The purpose of the qualification is to build the knowledge and skills required by learners in End User Computing. It is intended to empower learners to acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes and values required to operate confidently in the End User Computing environment in the South African community and to respond to the challenges of the economic environment.

The qualification addresses the need in the workplace for nationally recognised qualifications, based on unit standards, which will allow learners with workplace experience in End User Computing to obtain recognition for prior learning.

The qualification provides a framework for learners to develop skills that will enable them to become competent in End User Computing. It introduces theoretical concepts of End User Computing and requires the application thereof, to develop a range of skills that will enable learners to be better-informed workers in their chosen industry. It provides a balanced learning experience that lays the foundation for access to further education, life long learning and to productive employment.

The National Certificate in IT: End User Computing at NQF Level 3, is intended for learners already employed or new learners entering the workplace, requiring End User Computing skills. The unit standards of this qualification may be added to other industry qualifications to provide an End User Computing focus with comparison, choice, interpretation and the application of knowledge.

The National Certificate in IT: End User Computing - NQF Level 3, is designed to meet the needs of learners who require end user computing skills in all sectors of the economy, as End User Computing is an essential skill in any business today. The qualification is designed to accommodate both learners in formal education and learners already employed. It aims to develop informed and skilled learners that can apply the acquired skills in any industry and should contribute towards improved productivity and efficiency in the workplace.

The purpose of this qualification is to build a foundational entry into the field of Computer Sciences and Information Technology, specifically into the field of Systems Development, covering basic knowledge needed for further study in the field of Systems Development at Higher Education Levels.

The qualification can be acquired in the traditional way of formal study as well as in the workplace, through learnerships. Acquiring the qualification through learnerships has the potential of addressing the problems of the past, where newly qualified people getting into the industry struggled to get employment, because they were required to have practical experience. The workplace experience can now be gained while acquiring the qualification through the various learnership schemes that are planning to use this qualification.

A qualifying learner at this level will be a well-rounded entry-level Systems Developer with a good fundamental knowledge of the Information Technology field, coupled with interpersonal and business skills, preparing for later specialisation in Systems Development fields.

This qualification has been formulated such that it reflects the workplace-based needs of the Information Technology Industry as expressed by its stakeholders. The input has been used to ensure that the qualification provides the learner with accessibility to be employed within the IT Industry.

The introduction of national qualifications in Information Technology based on unit standards will allow learners to qualify for a national qualification by accumulating the required credits via short learning programmes or workplace practical experience or both. It also allows learners to achieve the qualifications through recognition of prior learning and/or learnerships schemes, overcoming past barriers in the methods of achieving formal qualifications.