Boiler Making Trade Test Centres: Where to Get Your Red Seal (2026 Guide)

Key Takeaways: The Red Seal Route

• The Goal: You are not a “Qualified Boilermaker” until you pass the Trade Test and get your Red Seal Certificate (Section 26D) from the QCTO.
• The Bottleneck: Indlela (Olifantsfontein) is the cheapest place to test, but the waiting list is months long.
• The Solution: You can use accredited Decentralised Trade Test Centres (DTTCs) like Shukela, NECSA, or False Bay College. They are faster but cost more.
• The Trap: Most people fail because of Pattern Development (Geometry/Drawing). If you cannot draw a “Square to Round” transition, you will fail before you even pick up a welding torch.
• Boilermaker vs. Welder: These are different trades. A Boilermaker builds the structure; a Welder joins it. Do not book a Welding trade test if you want to be a Boilermaker.

You have been working in the workshop for 5 years. You can cut, grind, and tack better than the “qualified” guy earning R35,000. But because you don’t have the paper, you are stuck earning R6,500 as an “Assistant.”

To bridge that gap, you need to pass the Trade Test.

In 2026, the system has changed slightly. You can no longer just “book a date.” You must go through the ARPL (Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning) process first.

Here is your guide to finding a centre, booking your spot, and passing the test.

1. Indlela vs. Private Centres (DTTCs)

Where you test depends on your budget and your patience.

Option A: Indlela (Olifantsfontein)

This is the government’s National Trade Test Centre in Gauteng.

• Pros: It is the cheapest option.
• Cons: The waiting list is massive. You might wait 6–12 months for a date. The accommodation is basic.
• Best for: Apprentices on a tight budget or those funded by a SETA.

Option B: Decentralised Trade Test Centres (DTTCs)

These are private colleges or companies accredited by the QCTO to run trade tests on behalf of the government.

• Pros: Fast. You can often get a date within 3–4 weeks. Better equipment and machines.
• Cons: Expensive. You pay for the convenience.
• Best for: People who need the Red Seal now to get a job or promotion.

2. List of Accredited Centres (2026)

Do not pay a “College” unless they have a QCTO Accreditation Number. Here are some reputable centres for Boilermaking:

Gauteng:

• Indlela: Olifantsfontein.
• NECSA: Pelindaba (Nuclear Energy Corporation) – High standard.
• Technotrain: Kempton Park.
• Qualitas Training: Johannesburg South.
• Ekurhuleni Artisans & Skills Training (EASTC): Kempton Park.

KwaZulu-Natal:

• Shukela Training Centre: Mount Edgecombe (The Sugar Association) – Excellent for heavy engineering.
• MME (Machine Moving & Engineering): Pinetown.
• Thekwini TVET College: Durban.

Western Cape:

• False Bay TVET College: Westlake Campus (Specializes in Boat Building/Fabrication).
• Northlink TVET College: Bellville/Wingfield.
• West Coast College: Vredenburg.

Mpumalanga:

• Mpumelelo Artisan Training Centre: Secunda (Near Sasol).

Action: Always ask them: “Are you accredited for Section 26D Boilermaker Trade Tests?”

3. The Test Content: What Will You Do?

The Boilermaker Trade Test is a 2-day practical exam. It is physically and mentally exhausting.

Task 1: Pattern Development (The Killer)

This is where 80% of candidates fail.

• The Job: You are given a drawing (e.g., a Hopper, a Cone, or a Square-to-Round transition).
• The Test: You must use Radial Line or Parallel Line development to draw the flat pattern on a piece of paper or plate.
• The Trap: If your drawing is out by more than 1-2mm, you fail immediately. You cannot proceed to cutting.
• Geometry: You need to know Pythagoras and trigonometry. You cannot just “eyeball” it.

Task 2: Fabrication (Plating)

• Marking Off: Transferring your drawing to the steel plate.
• Cutting: Using an Oxy-Acetylene torch or Plasma cutter.
• Forming: Using the rolling machine (rollers) or bending brake (press brake) to shape the steel.
• Assembly: Tacking the pieces together.

Task 3: Welding

• Even though you are not a “Welder,” a Boilermaker must weld their own structures.
• You will usually do Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick/MMA) or MIG/MAG (CO2).
• Standard: Your weld doesn’t need to be X-ray quality (like a high-pressure welder), but it must be strong, neat, and free of porosity.

4. The Section 28 (ARPL) Process

If you are working without papers, you cannot just walk in and write the test. You follow the ARPL Route.

Step 1: The Application

• Go to a DTTC (like the ones listed above).
• Submit your Service Letter proving 3–4 years of experience as a Boilermaker Assistant.
• Submit your N2 Certificate (This is compulsory for the Trade Test).

Step 2: The ARPL Assessment (The “Pre-Test”)

• They will give you a “Mini Trade Test” to see what you know.
• They check your toolkit usage, safety knowledge, and basic skills.

Step 3: Gap Training

• If you fail the Pattern Development part of the ARPL (which most do), they will prescribe “Gap Training.”
• You must attend classes for 2–3 weeks to learn the geometry you missed.

Step 4: The Final Trade Test

• Once you pass the Gap Training, you book the real 2-day test.

5. Costs: How Much Should You Save?

These are estimates for 2026. Prices vary by private centre.

• ARPL Assessment: R1,500 – R2,500.
• Gap Training: R3,000 – R8,000 (Depends on how much you need to learn).
• Trade Test Booking: R3,500 – R5,500.
• Total Budget: You should put aside R10,000 – R15,000 to go from “Assistant” to “Red Seal.”

Note: If you are a Section 13 Apprentice, your company usually pays for this.

6. How to Prepare (Don’t Wing It)

You cannot pass this test on “experience” alone. Workshop experience teaches you shortcuts; the Trade Test punishes shortcuts.

1. Learn the Geometry

• Buy a textbook on “Plating and Structural Steel Drawing N2/N3”.
• Practice drawing a Square-to-Round on cardboard at home until you can do it blindfolded.

2. Practice Gas Cutting

• Your cuts must be straight. If you have jagged edges, your fit-up will be bad, and your dimensions will be wrong.

3. Do a “Pre-Trade” Course

• Most centres offer a 2-week “Trade Test Preparation” course.
• Do it. They show you exactly what the moderator looks for. It is worth the money.

Summary: It’s an Investment

Spending R15,000 to get your Red Seal seems like a lot of money. But consider the math:

• Assistant Salary: R6,500/month.
• Artisan Salary: R25,000/month.

You make your money back in the first month of your new job.

Action Plan:

1. Get your N2: If you don’t have N2 Maths and Engineering Science, you can’t test. Go to a TVET college part-time.
2. Call a Centre: Call Shukela or Qualitas today and ask for their “ARPL Price List.”
3. Draw: Start practicing your pattern development tonight.

Disclaimer: Trade Test Regulations are managed by NAMB (National Artisan Moderation Body). Accreditation status of private centres can expire; always verify their QCTO number before paying.