Turn your experience into a recognised certificate.
You don't need to stop working to get certified. Through Recognition of Prior Learning, KACET helps skilled Kenyans — certificate holders and self-taught experts alike — get formally assessed and registered with NITA, CDACC and the National Construction Authority.
Industry sectors covered
Typical portfolio assessment
Recognised pathways — NITA, CDACC, TVETA, NCA
Your skill already exists. Now it gets a name on paper.
Across Kenya, an estimated 90% of construction workers — and countless artisans in other trades — carry real, valuable practical skills with no certificate to prove it. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the Government-approved process that formally assesses what you already know how to do, and turns it into a nationally recognised qualification.
No classroom required. No stepping away from your livelihood. Just an honest look at your work, assessed by people who understand your trade.
It is such examples that show there is a plethora of skill at grassroots level in Kenya. What has been missing is not talent — it's a way to formalise, standardise and certify it.
— KACET Field NotesTwo paths in. One recognised outcome.
Wherever you're starting from, there's an RPL route that fits your situation.
You already hold a certificate
You have a NITA Trade Test Grade III (or higher) or CDACC Level III (or higher) certificate.
- Portfolio assessment via approved NCA procedures
- Typically completed in 2–4 days
- KACET can recommend you to the NCA for registration and your badge/card
You have the experience, not the paper
You've worked in your trade for two years or more, with no formal certificate to show for it.
- Guided portfolio preparation with KACET's support
- Referral to NITA or CDACC — the currently authorised RPL assessors
- A clear route from experience to recognised qualification
From application to certificate, in four moves.
Register
Tell KACET your trade, sector and years of experience.
Assess
Undergo a portfolio or skills assessment — usually 2 to 4 days.
Certify
Receive your certification recommendation to NITA, CDACC or the NCA.
Connect
Get registered, receive your badge, and access KACET's market and training network.
What to expect before you apply.
Indicative cost
Around KSh 10,000 per assessment
Assessment cycle
Generally run quarterly
Full process time
Can take up to two quarters — apply early
Fees and timelines can change and vary by sector — please confirm current figures with the KACET Secretariat when you enquire.
Every certificate KACET supports is backed nationally.
RPL isn't only for construction — KACET applies the same certification philosophy across all 18 of our industry sectors, from beadwork to beauty therapy to renewable energy.
Before you apply
Yes. Through RPL, KACET helps experienced workers with two or more years of hands-on experience get formally assessed and certified, without attending full-time training.
The assessment itself usually takes 2–4 days once scheduled. Because assessments run on a quarterly cycle and demand is high, the full process — from application to certificate — can take up to two quarters.
No. While our partnership with the National Construction Authority focuses on construction, KACET supports certification pathways across all 18 sectors we work in.
Any existing certificates, examples or evidence of your work, and identification. Our team will confirm the full checklist for your sector when you register.
Your skill has a name. Let's put it on paper.
Reach out to the KACET Secretariat to confirm your category, sector and next assessment date.