• replace the prevailing industry and sector based artisan trade testing system inherited from the repealed Manpower Training Act, 1981 (Act 56 of 1981);
• provide for a single national artisan trade testing and certification system across all economic sectors;
• enable improved access to trade testing by allowing any person to apply for a trade test at any nationally accredited trade test centre subject only to the centre being accredited for the relevant trade;
• enable the improvement in the quality of trade testing by setting minimum national standards for trade testing in order to provide industry and the broader economy with suitably qualified artisans;
• enable the development of a single national standardised approach to recognition of prior learning for all artisan trades;
• enable a single standardised efficient and effective trade testing monitoring and reporting system.