How does it work?
When Candidates register to start the ECDL / ICDL certification process they purchase a Skills Card on which their progress through the seven Tests is recorded. Skills Cards may be purchased from any approved Test Centre. Only an approved Test Centre can carry out testing and issue Skills Cards. Approved Test Centres are approved and monitored by the ECDL / ICDL Licensee in each country.
How much training is required?
Usually the Candidate will undertake training on each Module of the Syllabus prior to taking the Test, although this is not compulsory. The amount of training will depend on the Candidate’s skills levels and the training provider chosen, but the average is around 30 hours of training per Module.
Some Candidates may feel competent enough in one area to forego training and move onto testing immediately, while others may require full training prior to testing. There are various ECDL Foundation approved and Licensee approved training materials (books and computer based training) available so that a Candidate can learn in their own time.
How long are the Tests?
Each Module is tested separately and each Test generally lasts 45 minutes. The seven Tests can be attempted in any order and at any time.
The ECDL / ICDL is unique in that it has been designed to be vendor-neutral. This means that the ECDL / ICDL is not tied to one type of software. It therefore gives Candidates the flexibility and freedom to acquire core IT skills and confidently apply them in any software environment they may be required to use.