ECDL Course

purpleducky

I'm currently jobhunting and think it would be beneficial to update my A Level ICT by getting an ECDL qualification. LearnDirect have told me that I'm not entitled to help with the cost however.

One company near me is doing a special offer of all 7 modules, logbook and 7 tests for £250. Can anyone say if this is a good deal and worth the money? Seems like an awful lot!

Edited to add: Well www.ecdluk.co.uk are offering the course for £99.99 but when I rang to ask about assessment a girl told me my local college would test me for £5-10 per module. I was a bit sceptical and rang the college to ask them what they charge per module and the lady said £30. Looks like ecdluk.co.uk might be telling porkies?

catmiaow

I did the ECDL course while I was getting council tax benefit. Your local college should do this course and you will not have to pay for it if you are on council tax benefit or job seekers allowance. Just show them proof.

The course is a beneficial for people who do not know much about computers but if you are any good with them, it will just be a brush up course, it is not worth £250. Although it is very good to have on your C.V.

Oldernotwiser

If you can get the costs covered somehow then ECDL would be worth doing, but not for £250!

Motivatedworkingmum

I did the ECDL through my employer a couple of years ago. At that time it was free to adult learners. To be honest I did not learn much from it and I'm not that sure that employers will really take that much notice of it on your CV. If you're a beginner then possibly ok but if you're just using it to acknowledge/update your IT skills then you won't get that much from it. I would not pay £250 for it. Fine if its free though. Public sector may know it but many private sector employers would not be that ofe with it. Wouldn't bother IMHO.

bookduck

Definitely not worth doing for £250. It is better to have it than not to have it. Often colleges teach it. My friend told me she is doing it for £70 a few weeks ago. It is fairly basic, whoever the advanced one is apparently is quite tough in comparison..

LittleVoice

You could try individual advanced ECDL modules - Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Database, Presentations.

claudiac_2

I am in Scotland, and I know that Paisley University runs FREE ECDL courses. Am almost certain it can be done by distance learning, in which case it doesn't matter where you live. Might be worthwhile sending them an email, or looking at their website. Definately not high level training, not worth paying a lot of money for, and if your unemployed there must be a way of funding any fees.
As for ILA, it seems to depend who you get when you call them as the advice and help offered is not always accurate. I requested details of ECDL in my area and received details of colleges over 100 miles away. And the costs varied from free to £250 plus.
Don't give up trying though, you will get it, for free hopefully, and even if its not the highest level it shows prospective employers that you are actively trying to improve your prospects.

Good luck

Claudiac

jezebel

I would check the charges with BCS who underwrite the ECDL and also consider signing up with an employment agency who will give you free tests in MS Office to get you on their books and then all I would do is tell people that you've got whatever percentage in a recent word test

Phatmouse

I did it as a night course at my local high school. It was free because I was getting benefits, they even covered the £25 for the log book for my exams, I did the fast track its a good course, taught me a lot about excel and database, so much so i'm doing the advanced this year.

floss2

Some councils offer ECDL free to residents - mine does, but here the course is offered daytime only, so it's not much use to those who work.

Bismarck

I'd suggest getting the books from the library (CIA are good) and finding a centre where you can just take the tests, if you can. If you want to make a point have a go at the advanced ones which are whole new ball game!

As for job applications, some forms have them as evidence of the IT ability that they need and every little helps....