The certificate courses are modularised and aimed at opening up avenues for citizens to be skilled in particular specialised areas of one’s interest. These certificate courses are categorised into three as follows:
- National Certificates
- National Junior Vocational Certificates
- Competency National Certificates
National Certificates
The courses are offered at Technical, Vocational and Farm Institutions for course duration of two academic years and equated as Advanced level equivalent. A learner is allowed to complete the first year of study and go to the industry or world of work for employment or job creation. She/he is required to return to the same Institution to complete the course within five years from the time of first enrolment. The graduates qualify as crafts men and women.
The entry requirement to these courses shall be holders of Uganda Certificate of Education or Uganda Junior Technical Certificate or Community Polytechnic Certificate of Education or a degree or diploma in any a specialised field.
The course assessment has a combination of 40% continuous assessment at Institutional level (Laboratory tests, hands on practical involvement, assignments and class tests) and 60% National final examinations (hands on practical, presentations, pen and paper examinations)by Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB)
National Certificate in Agriculture (NCA) has been reviewed and rolled out.
The list of the courses being reviewed at National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) BTVET department, include;
- National Certificate in Building construction (NCBC)
- National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics (NCAM)
- National Certificate in Electrical Installation Systems and Maintenance (NCEM)
- National Certificate in Welding and Fabrication (NCWF)
- National Certificate in Plumbing (NCPL)
- National Certificate in Wood Work Technology (NVWT)
- National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (NCME)
- National Certificate in Electronics Systems (NCES)
- National Certificate in Painting and Decoration (NCPD)
- National Certificate in Shoe Making (NCSM)
- National Certificate in Tailoring and Fashion Design (NCFD)
- National Certificate in Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAG)
- National Certificate in Ceramics Manufacture (NCCM)
- National Certificate in Library and Information Management (NCLM)
- National Certificate in Secretarial and Records Management (NCSR)
- National Certificate in Catering and Events Management (NCCE)/ Hotel and Institutional Catering
- National Certificate in Cosmetology and Beautification (NCCB)
National Junior Vocational Certificates
The courses are offered at Community Polytechnics, Technical, Vocational and Farm Schools for a course duration of three academic years but equated as Ordinary Level equivalent. A learner is allowed to complete the first year of study and go to the industry or world of work for employment or job creation. If she/he so wishes to return to the same institution to complete the course. The graduates qualify as artisans.
The entry requirement to these courses shall be holders of Primary Leaving Examinations Certificate.
The course assessment has a combination of 40% continuous assessment at the school level (laboratory tests, hands-on practical involvement, assignments and class tests) and 60% national final examinations (hands-on practical, presentations, written examinations) by the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB).
The curricula being developed at National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) BTVET department, including for this level, is the Community Polytechnic Certificate in Agriculture (CPCA)
Competence National Certificates
The courses are offered at Technical, Vocational and Farm Institutions or Community Polytechnics, Technical, Vocational and Farm Schools for course duration ranging from three months to seven years.
These courses include:
- Fish Farming
- Organic Fruit Farming
- Vegetable Farming
- Pig Rearing
- Animal Feed Production
- Poultry Production
- Rabbit Production
- Bee Production
- Mushroom Production
- Farm Tree Production
The main purpose of these short courses is to skill citizens.
The entry requirement to these courses shall be those without Primary Leaving Examination Certificate but have interest, holders of Primary Leaving Examinations Certificate, Uganda Certificate of Education and any other qualifications.
A learner is allowed to offer particular modules of his/her interest and allowed go to the industry or world of work for employment or job creation on the attainment of required competencies. She/he shall be allowed to return to an institution to offer another set of modules of the chosen course. The graduates qualify as apprentices, with a Competence National Certificate which is not classified.
A learner may offer the outlined modules of the course in sets and upon completion, they lead to the award of a classified National Certificate.
