Career Guidance in South Africa
Expert career guidance for students and high school learners. Unlock your child's future with data-driven subject choices, definitive tertiary study paths, and scientifically backed career assessments.
Backed by Science
Built on 40+ years of experience and over 1 million completed assessments in South Africa and Africa by Dr. Lanette Hattingh, an accredited Educational Psychologist.
Improved Success Rate
Student placement satisfaction
Trusted by leading South African Schools
Explore Our 10 Career Areas
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Agriculture
Arts & Culture
Business & Finance
Computer & IT
Engineering
Social Sciences
Languages
Law
Medical
Services
Trusted by leading South African Organizations
Tailored Solutions for Everyone
Voices from our Community
"SkillsPassport gave us a roadmap when we felt lost. Seeing my son's natural strengths mapped out changed our entire approach to his subject choices."
Iris Clark
Grade 9 Parent
"Finally, a tool that connects the classroom to the real world. It helps our educators guide students with data, rather than just intuition."
S. Mkhize
High School Principal
"We need a pipeline of talent that is ready for the future. SkillsPassport filters for potential and aptitude in a way that traditional CVs cannot."
A. Coetzee
HR Director, TechCorp
15,000+
Students Guided
100+
Schools Partnered
15,000+
Career Paths Mapped
15+
Corporate Sponsors
Where is your child in their journey?
Select the stage that matches your child's current grade to see their personalized roadmap.
Your Career Guidance Journey
A comprehensive 5-step career guidance for students process backed by verified academic tools.
Discover Strengths
Verbal, Numerical & Non-Verbal Reasoning (45 mins)
Matched Pathways
See your fit: Academic, Vocational, or Occupational
Career Interests
Combine your Capability + Interests for clear direction
Explore Careers
Navigate 750+ jobs and see AI impact analysis
Personalised Report
Your complete roadmap & actionable validation
Perfect for Grade 9s making their final selection.
Ensure your Grade 11/12 marks get you where you want to go.
Five Distinct Career Pathways
South Africa's post-Grade 9 education structure guides students toward subject choices and careers based on their unique abilities and interests.
Academic Pathway
Suits students strong in abstract reasoning and theoretical concepts. This pathway typically leads to the National Senior Certificate (NSC) with pure sciences and mathematics, opening doors to university degrees.
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Focus: Theory & Abstract Reasoning
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Outcome: Bachelors Degree / University Exemption
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Key Subjects: Pure Maths, Physical Sciences
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Careers: Doctors, Engineers, Scientists, Lawyers
The Golden Thread
Corporates' greatest structural weakness is fragmentation. Learners are assessed repeatedly and episodically using disconnected tools. The Golden Thread is the antidote. A single source of truth that follows a learner from Grade 7 through to employment.
Single Source of Truth
No more data resets. We create one evolving profile that matures with the learner. Each assessment adds depth, not noise, creating a longitudinal record of cognitive resilience and learning velocity.
Evidence-Based Assessments
Validated assessments specifically tailored for the South African CAPS curriculum and local socioeconomic context.
Job Alignment
Connecting classroom learning to high-growth industries like Fintech, Green Energy, and Creative Tech.
Ready for the 4th Industrial Revolution?
We help schools prepare students for jobs that don't even exist yet, using real-time market insights.
Read our whitepaper arrow_forwardComplete Guide to Career Guidance for High School Learners
Navigating subject choices and tertiary studies in South Africa doesn't have to be a guessing game.
Why is career guidance important for high school students in South Africa? The transition from Grade 9 subject selection to choosing a tertiary institution is one of the most critical periods in a young adult's life. Without proper career guidance for high school learners, many students end up selecting subjects that close doors to their preferred degrees, or worse, spending time and money on tertiary study choices that don't align with their natural aptitudes.
At SkillsPassport, we replace fear and uncertainty with hard data. Our evidence-based assessments create a continuous profile—a "Golden Thread"—that tracks cognitive resilience, logic, and interests. This ensures that every learner is placed on the optimal pathway, whether that leads to a University degree, a TVET college diploma, or an occupational trade certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right subjects in high school for my future career?
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Selecting the right subjects in Grade 9 is critical. SkillsPassport’s scientific assessments align a learner's aptitude and interests with over 70 specific career fields, taking the guesswork out of Grade 10 subject choices and ensuring no doors are accidentally closed.
What if I don't know what career I want to pursue after high school?
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That's completely normal! Our comprehensive career guidance programme helps high school learners discover their unique strengths. We match students with over 750 real-world tertiary study choices across universities and TVETs based on their actual capabilities, not just what sounds good on paper.
How can high school learners get reliable advice on career options in
South Africa?
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While schools provide basic counseling, SkillsPassport offers a personalized, evidence-based approach that connects directly to the South African labor market. We provide a 'Golden Thread' of actionable insights spanning from Grade 9 subject selection all the way to university applications and eventual job placement.
Start the Golden Thread Journey Today
Align education with labour-market reality.