Blasting Ticket

Updated on 28th December 2022

Due to the overwhelming number of learners/inquiries in regards to the blasting Ticket and its related skills programmes, we continuously update this section so as to give you more current information.  Please note that in order to acquire a Blasting Ticket, one has to undergo or must have completed training at a TVET or an Institution that has accreditation from the MQA/QCTO to offer the National Certificate in Hardrock breaking. This qualification is at NQF Level 03

Some of the challenges we have encountered over the years is that the majority of the people who want this training are already in the employment of the mine. Which is a very good thing but unfortunately, the mine/your employer will not release you for more than 3 months of study leave and yet you are required to attend training for a full year since its a national certificate. Its only under exceptional conditions that you may require lesser periods to complete your training and this could be having many  years of experience working in the mine. Other than that, we can’t help you. 

The other challenge is the cost of the training. The cost of the training is at approximately USD 8500 per candidate. This cost can only be reduced if you are coming for the training in a group of 5 learners or more. Please send us an email should you require group training.

Its only after you are in poseccion of your National certificate that you can approach the DMRE for a blasting license and note that they will require you to have accumulated the required number of practical shift hours. This therefore means that you must seek employment with your National Certificate and work for a period of time before thinking of acquiring a blasting ticket. Its similar to getting a trade test. This are licenses of practical knowledge acquired at a workplace over a period of time working in the trade you qualified for.


More information appended below…

Blasting Ticket Course Break Down

Blasting Ticket can be achieved after successfully attending a National certificate in  Hard rock breaking in either surface Hard rock  to qualify for for Surface Blasting Ticket or Underground Hard rock for Underground Blasting Ticket. 

Blasting Ticket can only be achieved by applying for it from the DMR (Department of Mineral Resources) and the requirement is you must be in posession of the National Certificate in Hard rock breaking. A qualification at NQF Level 03

You can qualify for this National certificate through various means, namely:

  • Through a TVET/FET college that is accredited by MQA SETA to provide it
  • Through a learnership sponsored Qualification ((This will be between a training provider and sponsoring entity)
  • Through a Private training provider accredited by the MQA
  • Through a mine that has accreditation from MQA to provide the qualification.

The full qualification of Blasting Ticket is comprised of other qualifications namely

  • Blasting Assistant
  • Competent Person A
  • Competent Person B
  • Blasting Practice

Training Course info

To achieve the Blasting ticket of competence, a learner/you must attend both theoretical and practical classes to demonstrate your competence in the course

You will complete several assignments that must be submitted as part of your Portfolio of Evidence. These assignments/POE will have to be signed off by a couple of stakeholders namely;

  1. Your supervisor (Holder of a blasting Ticket)
  2. Training Facilitator 
  3. MQA 
  4.  DMR 
FAQ (Frequently asked questions)
1. Where can i get my blasting ticket certificate?
 

You apply for your blasting ticket from DMR but only if you are in possession of the National certificate in Hardrock breaking NQF Level 3

2.Where can i get the NC Hardrock breaking?

You can only get this training from an institution that has been accredited to offer the course. This can be public such as a TVET/FET college or private such as any Accredited training provider or even a mine

3. I am not working, can i still apply for a blasting ticket?

This by far is the most common question asked. The answer is both NO and YES. We chose to start by the NO response intentionally.  The Course is broken down into theory and practical and the practical area where the training must be done is in a mine setting. Therefore if you are not working in the mine, its impossible to get the training. The YES part of it is however possible if you will be getting this training from a private provider. The challenge with this is the cost. Private providers have various MOU with various other private mines. These MOUs come with various Terms and Conditions and because of these, the costs for the training are very high and each provider has their own fees. These could start from a few thousands to hundreds of thousands. Our only advise is ensure you are training with an accredited training provider to save you from losing hundreds of thousands of Rands to bogus institutions

4. What is the duration of the course

The course is a National Certificate and this could take anywhere between 6-12 months to complete

5. Can you try to estimate the cost of the course?

If you are working in the mine, the mine will be responsible for the training cost. The other good news is that the mine by default already has the venue for your practical training. And if the training has been approved by the mine, they will already have appointed a manager/supervisor to sign off your assignments. If your mine is also accredited to offer this course, you as an employee may not even pay a cent. However if the mine is not an accredited institution, it means they will have to acquire the expertise of an accredited training provider that will issue an invoice directly to the mine, even with this option, you may not inquire any costs

However if you will be training with a private institution, you will be paying anywhere from around R90,000 to R200,000