29/08/2026
Dear Potential NIDO Student.
Thanks for enquiring about the NIDO training programme.
Please note applications are open at present for Private groups starting in SA for 2026 & 2027
Nido Nursing offers training on a National Level.
Please note we don’t offer a nursing qualification. We only offer a specialized healthcare assistant and clinical carer training programme. The course is for 12 months.
We have three intakes per year for Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria, and only two intakes per year in Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Gqeberha and Uitenhage.
Nido is contracted to the Netcare Private Hospitals in SA and we place our students in Private hospitals and private nursing facilities/old age homes for their practical training. We have a team of professional nurses doing the training and practical facilitation.
The practical training in the Netcare Private Hospitals also gives students exposure to a more clinical environment, and better exposure to work with the Nursing team in the different wards. Students will do their practical training in the old age homes for three months and then after their old age home practicals they will do another three months in a Netcare private hospital.
Students that want to further their studies in nursing can get guidelines from the Clinical facilitators and trainers in the hospitals on how to apply for further studies in nursing. The Nido course is a stepping stone for anyone that wants to further their studies in Nursing, or just to qualify as a professional healthcare service provider. Not everyone can qualify for further studies in nursing and it is very difficult as well.
You need grade 12 and the right subjects to apply for nursing studies in SA. To apply with NIDO we only require a Grade 10 as the highest grade and no specific subjects, but you must first write the NIDO assessment test as an entry exam to qualify to apply for the NIDO Healthcare Assistant Course.
After completion of the NIDO Training programme you can apply for nursing at the Netcare training Academy or any other nursing college or University that offers a nursing qualification, if interested, but you MUST have grade 12 and the correct subjects, and please note you can’t use the NIDO Certificate for credits to apply for any nursing qualification.
The Nido course does not need to be accredited, we are internationally recognised and have been doing training and placements for 28 years. We also accept students without a grade 12 and we do not require specific subjects. If you need more clarity regarding the above please feel free to call Gizelle van der Merwe, CEO, NIDO Nursing.
NIDO is passionate to train an individual to get a proper job and keep their jobs in the nursing and healthcare industry. NIDO specialises in the training of Healthcare Assistants and clinical carers for almost 28 years and we have over 80% of our qualified healthcare assistants working in SA or abroad.
Nido has been contracted with the Netcare Private Hospitals for 24 years to train our students for the last three months of their 12 months in a Netcare Hospital in SA, (please see reference letters from NETCARE Nursing Directors attached) as well as NIDO can place the NIDO students to work in Netcare after they have qualified as a Nido Healthcare Assistant, on request by NETCARE.
NIDO Nursing is also contracted to Discovery Health Medical Aid (Homecare) for the last 8 years for placements of our qualified healthcare assistants to work with private patients after they have been discharged from hospital.
We also offer employment for only our NIDO qualified healthcare assistants/carers in the Private Healthcare sector after they have successfully qualified, but we can’t promise everyone a job afterwards. It all depends on your performance during your training and studies with Nido Nursing. Many other agents, nursing agencies, caring and nursing homes employ NIDO healthcare assistants and please look at our website: www.nidohealth.co.za and our Instagram and page to view some references from our clients and progress of students.
Please note NIDO Healthcare assistants are also working internationally and we have a few already placed in the United Kingdom, and have a new contract to place NIDO Qualified Healthcare Assistants in Canada.
The training dates for 2026/2027 are as follow:
Please note theory classes in the first three months will only be for 10/12 days physically in class, face to face with the tutors. All the other days you need to work on assignments, do your CPR training and do a few online courses with the University of Tasmania in Australia.
Cape Town (Western Cape)
2026: 1st Intake 8 April
2026: 2nd Intake 22 September
2026: 3rd Intake 18 November
2027: 1st intake 24 March
NIDO Offices in CPT is in Century City.
Theory venue - Conference room at Nazareth House Old Age Home.
Old age homes - Oudewetshof (Van Riebeeckshof Bellville)
Eden Park Old Age Home (Kuilsriver)
Paradyskloof Old Age Home (Stellenbosch)
Brenthurst Old Age Home
Netcare hospitals - N1 City, Chris Barnard Memorial Hospital, UCT Academic Hospital, Blaauwberg Netcare in Bloubergstrand.
Johannesburg & Pretoria
2026: 1st Intake 5 May
2026: 2nd Intake 29 September
2026: 3rd Intake 11 November
2027: First Intake 30 March
Gauteng offices based in Fourways JHB.
Theory classes venue - Sandringham Gardens Old Age Home Auditorium JHB.
Please note all practicals for JHB students will be in JHB Netcare Hospitals as well as Sandringham Gardens Old Age Home and for Pretoria students the old age home is Edencare Old Age Home and the Netcare Hospitals - Jakaranda Netcare, Pretoria East and Unitas Hospital.
Gqeberha & Uitenhage:
2026: 1st Intake - 6 October
2027: 1st Intake - 6 May
Eastern Cape Offices based in Gqeberha - Greenacres
Please note: Theory classes will be in Gqeberha & Uitenhage at training venue.
Practical training for Gqeberha students will be in Huis Genot (Algoa Park) & Greenacres Hospital.
Uitenhage students will have theory classes in Uitenhage and all practical training in Huis Genot (Algoa Park) & Cuyler Netcare Hospital in Uitenhage.
Durban & PMB:
2026: 1st Intake 1 September
2026: 2nd Intake 19 November
2027: 1st Intake 26 May
KZN offices based in Umhlanga Ridge.
Please note practical training for DBN students will be in Essenwood Old Age Home in Essenwood DBN & St Augustine’s Hospital, Kingsway and Umhlanga Hospital.
Training for all PMB students will be in PMB in an old age home and at St Anne’s Netcare Hospital.
The physical address for the offices will be given to students when they make an appointment, we don’t allow walk-ins and you must first have an appointment made. Please feel free to contact myself, Wendy or Sipokazi if need be to give you more details regarding the programme, and we will guide you through the process. (Wendy Bester and Sipokazi Rangana details below)
Please note the first step to take if you are interested to join is to write the assessment test at one of our NIDO offices in SA, and the fee to pay for the assessment test for 2026 is R1350.00 and this fee must be paid into the bank account of Nido Nursing as stipulated below:
Nido Nursing FNB
Current Account: 62531020098
Branch Code: 250-655 (Universal)
Reference: Name, Surname and Region (for example - CPT for Cape Town and JHB for Johannesburg)
As soon as you have written the assessment test and have passed with 50% you get a student number and only then will you need to make payment for your registration fees using your name and student number as reference.
Assessment Test Fee
2026: R1350.00
2027: R1400.00
Course fees:
2026: R29 952.00
2027: R30 952.00
(Only additional fees to pay over and above the training fees is R320 for an Infection Control Bib & R680.00 for your CPR Certificate)
2026: Registration Fees -
R15 000.00
2027: Registration Fees - R16 000.00
2026/2027 Fees - The difference of the fees after the registration fees were paid, you need to pay the difference in 6 instalments of R2 492.00 each month over 6 months and you only start paying your instalments after the classes have officially commenced and you start to pay at the end of the first month you have started your classes.
Please note: The assessment test fee is separate and above from the total training fees.
Please note the registration fees are part of the total training fees and included.
If you have some time to read the course fact sheet, it will help to give you a better understanding of the curriculum and the training programme. Also note NIDO does not require you to have specific subjects when you want to join the programme. Grade 10 is the lowest grade we accept and international students need to have a certified copy of their highest qualification equivalent to grade 10,11 or 12 and a valid passport. No study VISA is required, you need to be legally in SA.
The age limit is 60.
As mentioned above, the first step will be to pay for the assessment test, (also stipulated in the course fact sheet), and as soon as you can manage to pay this into the Nido Nursing Company Bank account then you can Whatsapp Wendy or Sipokazi to make an appointment.
You can also email Gizelle’s assistant Wendy Bester, the proof of payment to [email protected]
We also need a copy or photo of your ID as soon as you can manage to pay and we can then help to book the test at one of our Nido offices in SA where you will have to write the test.
The deadline for the registration fees is normally three weeks before the course starts and classes commence.
Also note if you want to join the Nido programme in 2026 you will have to pay the assessment test fee for 2026 and the registration fees for 2026, and the same counts for only joining in 2027, you will have to pay the fees relevant to the year you will study and train with NIDO. Please note the 2nd and 3rd intakes for 2027 is not finalised as yet and if you are interested to join in 2027 only we can keep your details on file and contact you for 2027, or you can follow up with the NIDO team again if you would like to join later in the year of 2027.
Please note: Foreign students are more than welcome and need to only show proof of a valid passport and a valid visa to be in SA, we don’t need a study visa. Any foreign student that qualify with NIDO can only start to work in a Netcare Private hospital when you have proof of a valid visa to be in the country, and to work with private clients in the comfort of their homes we only need a valid passport and police clearance, TB clearance and proof of three Hepatitis B vaccinations, and your NIDO certificate.
Please feel free to contact us for further information.
Thanks
Kind Regards
Gizelle van der Merwe
CEO
Nido Nursing
Head Office Cape Town
(021) 830 5830
Executive Assistant: Wendy Bester
(060) 543-0696
[email protected]
Sipokazi Rangana
Nido Student Ambassador
+27 71 921 0769
& Jocelyne Minnie
Student ambassador
+27 (83) 627-8287
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