Date: 5 February 2026 to 17 September 2026
Venue: contact teaching and e-learning 
Time: refer to full programme

Final Written Examination: 13 October 2026

Course fee is
R 30, 000.00 (Inclusive of VAT)
• A non-refundable deposit of R1000 payable on registration
• The balance of R29, 000.00 is payable by 31 March 2026

Registration form and information:   E-Learning Certificate Course in Palliative Nursing

Closing date for registration is: Friday 28 November 2025

This certificate course aims to improve patient care through improved palliative nursing knowledge, skills and performance.

This course is open to all professional and enrolled nurses currently registered with the South African Nursing Council. It is recommended that the blended e-learning student have access to computers and is computer literate.

Course content:

Course work is divided into 4 modules.

  • Module 1: Principles and practice of palliative care.
  • Module 2: Theory and practice of symptom control.
  • Module 3: Communication skills in palliative care.
  • Module 4: Theory and practice of psychosocial, spiritual and supportive care.

In order to receive a certificate of competence learners need to meet the following requirements:

Contact sessions and on-line learning

• Attend 3 contact sessions at a hospice training centre.
o One full day of orientation. If unable to attend orientation day, alternative arrangements will be made to communicate via Zoom
o One compulsory oral assessment OSCE at the nearest Centre of Palliative Care Learning by arrangement with the student's Educator.
o One compulsory day of final summative exam.
• Must engage in a minimum of 80% of all forum discussions online according to each of the four modules.
(The course content will be available online and the learners will receive hard copy manuals (1-4), an assessment guide and a workplace task booklet.)

Clinical Work

  • 60 hours of clinical work must be completed at approved sites. These hours are in addition to the contact and online learning time. (Learners are advised to discuss this with their employers.)

Learner assessments

  • Assessment of learning is integrated into the course.
  • Assignments are submitted to Nurse Educators electronically, by mail or by hand where feasible.

Workplace tasks

  • Learners are required to complete prescribed palliative nursing tasks within their own work environment

Communication assessment

  • A role play interview is used to assess communication skills and attitudes.

Final written examination

  • This is an examination conducted nationally.
  • Learners must successfully complete prescribed minimum standards in order to write the examination.

A digital certificate of completion will be issued to participants on successful completion of the course.