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These test centres must meet the standards in testing and record keeping procedures laid down by ICS Skills in an initial accreditation audit, and are subject to regular audits to ensure continuity of compliance with these standards.
More recently, ICS Skills extended its quality concern to training, and developed the Certified Training Professional certification programme to provide a qualification for professional trainers, and to allow for the differentiation of trainers and training organisations on the basis of quality. All ICS Skills test centres are encouraged to employ certified trainers and to enrol their staff in the CTP programme, which is available nationwide.
Certified Training Centres
ICS Skills is introducing a scheme to differentiate top quality training and test centres on the basis of specific criteria of training excellence. In doing this, ICS Skills is responding to demands from the market for the highest standards of total service delivery in relation to the provision of IT training and certification.
The key to excellence in training delivery is the expertise of the trainer, and the CTP programme guarantees that the holder of this qualification has demonstrated a high level of competence in the planning, delivery and evaluation of training.
The work of the trainer must also be supported by top class training materials, and a professional training programme ought to follow a schedule appropriate for the needs of the student group. All of these elements of training are considered in the Certified Training Centre scheme.
Benefits of being a Certified Training Centre
ICS Skills Centres which are awarded Certified Training Centre designation will benefit from increased business opportunities in training arising from their enhanced status. In addition, ICS Skills will provide:
 Clear identification in the test centre listing on the ICS Skills website.
Certified Training Centre certificate in recognition of Certified Training Centre status
Permission to use the Certified Training Centre logo
Recommendation for specific training projects, sub-contracts etc
The selection of Certified Training Centres by ICS Skills is an exercise in identifying centres who implement widely accepted quality measures in their training practices. It is a recognition of the efforts made by conscientious centres to ensure that training of the highest calibre is offered to clients. ICS Skills will assign particular value to the Certified Training Centres, and it is a status worth applying for in the current competitive training and development services market.
Certified Training Centres to Date
| A1 Computer Centre |
Cork |
| Ashfield Computer Training |
Dublin |
| Cahir Business & Training Centre |
Tipperary |
| College of Computer Training |
Dublin |
| Compulearn |
Tipperary |
| Conference & Training Solutions |
Co Westmeath |
| Direct Training Ireland |
Waterford |
| Eden Computer Training |
Dublin |
| Irish Academy of Computer Training |
Dublin |
| Mountmellick Development Association |
Co Laoise |
| Navenny IT Centre |
Co Donegal |
| Newcastle West Computer College |
Limerick |
| Pery Square Business College |
Limerick |
| The Nagle Centre |
Waterford |
| West Cork Business & Computer Training |
Co Cork |
| Westgate Computer Centre |
Wexford |
Criteria for Selection of Certified Training Centres
All ICS Skills centres may apply for recognition as a Certified Training Centre, and all applications will be assessed, providing the centres meet the usual quality conditions demanded by test centre accreditation and quality. In addition, the following criteria apply:
| 1. |
The Centre must be an ICS Skills accredited Test Centre
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| 2. |
The Centre must have at least 2 CTP qualified trainers
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| 3. |
The Centre must undertake to provide CTP certification to all ECDL/IT trainers employed by or working for the organisation within 12 months of gaining approval
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| 4. |
All Centre trainers must register for free membership of the IT Trainers Network at www.ittrainers.ie
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| 5. |
The centre must have been in business for at least 12 months
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| 6. |
The centre must provide top quality training materials
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| 7. |
The centre must deliver ECDL according to an approved schedule, i.e. appropriate to the prior experience of the candidates
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| 8. |
As well as ECDL, the centre must offer at least one beginner level programme (EQUALSKILLS or e-CITIZEN) and one higher/specialist programme (ECDL Advanced, ECDL CAD, ECDL WEBSTARTER, or EUCIP) in line with our aim to provide a continuum of training for clients
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| 9. |
The Centre must implement the ICS Skills candidate administration system according to the ICS Skills roll-out schedule. |
ICS Skills reserves the right to change or add to these criteria. In advance of any such change, all Certified Training Centres will be notified. There is no initial cost involved in applying to become a Certified Training Centre, but there will be an annual certification fee of €350 for centres awarded this status. However, it will be waived in any year that a centre enrols a trainer in the CTP programme. The first fifteen Certified Training Centres announced will also be exempt this year.
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