29 Nov 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’ Rules of Combination and units were developed by e-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Business and Information Technology, and are aligned to the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for IT Users, the nationally recognised standards for IT use. e-skills UK is no longer in operation and part of its work is now being taken forward by the Tech Partnership, a growing network of employers collaborating to accelerate growth in the global digital economy.
The qualificationsaim 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 recognises 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 3 Award in IT User Skills ITQ) learners must achieve 12 credits. A minimum of 8 credits must be achieved at Level 3. 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
The learner may take the one unit available in this group.
Using a Computer Keyboard
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.
Drawing and Planning Software
Drawing and Planning Software
Drawing and Planning Software
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Specialist Software
Specialist Software
Specialist Software
Learners may achieve 3 credits from this group.
Internet Safety for IT users
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Word Processing Software
Word Processing Software
Word Processing Software
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.
IT Software Fundamentals
IT Software Fundamentals
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.
Design Software
Design Software
Design 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.
Data Management Software
Data Management Software
Data Management Software
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.
Using Email
Using Email
Using Email
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.
Audio Software
Audio Software
Audio 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.
IT User Fundamentals
IT User Fundamentals
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.
IT Security for Users
IT Security for Users
IT Security for Users
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.
Desktop Publishing Software
Desktop Publishing Software
Desktop Publishing Software
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.
Imaging Software
Imaging Software
Imaging Software
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.
Personal Information Management Software
Personal Information 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.
IT Communication Fundamentals
IT Communication Fundamentals
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.
Improving Productivity Using IT
Improving Productivity Using IT
Improving Productivity Using IT
No more than one unit to be taken from this group.
Bespoke Software
Bespoke Software
Bespoke Software
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 ApprenticeshipFunding information
There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.
The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website
The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).
View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search
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.