To become an auctioneer in South Africa you don't need a university degree — you need to learn the craft: bid-calling and the auctioneer's chant, ring control, clerking, salesmanship and the law of the auction. The quickest, most credible route is a professional auctioneering course, and The South African College of Auctioneering has been the country's dedicated school for this since 1986.
This guide walks you through exactly what the job involves, what it takes to do it well, how to qualify, and what your career and income could look like. It's written for South Africans — and for aspiring auctioneers across Southern Africa who train here.
- Route in
- Professional auctioneering course (no prior experience required)
- Training
- 4-day intensive, in-person, at Kempton Park Golf Club, Gauteng
- Credential
- Prestigious diploma on completion · SAIA-accredited college
- Sectors
- Livestock, property, vehicle, estate and general auctions
What does an auctioneer do?
An auctioneer runs the sale — they call the bids, read the room, drive competition between buyers, and land each lot at the best possible price for the seller. The famous rapid-fire "chant" is only the visible part. Behind it sits ring control (managing bidders, spotters and the pace), clerking (recording every sale accurately), salesmanship, and a working knowledge of auction law and ethics.
Auctioneers work across several sectors, and the skills carry across all of them:
- Livestock & agriculture — cattle, sheep, game and farm assets.
- Property — residential, commercial, farms and land.
- Vehicles & machinery — cars, trucks, plant and equipment.
- Estate, insolvency & general goods — household, business and specialist assets.
Do you need a licence to be an auctioneer in South Africa?
There is no single national exam you must pass to call yourself an auctioneer in South Africa. The profession is self-regulated through the South African Institute of Auctioneers (SAIA), and auctions are governed by consumer-protection rules that set out how sales must be conducted. In practice, what auction houses and clients look for is professional training and accreditation — proof you know how to run a sale properly and lawfully. That's why a recognised course, rather than a licence, is the standard way in.
The skills you'll need
- A clear, controlled voice — the chant is a learned technique, not a gift you're born with.
- Quick, accurate numbers — you're calculating increments and totals live, under pressure.
- Confidence and presence — you command the room and keep the energy up.
- People skills and integrity — buyers and sellers must trust you completely.
None of these need to be perfect on day one. They're exactly what a good course develops — with time on the rostrum and honest coaching.
How to qualify: the professional auctioneering course
The most direct route is the Professional Auctioneer Course. It's a 4-day intensive, in-person programme that takes you from the fundamentals to calling a real auction:
- Bid-calling, the auctioneer's chant and voice control
- Ring control, spotting and running the floor
- Clerking and accurate recording of sales
- Salesmanship, ethics, auction law and licensing
- A live public student auction before you graduate
You finish with a prestigious diploma, a comprehensive manual and digital course materials to keep. The college is SAIA-accredited, founded in 1986, and its founder, Col. Hedley Harris, has trained more than 50,000 auctioneers and is a SAIA Hall of Fame inductee.
Ready to train?
See the next intake dates or reserve your seat — small classes, real rostrum time.
View intake datesCareer paths and earning potential
Once you can call an auction, you have options. Many graduates join an established auction house; others go independent and build their own auction business. Auctioneer income is typically commission-based, so what you earn depends on the sector you work in and the volume and value you sell.
It can move fast. One of our graduates, retrenched after nearly a decade in the industry, trained with us and went out on his own — within months he had sold a farm for R3.8 million and a guest house for R880,000. Results vary, but the ceiling is set by your hustle, not a salary band.
How to get started
- Choose an intake. Check the upcoming course dates.
- Reserve your seat with a deposit and confirm your place.
- Train for 4 days in Kempton Park — including your live student auction.
- Graduate with your diploma and start calling.
Students travel to us from across South Africa and neighbouring countries in the region. If you're coming from further afield, get in touch and we'll help you plan.