with mathematics and physical science, meeting a university's admission points |
| Depth | 2 knowledge + 3 practical + 2 work-experience modules focused specifically on scope definition, cost estimation, viability studies and reporting | A full curriculum spanning construction law, measurement, procurement, contract administration and economics, across several years |
| Occupational focus | Prepares learners for the OFO-registered occupation of Quantity Surveyor Assistant (OFO 214904), working under a qualified Quantity Surveyor | Prepares learners to become a fully registered, independently practising professional Quantity Surveyor |
| Best suited to | Someone wanting focused, faster entry into cost-estimation and viability-study support work | Someone committed to the full, multi-year professional Quantity Surveyor career path |
Contact admissions to find out which route fits you — see the contact details below.
A registered SAQA qualification
Page information reviewed: 11 September 2026.
SAQA ID 124426
This is a real, checkable SAQA qualification ID. The qualification is Registered with SAQA (decision EXCO 0632/25), valid from 3 June 2025 to 3 June 2030, with a last enrolment date of 3 June 2031 and a last achievement date of 3 June 2034. The Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) is the quality partner for both development and assessment.
View this qualification on the SAQA database · QCTO · Wheelset Academy accreditations page
Quantity Surveying Viability Planner career opportunities
The qualification prepares a Quantity Surveying Viability Planner to perform project cost estimation and financial viability planning and reporting, participating as a Quantity Surveyor Assistant — matching the OFO occupational code 214904: Quantity Surveyor Assistant.
- Quantity Surveyor Assistant
- Quantity Surveying Viability Planner
- Junior Cost Estimator
- Viability/Feasibility Study Assistant
- Construction Cost Clerk
- Property Development Assistant
Job titles vary by employer and experience.
Quantity Surveying Viability Planner course FAQs
What is the Quantity Surveying Viability Planner course?
It's a registered Part Qualification (Occupational Certificate) at NQF Level 5 with 53 credits (SAQA ID 124426), covering the theory, practical skills and workplace experience needed to participate as a Quantity Surveyor Assistant in project scope definition, cost estimation, conducting a viability study and producing a viability report.
What are the entry requirements?
The registered entry requirement is an NQF Level 4 qualification, with mathematics and science.
How many credits does the qualification carry, and how long does it take?
53 credits in total: 16 knowledge, 20 practical skill and 17 work experience credits, delivered full-time over 5 months.
What does the viability study and report actually cover?
Specific, calculable content: cost estimation (brick, mortar, brickforce, plaster, paint and roofing quantities, unit rates, total daily cost, contingencies and selling price), a full viability study (client brief, site analysis, market research, capital outlay, project income and a cash-flow projection), the actual return figures used (initial return, payback period, IRR, NPV and accumulative residual cashflow for a letting scheme; return on capital investment, equity and cash for a selling scheme), and the structure of the finished viability report itself.
Is this the same as becoming a fully qualified, professional Quantity Surveyor?
No. This is a focused, 53-credit Part Qualification for the entry-level occupation of Quantity Surveyor Assistant (OFO 214904), working under a qualified Quantity Surveyor. A fully registered professional Quantity Surveyor requires a 3–4 year degree and registration with the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP) — a separate, longer route.
Is this qualification's registration current?
Yes. The qualification is Registered with SAQA (decision EXCO 0632/25), valid from 3 June 2025 to 3 June 2030, with a last enrolment date of 3 June 2031 and a last achievement date of 3 June 2034.
Who developed this qualification?
The Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) is the quality partner for both development and assessment of this QCTO occupational qualification.
Does this qualification lead to further study?
This Part Qualification currently has no additional articulation route to a further qualification.
What jobs can I get after this course?
Graduates may pursue roles such as Quantity Surveyor Assistant, Junior Cost Estimator and Viability/Feasibility Study Assistant, working alongside a qualified Quantity Surveyor.
How do I apply?
Review current fees and intake information, then apply online through Wheelset Academy's application page.
Ready to work in cost estimation and viability planning?
Apply for the Quantity Surveying Viability Planner course, or compare it against Wheelset Academy's other qualifications first.
Qualification information reviewed: 11 September 2026. View current course fees before enrolling.