ITQ

[saxy_jag]

My employer has offered all of us the chance to take the ITQ at level 2. This is to become the mandatory minimum standard for admin staff which was previously the ECDL. I was exempted from ECDL when I started in 2005 because I already had IBT at level 3. Since then I've taken OU courses around digital imaging, web design and advanced internet search techniques. I'm also the one in our office who gets called over to help other people when they get themselves into a mess over their IT (which is quite often).

This ITQ offer isn't compulsory - just recommended, especially in light of local government cutbacks and an ongoing restructuring of our department. Thing is, I'm looking at the syllabi for the various units thinking 'I can already do that' or 'I covered that on such-and-such an OU course' and I'm wondering just how useful this level 2 qualification is going to be to me when I'm already certified competent at level 3/4.

There is a case for updating the IBT3, which I took in 2004, but I very much doubt whether my employers would fund me at level 3, given their shortage of cash and this minimum standard thing.

What I'd really like is some advice from those who train or assess around NVQs and especially in IT. Is it really worth my doing this or would I be better off spending my time on something more constructive?

[JustChillin]

Do the ITQ at Level 2 and any other qualifications you are offered. As an employment adviser, every day I deal with individuals who tell me that their qualification is higher than one which is listed as essential in a job advertisement, but they don't get offered the interview. It is a lot easier to negotiate and be successful if you have the qualification an employer is looking for. If ITQ Level 2 is your employers next step, then complete it. If it's to become the mandatory minimum, then, professionally you need it.

[saxy_jag]

Well I guess the up side is that I should be able to breeze the work and get it over and done with fairly quickly. They're allowing up to two hours a week in work time to do it, but I'd really rather be getting on with my job than spending valuable time 'learning' to do something I've been doing for years (and teaching it, in some cases).