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Becoming a Debt Counsellor in South Africa

Helping people fix their debt problems can be tough work, but it can also be deeply rewarding.

Right now, many South Africans are struggling with rising costs and a slow economy. People are using credit to get by. Around half of all credit users are not keeping up with their repayments. Some (around 40%) miss payments for months at a time. This creates stress for both consumers and credit providers. 

Debt counselling offers a structured and dignified way to deal with runaway debt that people are struggling to repay. 

During debt counselling, a trained professional looks at a consumer’s full financial situation, helps create a realistic repayment plan, and takes the matter to court to formalise the plan.

This process helps protect consumers from further financial harm while still ensuring that credit providers receive their money back over time.

This is why many people who would like to help consumers deal with debt stress have decided to become Debt Counsellors.

How to Become a Debt Counsellor

If you are thinking about entering this field, there are some basic requirements.

You need to be a South African citizen, have no serious criminal record, and hold at least a Grade 12 qualification. Some general business experience is also important.

The next step is to complete a training course approved by the National Credit Regulator (NCR). These courses typically cover the National Credit Act and how the debt review process works. After completing the course, you can apply to the NCR to become a registered debt counsellor.

While the formal requirements are important, certain skills will help you succeed in this field.  Experience in areas like legal services, counselling, training, or general business is recommended. You should also be comfortable working with people, explaining complex ideas simply, and managing your own finances responsibly.

‘You should also be comfortable working with people, explaining complex ideas simply, and managing your own finances responsibly’

Debt counselling is not just about being good at numbers. It is about guiding people through stressful situations and helping them stick to a plan over time.

There are also strict rules about who cannot become a debt counsellor. For example, individuals with certain criminal convictions, those removed from positions of trust, or those involved in debt collection or credit provision may not qualify. These rules are in place to protect consumers and maintain trust in the industry.

 

What Does It Cost?

Training costs can vary depending on the provider, but is not prohibatively high for a whole new career.

For example, this year, Enterprises at the University of Pretoria offers a course for around R9,975 (including VAT). The course runs over a period of 3 months and is done online. That price also includes the final assessment needed to qualify.

So, if you are thinking of becoming an NCR registered Debt Counsellor and helping people, why not do some homework and consider doing the NCA course?

Note: Registration with the NCR can take many weeks or months. Factor this in when making your plans. You may not be able to begin practising immediately. Also factor in the steep learning curve of using special software to do the actual work. These software packages are provided through specialist companies associated with the 3 NCR registered PDAs.

You can then either join an existing practice where multiple Debt Counsellors work together or you could even start your own practice.