ECDL training is delivered through a variety of media, including traditional classroom based, instructor-led methods, and self-directed, assignment or multimedia based training (CBT), which is usually a home study option. This latter method has proved to be most successful when learners are supported by a tutor or mentor to help with any queries.

Students are not however, required to do any training in order to achieve their ECDL. If they are competent in the syllabus content, they can contact an accredited ECDL test centre, purchase a skills card and sit the tests.

A candidate does not have to sit all 7 modules in the same ECDL test centre. Module tests which have been passed are recorded on the candidate’s skills card, which can then be brought to any accredited test centre to sit subsequent tests.

ECDL certifies excellence in training by awarding the Certified Training Professional Certification to trainers who successfully meet the programme requirements.

ECDL Courseware
The ECDL is vendor-neutral certification programme, and therefore a candidate can use any computer platform and corresponding software applications, so long as they have the functionality to cover the tasks on the syllabus.

There are a number of approved courseware providers who produce materials for teaching and learning the knowledge and skills prescribed in the ECDL syllabus.

For a list of approved ECDL Syllabus 5 courseware providers visit:
http://www.ics-skills.ie/courseware.aspx

Training centres and trainers are at liberty to develop their own training materials, but they must ensure that all syllabus items are covered.