02 Mar 2021
Key Facts
Qualification purpose
Confirm occupational competence and/or ‘licence to practice’
Qualification Grading Type
Pass
Assessment Methods
Why choose this qualification?
The suite of Gateway Qualifications IT User Skills (ITQ) qualifications
They aim to equip individuals with the IT user skills needed for full participation in employment and society. ITQ units can be gained across a range of situations and credit achieved can be taken by learners from school to college, from training programmes to the workplace, until the learner has achieved a full ITQ qualification.
The qualifications recognise employers’ needs for ICT qualifications that reflect real-world skills, and the challenges of work-place learning. They enable recognition of the skills that employers want across the range of levels, have been successfully piloted in a wide range of companies and organisations, and are now a part of mainstream provision. They enable learning providers to target teaching and equipment resource effectively and use flexible approaches to assessment and delivery that ensure all learning counts towards a qualification, wherever it takes place.
Rules of Combination
To achieve the Level 2 Diploma learners must achieve 38 credits. Learners must achieve 4 credits from the mandatory unit in group M. A minimum of 17 credits must be achieved from optional units OG at level 2. A maximum of 4 credits can be achieved from unit group SSU. Only one unit can be selected from any unit group. Learners cannot include more than one unit with the same or similar title. For full details refer to the unit group structures. ICT Functional skills with any of the three units with embedded FS (IUF, ICF, ISF) may be included at Level 1 or Level 2 and will be valued at 5 credits.
Units
Learners must complete 4 credits from this group.
Improving Productivity Using IT
Learners must complete a minimum of 34 credits from this group. A minimum of 17 credits must be achieved from group OG at level 2. Only one unit can be selected from any unit group.
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Audio Software
Audio Software
Audio Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Bespoke Software
Bespoke Software
Bespoke Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Computerised Accounting Software
Computerised Accounting Software
Computerised Accounting Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Data Management Software
Data Management Software
Data Management Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Database Software
Database Software
Database Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Design Software
Design Software
Design Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Desktop Publishing Software
Desktop Publishing Software
Desktop Publishing Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Drawing and Planning Software
Drawing and Planning Software
Drawing and Planning Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Imaging Software
Imaging Software
Imaging Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Internet Safety for IT users
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
IT Communication Fundamentals
IT Communication Fundamentals
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
IT Security for Users
IT Security for Users
IT Security for Users
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
IT Software Fundamentals
IT Software Fundamentals
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
IT User Fundamentals
IT User Fundamentals
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Multimedia Software
Multimedia Software
Multimedia Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Optimise IT System Performance
Optimise IT System Performance
Optimise IT System Performance
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Personal Information Management Software
Personal Information Management Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Presentation Software
Presentation Software
Presentation Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Project Management Software
Project Management Software
Project Management Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Set Up an IT System
Set Up an IT System
Set Up an IT System
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Specialist Software
Specialist Software
Specialist Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Spreadsheet Software
Spreadsheet Software
Spreadsheet Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Using a Computer Keyboard
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Using Collaborative Technologies
Using Collaborative Technologies
Using Collaborative Technologies
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Using Email
Using Email
Using Email
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Using Mobile IT Devices
Using Mobile IT Devices
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Using the Internet
Using the Internet
Using the Internet
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Video Software
Video Software
Video Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Website Software
Website Software
Website Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Word Processing Software
Word Processing Software
Word Processing Software
Centres may import a maximum of one Sector Specific Unit at either level 1, level 2 or level 3.
Special Unit for Sector Specific Groups L1 (All SSAs)
Special Unit for Sector Specific Groups L2 (All SSAs)
Special Unit for Sector Specific Groups L3 (All SSAs)
What is the purpose of this qualification?
This qualification is designed to confirm occuapational competence for learners working within or seeking employment in the IT sector, in particular for those working with IT systems and software.
This qualification forms part of the ITQ Framework . This qualification can support learners with a spiky profile whereby learners can achieve a proportion of the learning at a higher/lower or lower level than that of the qualification.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
This qualification requires learners to complete a mandatory unit in Improving Productivity Using IT as well as additional optional units from the following areas:
• Audio software
• Bespoke software
• Collaborative Technologies
• Computer basics
• Computerised Accounting
• Data management software
• Database software
• Design and Imagining software
• Design software
• Desktop publishing software
• Digital lifestyle
• Drawing and planning software
• Email
• Imaging software
• Improving productivity using IT
• Internet and World Wide Web
• IT communication fundamentals
• IT software fundamentals
• IT system performance
• Mobile IT devices
• Multimedia software
• Personal information management software
• Presentations software
• Productivity programmes
• Project management software
• Specialist software
• Spreadsheet software
• Video software
• Website software
• Word processing software
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
The Level 2 Diploma in IT User Skills (ITQ) is most suitable for learners who require a significant programme of learning to develop their general IT skills that can be applied in learning or employment or for those require a period of time to develop a specific / specialist aspect of their IT skills to confirm occupational competence in their job role, eg an IT Support Technician.
Which sector does this qualification support?
This qualification provides formal recognition of a learner’s IT Skills that can be applied in current or future employment for a variety of roles that require a considerable amount of time spent applying general IT skills in their day-to-day work or for those who require specialist IT skills. Learners are looking to be in a job role that might require the following:
• Providing support and assistance to colleagues to make effective use of available IT systems and software.
• Developing, testing and implementing solutions to improve workplace productivity through the use of IT using the advanced features of IT Application Software in the creation and amendment of many types of formatted information, including documents, diagrams, spreadsheets and presentations.
• Maintaining simple websites, using the internet to find and exchange information.
• Using social media to disseminate information.
This could be in a number of industry sectors such as Office/Business Administration; Ac
Progression & entry requirements
It is likely that learners at this level will have level 1 skills and experience; may require considerable support at times, but may also have some capability to learn and develop skills with some autonomy. The approved age range for these qualifications is: pre 16; 16-18 and 19+. Learners can progress in two ways: • increasing the range of skills they have by increasing the size of their qualification (Award → Certificate → Diploma) • developing skills at a higher level by moving up the level of qualification from Level 2 to Level 3Funding information
Learning Aims Search
The Hub provides a Learning Aims Search which you can use to check the funding status of any qualification or unit.
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Hub website
From 1st July 2021, the Hub will be replaced by a new Find a learning aim (FALA) service. This service is currently in BETA so if you experience any issues with finding funding details, please double check on the Hub above, or contact your account manager.
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website
How to find a learning aim
If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:
How to Use: Find a learning Aim
We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.
This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.
The following support materials will help you to deliver this qualification.