MQA accredited underground mining courses and training
Enhance operational safety, mitigate deep-level risks, and drive production efficiency with specialised, hands-on underground mining courses.
Prisma is a leader in professional training and a fully MQA-accredited specialist training provider to the mining sector. We offer a range of underground mining training courses designed to satisfy strict regulatory requirements. Our offerings range from foundational skills programmes and safety-critical legal appointments to full qualifications, such as the National Certificate in Rockbreaking (underground hard rock).
Strategically positioned to respond to your training needs, Prisma deploys expert training solutions across South Africa and the broader African continent, including Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.
Mitigating risk across the underground mining spectrum
Operating in an underground environment requires a heightened focus on hazard identification and risk mitigation. At Prisma, our underground mining courses are engineered to address the unique challenges of sub-surface operations – including strata control, ventilation safety, and confined-space machinery operation.
By aligning our training frameworks with the Mine Health and Safety Act, we ensure that your crew develops the precise technical discipline required to maintain zero-harm environments while hitting shifting production targets.
Accredited underground rockbreaking and blasting qualifications
Securing valid legal appointments for your blasting and excavation crews is a primary compliance priority for mine management. Prisma’s National Certificate in Rockbreaking (Underground) provides the exact theoretical depth and practical, MQA-aligned assessment required for your personnel to legally and safely handle, transport, and initiate explosives underground.
Whether you need to qualify new operators or verify the competencies of an existing workforce, our targeted skills programmes streamline the path to full compliance and operational readiness.
| QUALIFICATION Courses | SAQA | NQF Level |
| Further Education and Training Certificate: Mining Operations | 74490 | 4 |
| National Certificate: Rock Breaking Underground Hard Rock | 58760 | 3 |
| National Certfi cate: Mining Operations Underground Hard Rock | 58739 | 2 |
| SKILLS PROGRAMMES Courses | MQA ID | NQF Level |
| Blasting Assistant within Underground Hard Rock | MQA/SP/0064/07 | |
| Competent A: The Examination and Declaring safe of a Workplace in Underground Hard Rock Operations |
MQA/SP/0063/07 | |
| Competent Person B : The Installation and maintenance of any Support Unit and the Removal of a Temporary Support Unit in Underground Hard Rock Operations |
MQA/SP/0162/16 | |
| Trackless Mobile Machine Operations Underground Hard Rock | MQA/SP/0068/08 |
| SHORT COURSES Courses | SAQA | NQF Level |
| Time; connect and initiate blast of a face | 244457 | 3 |
| Remove hazardous ground and installed support by means of blasting | 244483 | 3 |
| Connect and initiate a blast of a development end using shock tube | 244488 | 3 |
| Connect and initiate a blast of a stope face using shock tube | 244463 | 3 |
| Time; connect and initiate blast of a face | 244489 | 3 |
| Time, connect and initiate a number of shot holes using electric/electronic delay detonators | 244473 | 3 |
| Remove an obstruction from an ore pass by means of blasting | 244460 | 3 |
| Install an initiating system used in blasting operations underground | 244461 | 3 |
| Mark shot holes for primary blasting in an underground working place | 244458 | 3 |
| Demonstrate an understanding of legal terms and requirements related to rockbreaking operations | 244470 | 3 |
| Demonstrate understanding of blasting products pertaining to blasting operations and principles of rock breaking activities in an underground hard rock environment |
244470 | 3 |
| Destroy old explosives in an underground workplace | 244464 | 2 |
| Break big rocks by means of blasting | 244487 | 2 |
| Mark shot holes for secondary blasting | 244479 | 2 |
| Break big rocks using a secondary breaker | 244387 | 2 |
| Treat and remove misfires | 244389 | 2 |
| Blast a misfired hole in a development end during the shift | 244465 | 2 |
| MACHINERY Courses | SAQA | NQF Level |
| Grade roadways by means of a motor grader in an underground mine | 244423 | 3 |
| Support an underground working place by means of a concrete-spraying utility vehicle | 244418 | 3 |
| Drill holes by means of a skid steer secondary drill rig in an underground workplace | 244466 | 3 |
| Drill holes by means of an electro-hydraulic long hole drill rig in an underground workplace | 244474 | 3 |
| Transport and load explosives into blast using a mixer placer truck in an underground mine | 244396 | 3 |
| Drill holes by means of an electro hydraulic drill rig in an underground workplace | 244477 | 3 |
| Grade roadways by means of a motor grader in an underground mine | 244423 | 3 |
| Transport persons; material and equipment by means of a light delivery vehicle (LDV) in an underground mine. |
244412 | 2 |
| Transport materials by means of a skid steer loader in an underground workplace | 244375 | 2 |
| Doze material using Tyre Dozer in an underground mine | 244409 | 2 |
| Transfer material using Rigid Rear Body Dumper in an underground mine
Operate a monorail system |
244371
244404 |
2
2 |
| Transport persons; material and equipment by means of a diesel powered quadro cycle in an underground mine |
244362 | 2 |
| Shunt and tow of material cars by means of a diesel powered tractor | 244374 | 2 |
| Move material by means of a mobilift in an underground mine | 244406 | 2 |
| Transport broken rock by means of a diesel powered Dump Truck in an underground mine | 244399 | 2 |
| Transport persons; material and equipment by means of an interchangeable saddle utility vehicle in an underground mine |
244452 | 2 |
| Remove broken rock by means of trackbound mechanical loader | 244444 | 2 |
| Operate a locomotive underground | 244392 | 2 |
| Transport explosives and accessories by means of a self propelled mobile machine | 244440 | 2 |
| Take charge of and drive a non-articulating vehicle in an underground mine | 244441 | 2 |
| Transfer broken rock by means of a dieselpowered Load Haul Dumper (LHD) in an underground mine |
244476 | 2 |
| Transport persons; material and equipment by means of a fi xed saddle ulitliy vehicle in an underground mine |
244395 | 2 |
| Transfer broken rock by means of an electrically-powered Load Haul Dumper (LHD) in an underground mine |
244482 | 2 |
| Transfer broken rock by means of a remote-controlled Load Haul Dumper in an underground mine | 244467 | 2 |
| Suppress dust in an underground mine using a water bowzer | 244373 | 2 |
| Drill holes underground by means of a handheld rock drill machine | 244415 | 2 |
| Doze material using a Track Dozer in an underground mine | 244377 | 2 |
| Transport persons by means of a locomotive and carriage | 244442 | 1 |
| Transport explosives and accessories by means of rolling stock | 244393 | 1 |
| TRANSPORT OPERATIONS Courses | SAQA | NQF Level |
| Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of underground horizontal transport operation | 336905 | 4 |
| Coordinate transportation operations in an underground coal mine | 337039 | 4 |
| Coordinate loading operations in an underground coal mine | 336944 | 4 |


