VerifiedA learnership has two halves: the theory you study and the workplace practice you are assessed on. The theory half moves online easily. The workplace half rarely does, which is why a programme advertised as fully online is usually blended: online classes, with tasks you do for a real employer. Knowing that difference saves you from applying for something that does not exist.
What can and cannot be done from home
| Part of the programme | Can it be remote? |
|---|---|
| Classroom theory and assignments | Yes. Most providers use a learning platform with live sessions and recorded lessons. |
| Portfolio of evidence | Usually. You upload the proof of the work you have done. |
| Workplace practice | Only for desk work such as IT support, administration, sales or contact centre roles. |
| Final assessment | Sometimes online, sometimes at a venue or with an assessor watching you work. |
| Trades, mining, pharmacy, retail floor work | No. These are assessed on site, and an advert claiming otherwise is a warning sign. |
What a remote learnership pays
The allowance does not change because you study at home. The same legal minimum applies, set out in the February 2026 national minimum wage notice and explained on our learnerships homepage. Providers in digital and financial skills often advertise more than the minimum, and some cover data.
| NQF level | Credits earned | At least, a week | About, a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| NQF 1 to 2 | 0 - 120 | R455,00 | R1 971,52 |
| NQF 1 to 2 | 121 - 240 | R909,94 | R3 942,77 |
| NQF 3 | 0 - 120 | R455,00 | R1 971,52 |
| NQF 3 | 121 - 240 | R856,94 | R3 713,12 |
| NQF 3 | 241 - 360 | R1 402,87 | R6 078,64 |
| NQF 4 | 0 - 120 | R455,00 | R1 971,52 |
| NQF 4 | 121 - 240 | R910,04 | R3 943,20 |
| NQF 4 | 241 - 360 | R1 402,87 | R6 078,64 |
| NQF 4 | 361 - 480 | R2 047,41 | R8 871,43 |
| NQF 5 to 8 | 0 - 120 | R455,00 | R1 971,52 |
| NQF 5 to 8 | 121 - 240 | R985,76 | R4 271,30 |
| NQF 5 to 8 | 241 - 360 | R1 474,90 | R6 390,74 |
| NQF 5 to 8 | 361 - 480 | R2 077,79 | R9 003,06 |
| NQF 5 to 8 | 481 - 600 | R2 654,04 | R11 499,96 |
Schedule 2 of the National Minimum Wage Act, as amended by Government Notice R.7083 (Government Gazette 54075 of 3 February 2026) and binding from 1 March 2026. The monthly column is the weekly figure × 4.333, the conversion the same notice uses. Employers may pay more than this, and many do. Read the notice.
Providers that run online or blended programmes
| Provider | Fields | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|
| iLearn | Business administration, sales, IT support | Application page |
| SpecCon Holdings | Business, IT and generic management, run remotely | Application page |
| MICT SETA and its providers | Software development, data, cyber security | Application page |
| FASSET and its providers | Accounting, tax and payroll | Application page |
| NEMISA | Digital skills and media, with the provinces | Application page |
| TFG | Retail and head-office YES placements, tech-enabled | Application page |
We list providers that publish their own application pages. We are not paid by any of them, we cannot place you, and no provider on this list should ever ask you for money.
What you need before you apply
- A device you can work on. A phone is enough to apply, but not to complete an IT or administration programme. Ask the provider what it expects and whether it lends equipment.
- Data or a connection you can rely on. Some providers give a monthly data allocation. Ask before you accept a place.
- A quiet place to sit for live sessions. Attendance is usually marked, and missed sessions cost you credits.
- An email address you check. Nearly every remote programme communicates by email only.
- Your certified documents as clear PDFs, each usually under 2MB.
Four signs an online learnership is not real
- It charges a registration, placement or certificate fee. Funded learnerships never do.
- It promises a qualification in a few weeks. A learnership is a full qualification and takes 12 months or more.
- It cannot name the SETA that registers the qualification, or the employer that hosts the workplace part.
- It asks for your ID and bank details before you have signed a learnership agreement.
If you want office-based work experience rather than a qualification, look at YES placements instead, and if you already hold a diploma or degree look at internships.
Frequently asked questions
Are there fully online learnerships in South Africa?
A few, in IT support, software development, administration and sales, where the work itself is done on a computer. Everything else is blended: online theory with workplace practice on site.
Do online learnerships pay the same stipend?
Yes. The minimum allowance in Schedule 2 of the National Minimum Wage Act applies however the training is delivered, starting at R455 a week and rising with the credits you have earned.
Will the provider give me a laptop and data?
Some do, some do not. It is not a legal requirement, so ask before you accept a place, and get the answer in writing.
Is an online learnership qualification worth the same?
Yes, if the qualification is registered on the National Qualifications Framework and the provider is accredited. Ask for the SAQA qualification ID and the accreditation number.