| 4.7.1. | The SACPCMP will assess and register applicants, based on their experience, knowledge and competencies, as prescribed in the registration requirements stipulated herein. A person will obtain registration once they have met the registration criteria in full. |
| 4.7.2. | The Council’s assessment processes are governed by the Criteria and Process for the Assessment of Competency for the Purpose of Registration. As such, the SACPCMP takes a zero-tolerance approach to any breaches in assessment standards and practices including Malpractice. Thus, if anyone is found guilty of Malpractice, they may face penalties as described in the Criteria and Process for the Assessment of Competency for the Purpose of Registration. |
| 4.7.3. | A sample of assessments are subject to moderation from time-to-time as stipulated in the Criteria and Process for the Assessment of Competency for the Purpose of Registration. Moderation outcomes may lead to changes in affected assessment outcomes. |
The following assessments are undertaken as part of the registration process:
| 4.7.4. | Eligibility assessment |
| (i) | Completed applications will be forwarded to SACPCMP approved assessors to undertake an eligibility assessment following the completion of the internal pre-assessment conducted by the Council administrators. |
| (ii) | An application will be assessed by two (2) assessors |
| (iii) | An assessment outcome may result in one of the following, which will be directly communicated to the applicant: |
| (a) | Proceed to the relevant Competency Assessment: |
Only a score of 60% and above will be considered as successful.
| (b) | Gain further relevant experience and/or training |
| (iv) | The outcomes of the above will be dependent on the following: |
| (a) | If there is common consensus amongst the assessors, then this becomes the decision to be communicated to the applicant. |
| (b) | For any applicant to proceed to an interview or examination, both assessors allocated to assess the application must recommend the applicant to proceed to an interview or examination. |
| (c) | If the assessors provide differing recommendations, the application is referred to a third assessor which will establish a majority outcome, which will then be the final outcome. |
| (v) | In the case of Candidates, the application will be verified by the SACPCMP administrator to determine, based on the supporting documentation provided, if the applicant is eligible for candidate registration. |
| 4.7.5. | Competency assessment |
| 4.7.4.1. | Professional Interview |
The purpose of the interview is to assess the applicant’s competency in Construction Project Management, Construction Management, Construction Mentorship, Construction Health and Safety or Building Inspection as well as any other Specified Category that may be prescribed from time to time together with their ability to accept professional responsibility for the work they perform.
| A. | Professional Interview preparation: |
| i. | Bookings for professional interview dates are opened on the SACPCMP registration portal. |
| ii. | Applicant must book and pay within three (3) months from being approved for professional interview stage to secure a date and time made available by the Council. |
| iii. | If a professional interview is not booked according to paragraph (ii) above a penalty fee may be added to the professional interview fees. |
| iv. | If a professional interview is not booked within 12 months of an applicant being approved for professional interview stage their application may be cancelled. |
| v. | The date of the interview is set and cannot be moved or cancelled. |
| vi. | The applicant is informed of the confirmed date and time of the interview at least five (5) working days in advance by the Council. |
| vii. | A panel of at least three (3) members is constituted for the interviews and one of these will be designated as the Chairperson. |
| viii. | The interview panel to receive the dossier of the interviewees at least one week in advance. |
| ix. | Interviews should take approximately two hours, but this does not preclude this time being more-or-less as circumstances may dictate. |
| B. | Online Professional Interview |
| i. | The Council conducts online professional interviews. |
| ii. | Applicants must be able to show proof of their identity at the interview by means of producing original documentation such as identification document, passport or driver's license for verification. |
| iii. | The applicant must complete, sign, and return the Consent of Recording form to the SACPCMP invigilator prior to the commencement of the interview. |
| iv. | The online professional interview cannot be taken in an open plan setup, or public area, such as an internet café. |
| v. | The room must have sufficient day light brightness. |
| vi. | The interviewee may not undergo the interview in a room that has audio surveillance. |
| vii. | The interviewee must be alone in the room. |
| viii. | The interviewee must ensure that they have sufficient data to maintain connectivity and that their laptop is fully charged with adequate backup power supply. |
| ix. | The laptop/desktop must have a functioning web camera (webcam) and microphone. |
| x. | The interviewee must indicate when there will be power interrupts (i.e. loadshedding) in the area during the interview. |
| xi. | The interviewee will be disqualified if they contravene any of these professional interview rules. |
| xii. | During the professional interview session the following must be adhered to: |
| − | No cell phones, recording devices or any other secondary devices must be in the room or test area. |
| − | The desk/table must be clear of any materials except the device on which the professional interview is being conducted. |
| − | No notes are allowed to be used by the interviewee during the interview. |
| − | Interviewee may not make any notes during the interview. |
| − | No one else can be in the room with the interviewee. |
| − | The room will be scanned (360˚) through the interviewee’s laptop web camera. The Chairperson may request the interviewee to conduct an additional room scan at any point during the interview if required. |
| − | The room in which the interview will be conducted must be well-lit, and the interviewee must be clearly visible at all times. |
| − | No dual screens/monitors are allowed. |
| − | The interviewee is not allowed to leave the view of the camera at any time during the professional interview. |
| − | No additional applications or internet sites may be used or accessed during the interview and as such the interview will be required to share their full screen on the virtual platform throughout the professional interview session. |
| i. | For purposes of enhancing the Assessment for Professional Competency all interviewees are required prior to their interview to sign a consent form for the recording of their interview and to provide their ID/Passport for purposes of their verification. |
| ii. | The Interview Panel members must declare any conflict of interest for each interview by completing the relevant form which must be submitted with their score sheet. If a conflict of interest is established that interview panel member must recuse themselves. |
| iii. | The Chairperson will conduct the Professional Interview Security Protocol (Annexure I) with the interviewee before the commencement of the interview. |
| iv. | The interviewee must declare that all requirements are adhered to, and should the interviewee be suspected of contravening any of these requirements then the interview will be stopped by the chairperson. |
| v. | The Chairperson will introduce the members of the panel to the interviewee and provide brief introductory remarks regarding the format of the interview. |
| vi. | The Chairperson confirms whether the interviewee is comfortable and ready to proceed with the interview. |
| vii. | The Chairperson will request the applicant to briefly introduce themselves in terms of experience and present a case study in the field of the category being applied for. The interviewee may be asked to elaborate on specific aspects. |
| viii. | The interview is conducted in terms of an interview guide which will be based on knowledge and competence. |
| ix. | At the end of the interview, interviewees will be asked if they believed whether they had a fair and objective interview. |
| x. | Should any of the panellists or the SACPCMP invigilator suspect a breach of these requirements, they must inform the chairperson who will pause the interview to discuss with the panel. |
| xi. | Any breach of the identified security protocol will result in an automatic suspension of the interview followed by an investigation into the actions by the interviewee by the Malpractice Panel, who will determine an appropriate action. |
| i. | During the professional interview an applicant will be assessed against the relevant Competency Standards Framework for the category of registration for which they have applied. |
| ii. | The interview panel will be utilising the relevant interview guide during the scoring of the applicant in respect of the category of registration they have applied. |
| i. | Each applicant will be independently scored by each panel member against the stipulated criteria. Each applicant will be assessed to determine their compliance with the SACPCMP criteria to be registered, with recommendations made accordingly. |
| ii. | After the conclusion of the interview, the scores from each panel member will be aggregated to arrive at a decision. |
| iii. | The possible outcomes of the Professional Interview are as follows: |
| • | Provisional approval or, |
| iv. | Only a score of 60% and above will be considered as successful. |
| v. | The interviewee will be notified of the decision of the panel within fourteen (28) working days following the interview. |
| vi. | If an applicant failed, the professional interview they are informed of the area(s) in which they have limitations and are advised to remediate in the particular area(s) for the period as prescribed in the interview outcome letter before re-applying to attend the professional interview. |
| vii. | If the applicant would like to re-apply to attend the professional interview after failing, they may do so after a minimum of six (6) months and a maximum of eight (8) months. Applicants will only have three (3) attempts at passing the professional interview. This means that applicants will only be permitted to re-apply to attend the professional interview three (3) times after which if they do not pass, they will be required to resubmit an application. |
| viii. | Those unsuccessful applicants must within 30 days notify the Council of their acceptance or rejection of the decision. |
The Council examinations provide a uniform standard to ensure that applicants from different educational backgrounds and work experience are assessed fairly, for professional competency. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient skills levels to ensure that a high standard in professional registration is portrayed and maintained.
| A. | Invitation To Online Examination: |
| i. | An applicant who is eligible for examination and who has met the prerequisites are required to write the Council examination as the assessment in determining professional competency. |
| ii. | Applicants who have been found eligible will pay via the online payment system or be invoiced for the examination fee. Upon receipt and allocation of the payment of the examination fee the applicant will be invited to book their examination online on any of the allocated dates as determined by the Council (on the annual registration calendar). |
| iii. | Once a booking has been made, the applicant’s booking is confirmed by e-mail or other means as Council may deem appropriate and will also be reflected on the applicant’s profile. |
| iv. | Any changes to the booking once made must be directed to the Examinations Administrator who will cancel the booking and provide a new invitation to the applicant. |
| v. | Applicants who cannot attend the booked exam must provide valid reasons. |
| vi. | All bookings for the specific exam will be closed five working days before the exam date. |
| vii. | Following the confirmation of the examination, communication is sent to the applicant regarding the requirements (how to guide) needed to be able to complete the online exam. |
| viii. | Applicants must book for an examination within three (3) months following their profiles being moved to exam stage. |
| ix. | If an examination is not booked according to paragraph (viii) above, a penalty fee may be added to the examination fees. |
| x. | If an examination is not booked within 12 months of an applicant being approved for examination stage, their application may be cancelled, and they may have to reapply by starting a new application. |
| B. | Sickness / Bereavement During Examination Time: |
| i. | Where an examination candidate falls sick during the examination, the examination candidate must ensure that the Examination Administrator is made aware of the sickness before leaving the examination session. |
| ii. | Applicants who are unable to attend an examination sitting because of illness or bereavement are also required to inform the Council within seven (7) working days from the date of the examination. |
| iii. | Applicants who fall sick or bereaved during exam times, but wish to write examinations, will be given a new opportunity to write the examination as determined by Council. |
| iv. | The applicant must prove that he/she fell sick with a certified original medical certificate detailing all information verifying that the candidate was examined by a Medical Doctor at the time of the illness. The date of the certificate must be appropriate for or match the examination date, and the certificate must show all details about the Medical Doctor, including the physical and postal address, telephone number, email and medical practice number for ease of reference. |
| v. | If absent due to bereavement, the applicant must provide a certified copy of the death certificate, verifying that the bereavement was during the same period as the examination. |
| vi. | Any request for examination consideration must include documentation verifying the circumstances. The written request, together with appropriate documentation, must be received by the Council office no later than seven (7) working days after the examination date. |
| C. | Postponement of Examinations |
| i. | Applicants CANNOT postpone or transfer their examination booking or fee from one session to the next. For example, if an applicant has booked to take the examination on a specific exam sitting week and decides instead to take an examination on a different date, the booked examination must be cancelled at least five (5) working days in advance and the applicant will be provided with another opportunity to book an examination. |
| ii. | Should the applicant fail to cancel their examination at least five (5) working days in advance, they will forfeit all examination fees paid and will have to pay and book for an additional opportunity. |
| i. | Where an applicant withdraws or is absent from the examination, without informing Council five (5) days before the examination date, the applicant will forfeit the paid examination fee, and the applicant will be re-invoiced for a new invitation and examination. |
| ii. | A refund of the examination fee will only be considered when absence is because of certified illness, emergency and/or bereavement. These cases will be considered individually. |
| E. | The Online Examination: |
| i. | The Council conducts online examinations. These are proctored virtual examinations. |
| ii. | Applicants must be able to show proof of their identity at the examinations by means of producing original documentation such as identification document, passport or driver's license for verification. |
| iii. | Examinations will test the knowledge and competency of the applicant in the specific category. The allocation of points and the allocated time frame in which the exam paper must be completed will be determined in advance according to the specific requirement applicable to each paper. |
| iv. | The Invigilation of the examination will be done through a virtual proctor who will supervise and oversee each exam session. |
| v. | The online examination cannot be taken in an open plan setup, or public area, such as an internet café. |
| vi. | The room must have sufficient daylight brightness. |
| vii. | The examinations candidate must be alone in the room. |
| viii. | The examination candidate must ensure that they have sufficient data to maintain connectivity and that their laptop is fully charged with adequate backup power supply. |
| ix. | The laptop/desktop must have a functioning web camera (webcam). |
| x. | The examination candidate must choose an appropriate time to sit for examination (for example and where possible, when there will be no loadshedding in the area). |
| xi. | Examination Candidate must do a demonstration (mock) examination prior to taking the actual online examination as per the instructions that will be provided. |
| xii. | The examination candidate will be disqualified if they contravene any of the examination rules. |
| xiii. | During the examination session the following must be adhered to: |
| a. | No cell phones or other secondary devices must be in the room or test area. |
| b. | The desk/table must be clear of any materials except the test-taking device. |
| c. | No one else can be in the room with the examination candidate. |
| d. | The room will be scanned through the examination candidate’s laptop web camera. |
| e. | No talking is allowed during the exam. |
| f. | The testing room must be well lit, and the examination candidate must be clearly visible. |
| g. | No dual screens/monitors are allowed. |
| h. | The examination candidate is not allowed to leave the view of the camera at any time during the examination. |
| i. | No additional applications or internet sites may be used or accessed during the examination. |
| i. | The pass rate for all examinations by Council is 60%. |
| ii. | All applicants will be notified of their examination results via email and results as well as the examination outcome letter will be uploaded to their profile. |
| iii. | Applicants who have achieved a minimum of 60% will proceed to the next phase of registration, as applicable to the registration category. |
| iv. | Failure to achieve a minimum 60% will result in the application of the following conditions for further processing: |
| • | 35% - 59%: Applicants will be provided with the opportunity to re-write the examination after payment of the re- examination fee. The re-write must be concluded within six (6) months. |
| • | 0% - 34%: The application is not approved and is archived. The applicant will have to re-apply should he / she wish to pursue professional registration. |
All examinations, except examinations consisting only of multiple choice and true or false questions, where the applicant has failed the initial exam with a maximum of 5% below the pass mark are to be moderated. The moderated mark will be regarded as the final mark achieved by the applicant.
