People typically begin the ECDL / ICDL certification process through enrolling in a training course. They may do this in a personal capacity or as part of their training requirement as, for example, an employee of an organisation.  Often the training course may take place within an Accredited test centre; however in many cases training and testing for ECDL / ICDL may take place in different locations.

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Certification Process
In order to register for ECDL / ICDL testing, each candidate must obtain an ECDL / ICDL Skills Card from an Accredited test centre (see your country page for contact information). The skills card is the document which records the individual's registration, and which is updated by the Accredited test centre as candidates pass the exam in each ECDL / ICDL module.  Depending on the market, skills cards can be either paper based or online.  Where automated testing is used, skills cards are generally updated automatically and so the candidate may not receive a physical skills card.

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Once all the exams have been successfully completed and the skills card is complete, the Accredited test centre returns the skills card to the national operator who will then issue the certificate to the candidate.  An ECDL / ICDL certificate is awarded to candidates who complete 7 ECDL / ICDL modules - ECDL / ICDL certification based on modules 1-7 is the most commonly offered combination of modules.  Modules 8-12 are not available in all countries.  An ECDL / ICDL Start certificate will be awarded upon completion of 4 ECDL / ICDL modules.

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ECDL / ICDL testing can only be taken at an Accredited test centre. The ECDL / ICDL national operator is responsible for approving test centres and auditing them on a regular basis to ensure they meet ECDL Foundation’s quality assurance standards.  

How much Training is Required?
People usually take training on each module prior to taking the test, although training is not compulsory. Some candidates may feel competent enough in one area to forego training and move directly to testing, whereas others may require full training before testing.  The amount of training needed will depend on the candidate’s existing skills levels prior to commencing training and the type of training - for example, instructor-led or e-learning.  Typically the average training time for those without prior experience is approximately 30 hours per module.

Training materials such as text books and e-learning that have been approved by ECDL Foundation and/or the national operator are generally available in each market where ECDL / ICDL is offered, enabling individuals to also engage in self-paced learning. 

How Long are the Tests?
Each module is tested separately with each test lasting no longer than 45 minutes. The tests can be attempted in any order. 

Vendor Neutrality
ECDL / ICDL is unique in that it has been designed to be vendor neutral. This means that the skills requirements in the ECDL / ICDL syllabus are not linked with any specific software.  Candidates therefore have the flexibility and freedom to acquire ICT skills and confidently apply them in a range of software environments.