Regarding white-collar jobs, almost every job description requires a “computer literate” or “confident computer user”. In the era of total digitalisation, almost everybody seems to have strong computer skills. Still, employers might be interested in seeing more realistic proof. What can it be? The ICDL or ECDL qualification.
In your article, we unpack what ICDL/ECDL is, what the certification process looks like, and how obtaining this internationally recognised IT qualification can influence your career prospects.
Table of Contents
If it’s the first time you’ve heard about ICDL/ECDL, you might want to get a more comprehensive description of what it is and what elements it consists of.
ECDL stands for European Computer Driving License and aims to prove your competence in using a computer and new technology. Only the Chartered Institute for IT (BCS) and centres approved by BCS can offer these qualifications in the UK. They are not only recognised by employers in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales but also highly regarded worldwide. The British Computer Society has even recently rebranded the ECDL qualifications to ICDL, International Certification of Digital Literacy.
The advantages of the ECDL course are difficult to underestimate. Literally, every job description of an office position includes using a computer confidently because employers really value such employees. Firstly, the company can save a lot of money and time if there is no need to teach a new employee how to use popular office software. Secondly, computer-literate people are also aware of cybersecurity principles, which can prevent various unpleasant issues connected with corporate computer equipment and software.
However, it’s not only about the employer; there are benefits for the employee as well. Utilising modern technology and software can significantly improve your daily working routine by making your working process faster and more efficient. The faster you accomplish your tasks, the more free time and the better work-life balance you can have. Improved productivity, in turn, is a surefire way to career advancements and salary rises.
First and foremost, all ICDL or ECDL courses are super flexible. This means that it’s totally up to you to choose what skills and competencies you want to improve. Second, you need no prior expertise in the field to get certified. The available course modules include:
There are three primary levels of the ICDL certification available in the UK, and here are their descriptions.
To obtain the BCS Level 1 Award in IT User Skills or the ICDL Essentials certificate, one has to complete these three modules successfully:
A graduate knows how to use various tools on the desktop effectively, recognises the role of confidentiality and authentication, and is aware of the popular scams and malware on the Internet and the implications they may cause.
This is ICDL Extra or BCS L2 Certificate, and it covers:
It’s especially helpful for people who need a basic understanding of how office technology and software function. Graduates know how to create and read forms and make presentations and spreadsheets.
There is one more module worth attention: ECDL Core or 7 Unit. It’s a combination of Level 1 and Level 2 modules, and it’s truly comprehensive. The broad range of skills a student obtains during the course opens numerous opportunities to the bearer, as the certificate is globally recognised and serves as a reliable indicator that the bearer meets all the computer literacy standard requirements.
ECDL Advanced, or BCS L3 Certificate, gives a more profound knowledge of the previously covered modules. For instance, the module about databases reveals the tricks of integrating data and improving the functionality of databases. The module about presentations explains that preparing presentations implies a bit more than just skilfully using the software. As a bonus, students learn practical means of improving office productivity using IT.
The topics mentioned above are mostly work-related, or so-called “Workforce modules”; however, there are some others:
Another important aspect refers to the exam format and the assessment system.
First, to take the exam, a student must arrange this through a registered testing centre and pay a fee for each ICDL test. The exam is carried out in the form of testing with a total of 45 minutes. It’s possible to take it both online and offline.
For every correct answer in the test, a student gets one point. The candidate is considered to have passed the test if their result is at least 75%.
Here are some ideas of how you could make the certification preparation process more accessible and more effective for yourself:
It’s important to clarify that you don’t have to master all the software in the world to be digitally literate and have chances for a good job. Various software oftentimes have similar principles of utilisation. However, understanding the fundamentals, being keen on trying new technologies, and acknowledging and embracing the importance of using these tools will make a difference.
The demand for computer literacy will only grow with the adoption of hybrid and remote working models. There are some facts according to the latest Amazon research:
The conclusions are up to you.
