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 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.
Units have been developed according to the National Occupational Standards for Using IT, therefore confirming a learner’s occupational competence to the standard of the units completed.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
This qualification covers a wide range of optional units, there are no mandatory units that learners are required to complete. The enables providers to develop a coherent IT learning programme by selecting 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 3 Award in IT User Skills (ITQ) is most suitable for learners who require a programme of learning to developing their technical IT skills that can be applied in learning or employment or for those who require a short period of time to develop a specific / specialist aspect of their IT skills that can be applied in learning or their job role, eg accountancy or a Network 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 in varying roles required that require a considerable amount of time spent applying high level technical IT skills in the day-to-day work.
What are the progression options?
This qualification forms part of the ITQ Framework that was developed, led by e-skills UK the Sector Skills Council for, Business, Information and Technology, to provide a flexible framework for recognising achievements in IT skills across the UK within the education system and industry.
Progression & entry requirements
The qualification is designed for the following learner groups:
• Those preparing for employment or in employment to gain a level of skills application and development to enable practical exploitation of the potential of IT within the business environment
• Those preparing for or in employment to develop skills for specific systems and software applications within industry and/or specifically for job roles in the IT sector.
t is likely that learners at this level will have level 2 skills and experience; thought of as a power user; taking a level of responsibility; likely to have capability to learn and develop skills with considerable autonomy.
The approved age range for these qualifications is: 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, eg a Higher Level Apprenticeship
