Start IT - for IT Users (4249)

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Last Updated: 05 Jan 2024

New to IT? With the Award and Certificate for IT Users you can build your skills and gain the confidence you need to work effectively with computers.

These practical qualifications offer a flexible approach - you can choose to learn about word processing, spreadsheets and email or choose units covering specialist programmes for design and imaging or audio or video editing.

Start IT (iTQ) is based on National Standards developed in collaboration with e-skills UK.

The Award in Online basics backs Government's initiative to aid the digitally excluded, offering a basic introduction to email, the Internet and being safe online.

The Award for IT Users is ideal for anyone new to the world of computing. This first step in understanding IT can aid progression on to further qualifications.

The Award for IT Users (Microsoft Digital Literacy) is ideal for anyone new to the world of computing who wishes to follow the Microsoft Digital Literacy learning programme. This first step in understanding IT can aid progression on to further qualifications.

The Certificate for IT Users is for anyone who works, or wants to work, with computers and has little or no experience with IT.

No prior qualifications are required.

Available to deliver in the following:

England
Wales – please check QiW website for available funding
Scotland
Northern Ireland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form.

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

You'll cover things like:

Computer Basics
Computer Security and Privacy
Use of Mobile Technology
Word processing
Spreadsheets.

For a full list of units, including optional units, please see the qualification handbook for more details.

Centres may choose to teach in group sessions or use a variety of materials to allow for individual study. In addition, the learning need not take place in a centre, but can be part of an employer training programme.

You'll be assessed using practical assignments, multiple choice tests or portfolio of evidence. The methods of assessing you will depend on the units taken and whether you are part of a taught class, working on a project or learning through

Is this Level right for me?

Entry Level 3
You have little or no IT experience and would like to gain confidence in using computers and the latest IT technology. You might also be looking to gain the background knowledge you need to progress on to and complete a Level 1 qualification for IT users.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

Start IT (ITQ) can help provide the confidence to use IT within the workplace, at home or progress to further learning.

If you'd like to get ahead in your career by advancing your IT skills even further, you might consider progressing on to one of these Level 1 qualifications:

Award in IT Systems Support - PC Maintenance (7276-11)
iTQ Award/Certificate/Diploma for IT Users (7574-01).

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

To deliver the Award and Certificate you'll need to provide your learners with a suitable learning environment.

You'll assess learners using practical assignments or multiple-choice tests or portfolio of work depending on the learner's needs and units they choose.

You must ensure learners can access sufficient IT equipment to cover all of the practical activities - this might be at the centre or in their workplace.

The equipment should replicate equipment found in a normal working environment, with a standard operating system and some common productivity software tools installed.

You can get fast-track approval if you offer the Certificate in Start IT (4248).

To find all the resource requirements for assessment and delivery, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

Entry 3

This level will suit you if you have little or no IT experience and would like to gain confidence in using computers and the latest technology. You might also be looking to gain the background knowledge you need to progress onto and complete a Level 1 qualification for IT users.

There are four qualifications available at Entry Level 3:

Award for IT Users
Certificate for IT Users
Award in Online Basics
Award for IT Users - Microsoft Digital Literacy.

For both the Award and Certificate for IT Users, you complete two credits from the following:

IT user fundamentals
Computer basics
Computer security and privacy.

You must then choose a minimum of four credits from the Award or eleven credits for the Certificate from a wide range of optional units, which include:

Database software
Desktop publishing software
Audio and video software
Design and imaging software
The internet and world wide web
Computer security and privacy
Word processing.

To achieve the Award in Online Basics, you complete one unit:

Online basics.

To achieve the Award for IT Users - Microsoft Digital Literacy, you need to complete the following units:

Computer basics
Computer security and privacy
The internet and world wide web
Productivity programmes
Digital lifestyle
Online basic

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

Start IT (ITQ) can help provide the confidence to use IT within the workplace, at home or progress to further learning.

If you'd like to get ahead in your career by advancing your IT skills even further, you might consider progressing on to one of these Level 1 qualifications:

Award in IT Systems Support - PC Maintenance (7276-11)
iTQ Award/Certificate/Diploma for IT Users (7574-01).

Start IT - Entry Level 3 for IT Users (4249-01)

Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2024 Supportive services: SmartScreen Learning Assistant

Entry Level 3 Award for IT Users (Start IT - iTQ) - Microsoft Digital Literacy

Accreditation No: 500/5886/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 6 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 35 - 55 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 60 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2026 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £36.60 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Entry Level Award for IT Users (Start IT - iTQ) (Entry 3)

Accreditation No: 500/5886/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 6 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 35 - 55 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 60 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2026 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £36.60 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Entry Level Certificate for IT Users (Start IT - iTQ) (Entry 3)

Accreditation No: 500/6100/8 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 13 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 100 - 115 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 130 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2026 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £55.10 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Entry Level Award in On-Line Basics (Start IT - ITQ) (Entry 3)

Accreditation No: 500/8483/5 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 1 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 10 - 10 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 10 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2026 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £36.60 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Additional information for centres

SMARTSCREEN IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS QUALIFICATION

SmartScreen is our online portal for tutor, assessors and learners that provides unit-specific support materials and tutor forums to complement the delivery and learning experience

Visit Smartscreen.co.uk >

LEARNING ASSISTANT IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS QUALIFICATION

Learning Assistant is an innovative and cost effective e-portfolio solution that allows colleges and training providers to dramatically improve the delivery of their vocational qualifications.

Learn more about Learning Assistant >

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form.

4249 Entry 3

Centre documents

Assessment materials

Centre documents

Purpose and Recognition

19 Plus

Purpose

Explore our wider maths & English offer

Our maths & English qualifications underpin our apprenticeships and technical qualifications. They build learners’ confidence with the core skills required for employment, including the capacity to problem solve and use technology effectively. They are also key to triggering conditions of funding.

Find out more

Start IT - for IT Users (4249)