National Course Directory
Find Your Chess Course
in South Africa
Player certificates from Pawn to Super King. Coach certification through the TTT. School supervisor and parent guidance. All courses are delivered and certified through Promotion Academy — the national learning platform.
Opens Promotion Academy — the secure Chess SA learning and assessment platform.
Browse by Category
Six nationally recognised course categories, all delivered through Promotion Academy.
Player Certificates
Seven nationally recognised player certificates from Pawn to Super King, each with a dedicated Promotion Academy course.
Coach Certification
The five-level national coach pathway from School Chess Supervisor to Level 3 Instructor, delivered through the TTT programme.
Professional Development
Specialist and continuing-education courses for coaches, including Teaching Chess Online and facilitator training.
School Programmes
Standalone qualifications for teachers and school administrators to deliver chess in-house.
Facilitator Training
FIDE-aligned facilitator and Train-the-Trainer programmes for senior coaches and instructors.
Parent Resources
Guides and courses to help parents support their child's chess development.
Course Catalogue
Browse all nationally recognised chess courses. Each course links directly to Promotion Academy for enrolment, learning, and certification.
Pawn Certificate Test - Getting Started
First steps in chess — basic rules, piece movement, checkmate, and the fundamentals of competitive play.
Knight Certificate Test - Spotting Threats
Introduction to tactical patterns, forks, pins, and spotting threats in simple positions.
Bishop Certificate Test - Patterns & Plans
Opening principles, piece coordination, and an introduction to positional understanding.
Rook Certificate Test - Endgame Basics
Middlegame planning, pawn structures, and essential endgame techniques.
Queen Certificate Test - Strategy & Structure
Advanced tactics, positional understanding, and strategic planning.
King Certificate Test - Tournament Readiness
Tournament readiness, advanced endgame mastery, and competitive preparation.
Super King Certificate Test - Performance Excellence
Elite-level play — national and international competition preparation and performance excellence.
Training The Trainers
The national coach certification course. Attend the 3-day seminar, then complete the independent written assessment. Your score determines your certification level — from Entry Level to Level 3.
School Chess Supervisor Manual
A standalone qualification for teachers and school administrators who want to run a school chess programme independently. No TTT assessment required.
Chess Parent's Survival Guide - South Africa
Everything a chess parent needs to know — from supporting a beginner to navigating tournaments and the South African chess landscape.
Your journey from application to directory listing
Attend TTT Seminar
3-day in-person training
Independent Assessment
Via Promotion Academy platform
Receive Certificate
Score-based certification
Join the Registry
Listed on Chess SA Directory
Get Found by Schools
Parents & schools contact you
Once certified, register on the Chess SA Coaches Registry to be listed in the public directory — where schools and parents search for coaches.
Credible, Verifiable Certification
Training and assessment are deliberately kept separate
The TTT seminar trains you. The written assessment — and the certificate that results — runs through Promotion Academy, an independent platform. Your trainer cannot influence your outcome. Your certificate is generated, recorded, and verifiable outside of the training environment.
Independent assessment
Promotion Academy administers all tests — no trainer involvement in scoring.
Auditable outcomes
Every certificate is logged and verifiable by Chess SA and FIDE.
FIDE-aligned standards
Level thresholds map to FIDE developmental coach criteria.
Track 1 — Coach Certification
A connected progression. Each level builds on the last. All achieved through the Train the Trainers (TTT) course. Your assessment score determines your certification level.
Train the Trainers (TTT) Course
One course. Four possible certifications. Attend the 3-day in-person seminar, then complete the independent written assessment via Promotion Academy. Your assessment score determines which coaching certificate you earn — from Entry Level all the way to Level 3.
Course fee
R1,650
per person
How your assessment score determines your certification
Coach beginners and oversee foundation-level player development.
CHESSA Entry Level Coaching Certificate
Coach intermediate players and prepare learners for regional competition.
CHESSA Level 1 Coach Certificate
Develop advanced club players and mentor Level 1 coaches.
CHESSA Level 2 Coach Certificate
Senior national-level coach — the highest CHESSA domestic certification.
CHESSA Level 3 Coach Certificate (FIDE-aligned)
All levels achieved in a single TTT course · R1,650 per person · 3 days in-person
Track 2 — School Supervisor
A distinct qualification for teachers and school administrators who want to deliver chess in-house — without needing to coach players individually.
School Chess Supervisor
For teachers & school administrators
- Run your school chess programme independently
- Organise internal leagues and inter-school fixtures
- No prior chess coaching experience required
- Recognised by Chess SA and listed in the national registry
- Standalone course — no TTT assessment required
A standalone course — separate from the TTT. Your school pays once; you're certified for life.
Course fee
R500
Once-off · includes manual
No TTT assessment required — standalone qualification
Player Certificates — Pawn to Super King
The Chess SA player progression. Seven certificate levels from beginner to elite — every level recognised nationally.
Ready to get certified?
Browse courses on Promotion Academy, attend the TTT seminar, pass the independent assessment, and join the national registry.
promotionacademy.org — secure Chess SA learning and testing platform
Your Learning on Promotion Academy
Promotion Academy is the authoritative platform for enrolment, lessons, tests, assessments, course progress, course completion, certificates, and certificate verification. The national website may display only read-only synchronized summaries.
Your detailed learning progress is managed on Promotion Academy. The national website does not independently calculate course completion.
Progress and certificates supplied by Promotion Academy.