Once an individual is comfortable that they have met the entry criteria for the Certified Director designation they may move on to apply for assessment. Details of the application and assessment process as well as the links to apply are included
below.
All candidates must familiarise themselves with the full details contained in the Certified Director Handbook before applying.
Stage 1: Application
On application, individuals’ eligibility is evaluated against the Certified Director entry criteria.
Entry criteria*
To be eligible for the Certified Director designation, an applicant must:
- Be an IoDSA Member
Note: Individuals currently holding Future Leader membership do not qualify
Click here to view more information on IoDSA membership or contact that the team by emailing membership@iodsa.co.za
- Hold a minimum of an NQF Level 6 SAQA-registered qualification or be able to demonstrate at least 3 years’ of appropriate directorship experience within the past 5 years. Applicants with foreign qualifications must provide a SAQA Certificate of Evaluation
confirming the equivalent NQF level at the time of application
- Demonstrate experience of at least 3 years' senior management job-levelling experience or higher within the past 5 years
- Maintain a record free of any past or present conduct that could bring the IoDSA or the designation into disrepute
- Complete the Certified Director Pathway Training Programmes
For the purposes of writing the Cert Dir® Exam, individuals must complete the associated training programmes and provide evidence of completion through a Letter of Completion. Each training module and exemption is valid for a period of 36 months from the date of attendance, after which it must be repeated before access to the exam can be granted.
*Change in criteria
From 1 January 2026 new entry criteria will become effective as outlined in the IoDSA Certification Policy. To support candidates who have already started their certification journey in 2025 under the previous entry criteria, the above transitional arrangements will apply prior to the new entry criteria coming into effect.
To complete the certification process under these transitional arrangements, individuals must:
- Write the Certified Director exam in 2025
- If applicable, complete the final rewrite of the exam in 2026
Please note: If an individual fails the re-write or does not make use of the re-write opportunity in 2026, they will need to meet the new entry criteria in order to be eligible to register again. All new applications received from 1 January 2026 onward will be assessed against the updated entry criteria only. Click here to view the new criteria as contained in the IoDSA Certification Policy.
Details of these transitional arrangements as well as full information regarding the
designation can be found in the Certified Director Handbook. All candidates must familiarise themselves
with the Handbook before applying.
Documents required
When completing the online application form, candidates are required to provide the following:
- Highest Qualification (Foreign qualifications require a SAQA Certificate of Evaluation)
- Certified copy of ID
- Letter of Completion (issued by the training department. Click here to request your letter, if you have not already done so)
- Updated CV
- MIE Consent Form (which must be filled in, signed, and uploaded with your registration, please do not fill in
the first section “Company details”)
- Candidate Declaration form (which must be filled in, signed, and uploaded with your registration)
Fees
Application Fee: R2550 incl VAT (Non-refundable)
Your application fee must be settled in full in order for your application to be evaluated. An invoice is automatically generated on application.
APPLY NOW
Applications are based on upcoming exam dates. Access your online form using the links below.
- Exam date: Wednesday,3 September 2025, (Applications close 21 August 2025) - CLICK HERE TO APPLY
- Exam date: Wednesday, 3 December 2025, (Applications close 19 November 2025) - CLICK HERE TO APPLY
What happens after applying?
Stage 2: Assessment
Once candidates have been approved as having met the entry criteria, registration links for upcoming examinations will be provided. Exams are hosted in-person on set dates throughout the year at venues in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town
- Wednesday,3 September 2025
- Wednesday, 3 December 2025
Fees
Examination Fee: R6550 incl VAT including one re-write opportunity.
Candidates must register for the exam and settle the full examination fee at least one week before the examination date in order to
sit for the exam. An invoice is automatically generated on registration for the exam.
Step 3: Approval
Based on the IoDSA Delegation of Authority, various IoDSA Governance Structures oversee and approve the awarding of designations. The Certified Director® designation is awarded by the Certification Committee, and outcomes are communicated after
the quarterly Certification Committee sittings, approximately 8 – 10 weeks following examination dates.
Note: Reputational Risk is evaluated across all stages
Once a person has been awarded the designation,
they need to maintain the designation by meeting the following annual requirements:
- Renew their annual membership subscription
- Earn, and report, a minimum of 30 CPD hours per annum (see CPD policy)
- Subscribe to the IoDSA Code of Professional Conduct
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact certification@iodsa.co.za or call 011 035 3000 for further
assistance.
