Four Units, One Certificate: Earning Level 4 Through RPL
By Delight Technical College | School of Tailoring, Fashion & Design- RPL | 2026
If Level 3 proves that you can sew, Level 4 shows that you can create. In Delight Technical College’s Fashion Design Learning Guide, Level 4 (Certificate) is earned after Term Two and brings together four units that extend a tailor’s skills into styled garments, fabric decoration and social enterprise. For experienced makers, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can recognise much of this work without the need to repeat a full term in the classroom.
🪜 The Level 4 Pathway at a Glance
| Unit | What It Builds |
| Unit 4: Styled Garments Production | Making garments with design details such as pleats, linings and shaped collars |
| Unit 5: Fabric Decoration (Tie & Dye and Printing) | Colouring and patterning fabric with resist dyeing and printing |
| Unit 6: Menstrual Hygiene Products Construction | Making hygienic, reusable menstrual products to a high standard |
| Unit 7: Fabric Decoration (Batik and Embroidery) | Wax-resist dyeing and hand or machine embroidery |
🎓 Entry Requirements and What Comes Next
According to the learning guide, entry to Level 4 is KCSE or a Level 3 certificate. Once you hold the Level 4 certificate, you can progress to Level 5 (Craft), where the entry requirement is KCSE D or a Level 4 certificate.
🧭 Three Makers, Three Different Strengths
Level 4 is a varied level, so candidates arrive with very different strengths. Imagine three people:
- A tailor who makes lined skirts, structured dresses and shirts every week. They are likely to be strongest in Unit 4
- A fabric artist who tie-dyes, prints and makes batik for a living. They are likely to be strongest in Units 5 and 7
- A women’s group member who has sewn reusable pads for several schools. They are likely to be strongest in Unit 6
None of them is likely to be strong in all four. RPL allows each to be recognised for what they already do well, and to train only for the units where they have gaps.
🗂️ One Portfolio, Four Units
If you work across several areas, organise your portfolio into four sections, one for each unit. Within each section include:
- Photographs of finished work
- Records showing regular production or sales
- Statements from clients, employers or trainers
- A short note explaining your methods
⚖️ Possible Outcomes
- Competent in all four units- you may be recognised for the Level 4 qualification, subject to the awarding body’s arrangements
- Competent in some units- you receive recognition for those units and complete the rest through study
- Not yet competent- you receive feedback on gaps, train, and are reassessed
🚀 Why It Is Worth It
- A nationally recognised certificate that employers and clients understand
- A foundation for Level 5 and, eventually, the Level 6 Diploma
- Credibility when applying for jobs, contracts or training opportunities
- The satisfaction of having your skills formally recognised
📌 Choosing Where to Begin
You do not have to apply for all four units at once. If your strongest evidence is in two units, begin there. A successful assessment builds confidence and clarifies what the others will require. Then you can gather evidence or train for the remaining units at a comfortable pace. Your RPL adviser can help you decide which order makes the most sense for your experience, your time and your goals.
“A Level 4 certificate does not change what you can do. It changes who is willing to believe it.”
💡 Ready to explore Level 4 through RPL? Call Delight Technical College on +254 722 533 771 or visit Muindi Mbingu Street, Nairobi.
📍 Delight Technical College | Muindi Mbingu Street, Opposite Jevanjee Gardens, Nairobi | +254 722 533 771 | www.delight.ac.ke
