What is the ICDL?
ICDL is an internationally recognised qualification that enables people to demonstrate their competence in the use of a computer.
The ICDL is designed specifically for those who wish to gain a basic qualification in computing to help them with their current job, develop their computer skills and enhance their career prospects. No prior knowledge of IT or computer skills is needed to register for the ICDL.
Who controls ICDL?
ICDL is controlled by an international foundation - The ECDL Foundation. This is a not-for-profit organisation which works closely with professional computer societies to promote computer skills throughout the world. The ECDL Foundation controls the ICDL syllabus, the approval of tests for ICDL and the approval of training material.
How can I find out more about the ICDL?
Activities relating to the ICDL in the Asia Pacific Region are co-ordinated by ICDL Asia Pacific Limited. ICDL AP Ltd can provide:
- The list of approved training material
ICDL AP Ltd does not recommend any specific training material nor does it accredit training providers. It maintains a database of training material which has been approved by the ECDL Foundation, the controlling body for ICDL.
- Names of Accredited Test Centres
All test centres offering approved ICDL tests have been subjected to the ICDL rigorous accreditation procedure. This assures a common standard of testing.
- Student Skills Cards
Everyone who has registered for the ICDL will be given a Skills Card that is used to maintain a formal record of their success in the various tests.
- The ICDL Syllabus
The ICDL Syllabus is available as a PDF on this site free of charge.
- ICDL Certificate
Those individuals who are successful in passing each ICDL test will have their Skills Cards marked accordingly and when the tests for all seven modules have been passed, they will be issued with an ICDL Certificate. The ICDL Certificate is recognised in many countries around the world, click here to see an up-to-date list.
How does a student register for ICDL?
Students register for ICDL through an ICDL Accredited Test Centre. When registered they will be issued with a skills card and will be able to take ICDL certification tests.
What will it cost?
There are two elements of the ICDL which necessarily involve a charge. These are:
- A fee to cover registration, testing and certification. These are charged by Accredited Testing Centres and details can be obtained directly from the Centres.
- A fee to cover training and training materials. This will vary depending on the individual students needs. Some students will require training in a limited number of modules and would not need to pay as much as those needing a complete ICDL course. Details of these charges can be obtained from Training Providers, Training Material Providers and Accredited Test Centres.
What is the ICDL Skills Card?
When a candidate registers they will receive a Skills Card which the progress through ICDL is recorded. When all seven tests have been successfully passed, the Skills Card is returned to ICDL Asia Pacific Ltd and the certificate is issued.
How do I get the Skills Card?
The Skills Cards can only be purchased from ICDL Accredited Test Centres.
How do I get a copy of the Syllabus?
The syllabus is available to view and download free of charge from this website.
What training does a student have to undertake?
Students are not required to do any training. If they are already sufficiently experienced they can register and start to take the required tests. In general, people will have a range of knowledge and experience and many will want to undergo training for the areas where their background is inadequate. Many ICDL Accredited Test Centres will
offer a range of courses designed to cover individual needs.
What tests does the student have to take?
Students will need to take a test for each of the seven modules required for ICDL. Each test will have to be conducted by an Accredited Test Centre and - when successful in a given test - the centre will record this on the Skills Card.
How are candidates tested?
Candidates undertake the ICDL tests on a computer which then automatically assesses what the candidate has done and provides immediate feedback to both the centre and the candidate. There are several tests available for each module and candidates must complete one of the tests for each module. The pass mark is 80% for modules 2 to 7 and 60% for module 1.
How long will it take to obtain the ICDL qualification?
The length of time needed to achieve ICDL depends on the individual, some may choose to just sit the tests, others may require training before taking the tests. However, candidates must pass all 7 tests within 3 years to gain the ICDL Certificate.
What happens when all tests have been passed?
When a candidate has successfully passed the tests for all 7 modules, and the Skills Card has been completed by the Accredited Test Centre representative, the ICDL certificate will then be issued by ICDL Asia Pacific Ltd.
