The National Career Advice Portal (Khetha) is a free service run by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) that helps South Africans make informed choices about study and work. There is no cost to use it, and the portal is live at ncap.careerhelp.org.za. If you are a learner, a matriculant, or someone thinking about a career change in 2026, this is a government-backed starting point for career information.
Khetha means “to choose” in isiZulu, and that is the practical purpose of the platform: to give you reliable guidance before you commit to a course, qualification, or job path.
What the National Career Advice Portal Is
The National Career Advice Portal is DHET’s official channel for career development services. Because it is run by a government department rather than a private company, the guidance is not tied to any single institution or course provider. That matters when you are choosing where to study, since you want advice that does not push a specific paid programme.
The portal sits within the broader Khetha career development service, which South Africans may already know through radio broadcasts and outreach at schools. The online portal brings those services together in one place, so you can access career information whenever you need it rather than waiting for a school visit.
How the Portal Works
The National Career Advice Portal is designed to answer the core questions people ask before choosing a career path. In practice, that means it helps you connect your interests and subjects to real study and work options.
- Career information — details about different occupations and what they involve.
- Study and course guidance — information to help you match qualifications to your goals.
- Career advice services — access to DHET’s Khetha career development support.
Since the portal is web-based, you can use it from a phone or computer. The exact tools and features can be updated by DHET over time, so treat the live site as the current version rather than relying on older screenshots or second-hand descriptions.
Who This Applies To
The National Career Advice Portal is open to all South Africans, and there is no formal eligibility barrier to using it. It is most useful for:
- Learners in Grade 9 choosing their subjects for the FET phase.
- Matriculants deciding on a qualification or NQF level to pursue after school.
- Young people weighing university, TVET college, or work options.
- Adults considering a career change or returning to study.
Because it is a public service, you do not need to be enrolled anywhere or pay a fee to get advice. That makes it especially useful if you are still deciding whether to study at all.
How to Use the Portal
Getting started with the National Career Advice Portal is straightforward, and you can do it at your own pace.
- Go to the official portal at ncap.careerhelp.org.za.
- Browse the career information and study guidance sections to see what fits your interests.
- Follow the on-site prompts to access the Khetha career advice services if you want direct support.
- Use the information to shortlist qualifications, then confirm entry requirements directly with the university or TVET college you are considering.
Keep in mind that the portal points you in a direction, but institutions set their own admission criteria and closing dates. For example, an APS requirement or a course intake date must be confirmed with the specific institution, because those change each application year.
Official Resource
Use the official DHET portal directly rather than a third-party copy, so you always see the current information: