Wheelset Academy's Information Technology Courses currently cover five accredited occupational pathways: the Artificial Intelligence Software Developer qualification at NQF Level 5, the Data Science Practitioner qualification at NQF Level 5, the Database Administrator qualification at NQF Level 5, a Software Development pathway running from Software Developer (NQF 5) through the focused Software Tester part qualification (NQF 5) to Software Engineer (NQF 6), and the three-level Cybersecurity pathway running from Analyst (NQF 5) through Practitioner (NQF 6) to Chief Information Officer: Cybersecurity (NQF 7).
All five are QCTO-aligned occupational certificates, not generic short courses, so what you study maps to a registered South African qualification rather than a certificate of attendance. Use this page to see which IT course matches your current qualification level and career direction before you apply.
Wheelset AcademyInformation Technology courses cover a lot of ground. Rather than one generic listing, each qualification family below links through to its own dedicated page with full module breakdowns, entry requirements and FAQs.
The Occupational Certificate: Artificial Intelligence Software Developer prepares learners to design, build, test and deploy AI solutions using Python, SQL, Machine Learning and Deep Learning.
Best suited to: learners who want a recognised qualification for building AI-powered software, not a single-topic short course.
View the AI Software Developer CourseA three-level occupational pathway: Cybersecurity Analyst (NQF 5), Cybersecurity Practitioner (NQF 6), and the Chief Information Officer: Cybersecurity leadership diploma (NQF 7).
Best suited to: learners building a structured, multi-level career path into cybersecurity, from foundational analyst work through to executive leadership.
Compare all 3 Cybersecurity CoursesThe Occupational Certificate: Software Developer prepares learners to build, test and deploy web, desktop and mobile applications using HTML5 and Python — the first level of Wheelset Academy's two-level Software Development pathway.
Best suited to: learners who want to build and ship applications first, with the option to progress into a broader systems-engineering qualification.
View the Software Developer CourseThe Occupational Certificate: Software Engineer covers system design, database design, project management and testing across the software lifecycle — the second level of Wheelset Academy's two-level Software Development pathway.
Best suited to: learners who want a broader systems-engineering qualification covering design, databases, project management and testing, not only application coding.
View the Software Engineer CourseThe Occupational Certificate: Software Tester is a focused 70-credit part qualification drawn from the Software Development pathway, training learners to assess the functionality of an application against client specifications through functional and non-functional testing.
Best suited to: learners who want an accredited route into software testing and QA specifically, without enrolling for the full Software Engineer qualification.
View the Software Tester CourseThe Higher Occupational Certificate: Database Administrator prepares learners to deploy database servers, perform backups and recovery, maintain database security and compliance, and monitor and optimise database performance.
Best suited to: learners who want a recognised qualification for keeping organisations' data available, secure and performant, not just querying someone else's database.
View the Database Administrator CourseThe Occupational Certificate: Data Science Practitioner prepares learners to collect, process, analyse, visualise and report on data using statistics, spreadsheets and visual analytics tools.
Best suited to: learners who want a recognised qualification for turning data into decisions, not just running someone else's dashboard.
View the Data Science Practitioner CourseMore Information Technology qualification families will be added to this page as they go live. If you can't find a specific IT topic here, contact admissions to ask what's currently offered.
Use the table to see how Wheelset Academy's five Information Technology qualification families differ before deciding where to start.
| Course family | Level | Structure | Typical entry point | Main focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Software Developer | NQF 5 | Single 209-credit qualification | NQF Level 4 | Building, testing and deploying AI solutions with Python, SQL, Machine Learning and Deep Learning |
| Data Science Practitioner | NQF 5 | Single 185-credit qualification | NQF Level 4 | Collecting, analysing, visualising and reporting on data using statistics and analytics tools |
| Software Developer | NQF 5 | 220 credits, first of 2 levels | NQF Level 4 | Building and deploying web, desktop and mobile applications with HTML5 and Python |
| Software Tester | NQF 5 | 70 credits, part qualification | NQF Level 4, ICT qualification, or 3 years' experience | Assessing application functionality against client specifications through functional and non-functional testing |
| Software Engineer | NQF 6 | 240 credits, second of 2 levels | NQF Level 4 | System design, database design, project management and testing across the software lifecycle |
| Database Administrator | NQF 5 | Single 120-credit qualification | NQF Level 4 with Computer Literacy | Deploying database servers, backups and recovery, database security and performance management |
| Cybersecurity Analyst | NQF 5 | 173 credits, first of 3 levels | NQF Level 4 | Network defence, cyber threats, risk and vulnerability assessment, detection and prevention |
| Cybersecurity Practitioner | NQF 6 | 120 credits, second of 3 levels | Cybersecurity Analyst NQF 5 or equivalent | Cybersecurity information analysis, threat analysis, cyber investigations |
| CIO: Cybersecurity | NQF 7 | 120 credits, third of 3 levels | NQF Level 6 in IT, Computer Science or Cybersecurity | Cybersecurity governance, leadership, policy, secure ICT and organisational resilience |
Entry equivalence, RPL, current intakes, delivery mode, fees and study schedules should be confirmed with Wheelset Academy before enrolment.
Organisations increasingly depend on software, data and secure systems to operate, which creates ongoing demand for people who can build intelligent applications and protect the systems those applications run on. AI development and cybersecurity are different disciplines, but both sit at the centre of that shift.
Wheelset Academy's IT qualifications are occupational certificates registered and quality-assured through the QCTO, so what you study maps to a recognised qualification rather than a private short course rebranded as a career pathway.
Whether you're building AI applications or defending systems against threats, the qualification has to combine technical knowledge, hands-on practice and workplace judgement — not just introduce the tools.
Page information reviewed: 14 August 2026.
The AI Software Developer course is developed with MICT SETA as quality partner (curriculum code 251201002); the Data Science Practitioner course also has MICT SETA as quality partner (SAQA ID 118708). The Software Developer (SAQA ID 118707) and Software Engineer (SAQA ID 119458) qualifications don't currently name a specific SETA quality partner on their own pages — confirm this directly before relying on it. The Software Tester part qualification (SAQA ID 119438) is drawn from the Software Engineer curriculum and names MICT SETA as development quality partner, and the Database Administrator qualification (SAQA ID 122661) names MICT SETA as quality partner for both development and assessment. The Cybersecurity Analyst qualification has MICT SETA as quality partner (SAQA ID 118986), while Practitioner and CIO: Cybersecurity have BANKSETA (SAQA IDs 122068 and 121968).
Search the SAQA database · Check QCTO accreditation · Wheelset Academy accreditations page
Wheelset Academy delivers its IT courses through two Gauteng branches. Contact admissions to confirm which qualification, class schedule and delivery method is currently available at your preferred branch.
Branch presence does not automatically mean every qualification is delivered at every branch on every intake. Confirm current availability before travelling or registering.
Job titles vary by employer, experience and specialisation. Each qualification family supports preparation for a different set of roles.
A qualification supports career preparation but does not guarantee a particular job title, salary or appointment.
Course fees, registration charges, payment plans, intake schedules and delivery methods can change by programme and academic period. Use Wheelset Academy's current fees information rather than relying on old search snippets or third-party course listings.
Five accredited occupational qualification pathways: the Artificial Intelligence Software Developer course (NQF 5), the Data Science Practitioner course (NQF 5), the Database Administrator course (NQF 5), a Software Development pathway (Software Developer NQF 5, the Software Tester part qualification NQF 5, and Software Engineer NQF 6), and the three-level Cybersecurity pathway (Analyst NQF 5, Practitioner NQF 6, CIO: Cybersecurity NQF 7).
They're Occupational Certificates aligned to QCTO occupational qualification standards, with MICT SETA and BANKSETA named as quality partners for some qualifications. Confirm Wheelset Academy's current provider accreditation scope, and the named quality partner for each specific qualification, before enrolling.
The AI Software Developer course teaches learners to design, build and deploy AI applications using Python, Machine Learning and Deep Learning. The Data Science Practitioner course focuses on analysing and visualising data to support decisions. The Database Administrator course focuses on deploying, securing, backing up and optimising databases. The Software Development pathway teaches learners to build, deploy, test and engineer applications and systems. The Cybersecurity pathway teaches learners to protect networks and information assets, assess risk, and investigate and respond to cyber threats. They're five different disciplines with different qualifications.
There's no rule against it, but each qualification has its own entry requirements, credits and time commitment. Speak to admissions about how studying more than one would work for your schedule and prior qualifications.
The entry-level qualifications across most pathways (AI Software Developer, Data Science Practitioner, Database Administrator, Software Developer, and Cybersecurity Analyst) require an NQF Level 4 qualification, such as matric, rather than prior IT work experience. The Software Tester part qualification can also be entered via an ICT-related qualification or three years' software development experience. More advanced levels, like Software Engineer or CIO: Cybersecurity, build on that foundation.
NQF Level 5 through NQF Level 7: AI Software Developer, Data Science Practitioner, Software Developer and Cybersecurity Analyst at NQF 5; Software Engineer and Cybersecurity Practitioner at NQF 6; and Chief Information Officer: Cybersecurity at NQF 7.
Yes. Wheelset Academy delivers from a Pretoria/Hatfield branch and a Kempton Park/Johannesburg branch. Confirm which qualification and schedule is currently offered at each branch with admissions.
Choose the qualification that matches your entry level, review the current fees and intake information on each course page, then submit your application through Wheelset Academy's online application page.
Start with your highest completed qualification and career direction. Wheelset Academy admissions can help you identify whether AI Software Developer or a Cybersecurity qualification is the right starting point.