2004 Volume 3
To Train or Not to Train?
By Peter HeitmannShould one wish to apply for a firearm licence, the applicant needs to do a course with an accredited institution.
An accredited institution is a company accredited by POSLEC SETA (Police, Private Security, Legal and Correctional Sector Education and Training Authority) and the SAPS as a training provider. This company must use a SABS & SAPS accredited shooting range.
A private person cannot be accredited as a training provider, only a company may. The company must also have proper classroom facilities. Occupational Health & Safety, Basic Conditions of Employment etc. all apply and must all be maintained.
The service provider will teach an applicant a "skill" in accordance with ETQA (Education and Training Quality Assurance) Unit Standard. A Unit Standard is a "specification" which stipulates the result (outcome) the applicant must be able to perform, having completed the said course.
All training must be done in accordance with Outcomes Based Education.
This "result" entitles the applicant to a number of points, accumulation of which can result in sufficient points for a National Certificate/ Diploma/ Degree. In the case of Unit Standard 10748 (Use of a handgun) the credits are 10 points. A National Certificate in the use of firearms is 155 points. This "qualification" is then registered on the NQF (National Qualification Framework), which can be accessed to verify qualifications of the applicant.
This is why POSLEC SETA is involved. Their job is to ensure that all education/ training is done proficiently to the results of the Unit Standard. They issue the proficiency certificate.
Now, their predicament:
The Act says that an applicant only needs to do a theoretical test on re-application for a licence. This is not good enough for them, as they have no proof of actual proficiency. They, therefore, will not issue the "qualification" unless they have solid proof of proficiency. This is why no certificates are being issued yet.
Quite frankly, as an instructor, I would not be happy to qualify an applicant if I have not seen them shoot either.
This "proof" will be reflected/ collected in a Portfolio of Evidence, which the training provider has to keep for 6yrs, in case someone wishes to challenge the evidence.
This portfolio of evidence has to be assessed by a registered assessor before any certificate will be issued. This is to confirm proper training.
A moderator, who confirms consistency by the assessor, then samples the assessor's findings. The learner can appeal any of these results. A verifier (appointed by POSLEC), for consistency, monitors the moderator's results.
After an applicant receives their proficiency certificate from the POSLEC SETA, they may apply for their competencey certificate from the SAPS. This is where they do the background checks etc. Should the applicant get their competencey certificate, they may then apply for a firearm licence.
Should an application be refused, the "qualification" remains.
As an existing firearm owner, you may ask your training provider to assess you on RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning). This will give you "credit" for what you already know. /
Normally, the training provider will then only require you to prove your knowledge in the form of a test and a practical shoot. You would then not have to sit through the 2 days of classes.
Should you however not be declared competent, you would then have to re-do the full course.
Peter is a member of Firearms Training Academy and may be contacted at 021-551-3471.We'd like to give clarity to wording used in this article under the sub-heading "Now, their predicament." We published the following: "The Act says that an applicant only needs to do a theoretical test on re-application for a licence."
For re-licensing of firearms licensed under the Arms and Ammuntion Act, what is required is "the prescribed test on this Act" (section 9(2)(q)). This is a test on the law in the Act and the regulations.