Word Processing qualifications - what's the curriculum?

SnowyOwl_2

Hi all

I am a bit ancient (in my 40s) and have typewriting qualifications coming out of my ears. I also have 20+ years office experience and have used word processing all that time, but without a formal qualification in it. I think I am proficient in Word and have never had an issue with it and can use advanced features with ease, however I am not sure how my experience compares to an actual qualification.

Can anyone out there tell me what is on the curriculum for stage 1, 2 and 3 qualifications.
Also, what distinguishes Part I and Part II word processing.

Obviously I will be looking into getting the qualification, but right now I need to clarify how competent I am so that I can get on with filling in job application forms.

Many thanks.

Savvy_Sue

Might help if you told us who the awarding body is - is the RSA still around?

an even more ancient person with fewer typewriting qualifications ... but it's never held me back. Have you done any one day courses in Word in your job? That's all I've ever had, and then I've given examples of the 'clever' stuff I can do, like indices and contents.

Dazi

Hi Snowy

When I registered with an agency, even though I had wordprocessing exams (they were taken on the old amstrad wordprocessors) and passed all their tests they thought it would hold me back not having a recent qualification and suggested ECDL, I belive that you can do an advanced ECDL now, wasn't an option when I finished it so I went on to do a city & guilds for IT users.

I think a qualification that shows you can use all office software is more helpful nowadays than just a word processing one. (I actually found the wordprocessing bits boring as its just typing without the effort!) remember working out tabs on a typewriter?

annandalex

Hi - I'm an examiner with OCR (RSA joined with Cambridge Examinations a few years ago to become OCR). Here's a link to information on text and word processing examinations. The difference between text and word processing is that text is mostly copy typing and word involves recalling and making changes to text.

http://www.ocr.org.uk/textpro

ECDL is also a good qualification to have and involves modules on email, spreadsheets etc that you won't find with OCR's Business Professional qualifications.

Sounds like you could easily pass (maybe with Distinction!) the ones I've mentioned so good luck. If you don't want to do an actual course somewhere you should be able to find past papers, practice at home and then just find a centre to let you sit the exam. OCR can help with that too.

All the best.

LittleVoice

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Might help if you told us who the awarding body is - is the RSA still around?

Just a quick response to say that RSA (Royal Society of Arts) is now incorporated as the R in OCR (Oxford Cambridge RSA).

Curriculum for specific qualifications should be available via their website - just as the ECDL is from the ECDL website.

PasturesNew

You might find you can walk an ECDL without any effort. I had never ever heard of it and was called into an interview as a tutor and I sat down to sit every ECDL exam, the whole set. I got 90-100% on every one and completed the 7 in just over an hour. The ECDL is software-specific in a lot of it, but I just knew it from having used the software for so long etc.

You might find, once you look into it, that you wouldn't gain/learn anything from doing the qualification - and that just looking gives you the confidence that you already do know your stuff.

SnowyOwl_2

Thanks for your replies everyone.

The reason I asked in the first place is that I am currently jobless and am having to prove myself on application forms. Unfortunately I live in N.Ireland and CVs aren't generally accepted here, the usual procedure is for all candidates to complete identical forms explaining how you meet the short listing criteria, and desirable criteria. Therefore I find myself having to give statements explaining how my experience is relevant and of a high enough standard in lieu of a qualification. I know I have not made the short list on a few occasions because the short listing criteria has been tightened to include only those who have an OCR qualfication or equivalent in word processing rather than typewriting. I will have to do the exams specifically to improve my chances at getting interviews rather than with the objective of learning anything new. I think I have been indirectly penalized for being born at the wrong time and therefore having completed my secretarial training before a word processer or pc was standard office equipment, but that's a different argument of course.