Membership & Certification Frequently Asked Questions
Membership of the Institute of IT Training demonstrates your commitment to both your own and the training community's professional development.
Institute membership sets you apart from other training professionals giving you industry recognition of your skills, experience, professionalism and quality.
By joining the Institute of IT Training you will become part of the UK's industry body for training professionals, as well as belonging to the Institute's rapidly expanding community of workplace learning and performance professionals.
Listed below are some answers to questions you may have on membership and membership requirements. We shall continue to add to this list as we receive more questions. If you cannot find the answer to your question, the membership team will be pleased to help you.
Glossary of terms
TPMA: Trainer Performance Monitoring & Assessment; AQAC: IITT Authorised Qualification & Assessment Centre; AAC: IITT Authorised Assessment Centre; QCA: Qualifications Curriculum Authority; QCF: Qualifications & Credit Framework.
National Qualification
Q. What are the Institute's membership requirements?
A. As a Professional Body representing the IT training profession, we believe that there should be one standard and one qualification for all those that deliver/facilitate learning. Since the Government, through the Sector Skills Council for Lifelong Learning (LLUK), launched a new set of qualifications that transcends training delivery (e.g. work-based learning* trainers, tutors, facilitators, teachers and teaching assistants in the HE & FE sectors) we have aligned our membership to this national standard. We have consulted other professional bodies, Awarding Bodies and the membership (through a series of Member Focus Groups, including a session at our annual IITT National Conference) and have obtained support from all sections of the membership.
*Work-based learning is defined as: 'learning which accredits and extends the workplace skills or abilities of employees'. Work Based Learning, a report by The Higher Education Authority, July 2006
Q. How do I obtain the new National Qualification?
A. To obtain the Level3/4 PTLLS award you need to attend a PTLLS course, which is available from a number of sources. However, as an Authorised Qualifications Centre of City & Guilds, the IITT is able to offer this qualification. Once you have attended the course and been successful in the live assessments, your portfolio is verified by the awarding body (City & Guilds) and you will receive your PTLLS qualification at either Level 3 or 4.
Q. Who is the target audience for PTLLS?
A. The target audience for the PTLLS award includes the whole of the learning and skills workforce: HE, FE, work-based learning and Adult and Community learning providers. The term 'teacher' is used in the official documentation as a generic term for trainers, teachers, tutors, lecturers, instructors.
Q. How long does it take to obtain the Qualification and what are the costs?
A. At present the IITT offer a 4-day classroom-based PTLLS course. In the near future we shall be offering a 2-day Blended Course, including 14 hours self-directed study and online tuition. The cost of each course is £675+VAT. Depending on your local Learning & Skills Council, funding for the course may be available for these costs. Please contact your local LSC for details.
Q. What are the industry's views on the new changes?
A. We have received outstanding support from all parts of the industry, from leading L&D commentators, Awarding Bodies, Internal Training Department Managers, External Training Providers, Vendors (like IBM, Apple, HP, SAS), and freelance trainers, who all support and applaud the initiative. Here is a small snippet from one such commentator, Brian Sutton, former head of QA-IQ: 'I applaud the IITT for this bold move to shift emphasis from the acquisition of theoretical training techniques to the practical application of those techniques where it matters, at the sharp end with real learners grappling with real performance issues in their workplace. This new qualification applies a light touch approach to recognise and align trainer competencies against National standards, this in itself is a huge step forward for the industry. But what really excites me is the fresh new focus on excellence in delivery. This is the right service at the right time. I urge you to take a close look at how this can work for you'.
Q. I have heard about the QCF and NQF in connection with Institute membership; what are they?
A. A. The QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework) is a new framework for recognising and accrediting qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The framework is at the heart of a major reform of the vocational qualifications system designed to make the whole system simpler to understand and use, and more inclusive. The intention is to make both the system and the qualifications offered far more relevant to the needs of employers and more flexible and accessible for learners. The aim is to reform the current NQF (National Qualifications Framework) and develop a simple and effective structure that allows for the accumulation and transfer of credit achievement.
Membership Requirements
Q. Do you still accept TAP for membership?
A. Yes, we do accept TAP for professional membership. On the new membership standards it is graded at Associate Member as TAP is not on the Qualification Curriculum Authority's Database of Accredited Qualifications (see Learning & Development qualifications).
Q. I have a Microsoft MCT certificate. What level of Institute membership am I eligible for?
A. As the MCT certificate gained is not on the Qualification Curriculum Authority's Database of Accredited Qualifications, you are eligible for the Institute's Professional membership grade of Associate.
Q. I have a CompTIA CTT+ certificate. What level of Institute membership am I eligible for?
A. As the CTT+ certificate gained is not on the Qualification Curriculum Authority's Database of Accredited Qualifications, you are eligible for the Institute's Professional membership grade of Associate.
Q. I have invested a lot in TAP for my organisation. Is that now wasted?
A. Definitely not. Your investment in TAP means that your trained staff are still recognised for Professional membership of the IITT, although now at Associate level. If you would like them to progress to achieving a nationally recognised qualification that is portable throughout the UK, then they will need to attend a PTLLS course. Note that LSC funding may be available for this. Please contact your local LSC for details.
Q. If I currently hold a Level 3 qualification which is neither PTLLS nor CTLLS, is it acceptable for membership?
A. Yes, as long as the qualification is within the Learning and Development discipline on the QCA Database of Accredited Qualifications then you are eligible for IITT Senior Associate membership.
Q. I have a PGCE teaching certificate gained a while ago and I am not sure what level it is recognised at on the QCF. How do I find out?
A. The Learning & Development Sector Skills Council LLUK (Lifelong Learning UK) will be able to confirm the level of any currently held certificate as recognised within the current national framework. You may contact them via their web site at www.lluk.org
Q. I am a training manager/consultant and do not hold a QCF recognised qualification in Learning and Development. Can I gain Institute membership?
A. Yes, the Institute's certification and National Qualification requirements are primarily for Training Practitioners, so if you are in a predominantly managerial or consultative role then we would require you to demonstrate the skills appropriate to your job through registering on and completing the IITT's Skills Tracker questionnaire, supported by the appropriate external validation.
Q. I am currently a Senior Associate and hold the IITT certificate in Delivery Skills that is more than 3 years old. How is my membership status affected?
A. Each membership grade is now aligned to the QCF. To retain Senior Associate level membership you will need to gain a Level 3/4 qualification in Learning and Development, such as PTLLS.
Q. I am a trainer and currently a full Member of the Institute, but while I do hold Institute certification I do not hold a National qualification. Does this affect my membership?
A. Yes, as the Institute has aligned its Professional membership grades to national standards, as per the QCF framework, it is now a requirement for a full Member whose role is predominantly a trainer to hold a Level 4 or 5 qualification and retain the validity of their Institute certification by undertaking a TPMA assessment.
Q. I run my own training business. Although still do a small amount of classroom training and have many years experience, although no formal qualifications, how do I become a member and what grade of membership am I eligible for?
A. Demonstrate your range of competencies through IITT's Skills Tracker, which includes setting your own target membership grade and submit information with suitable external validation. If the majority of your time is managerial or consultative and your training time is minimal then there is not a mandatory requirement for Institute certification or holding the appropriate level of National qualification.
Q. Do I need to renew my Institute Certificate(ICTP) every 3 years to maintain ICTP membership?
A. Yes, as this confirms your current skill set and is key to this membership grade and attendant professional standing. The Institute's ICTP certificate, gained through TPMA assessment and jointly awarded by the IITT and BCS, is now the accepted certification for this grade.
Q. I am a trainer. If I currently hold an IITT Certificate in Delivery Skills (TAP) achieved over 2 years ago how do I gain or upgrade to Full Member status?
A. Full Member status, as you would expect, requires evidence of being a consummate training professional and therefore it carries the requirement that you hold both a Level 4 (or Level 5) qualification in Learning and Development and an Institute ICTP certificate. To gain your IITT ICTP certificate you need to take a TPMA assessment through an Institute AQAC/AAC. You will also need to attend a PTLLS Level 4 or a CTLLS 4 or a DTLLS 5 or similar Level 4 or 5 qualifying course.
Q. If I need to gain either an Institute TPMA assessment and/or suitable grade of National qualification to retain my currently held membership, how long do I have to do this and do I lose my membership if I do not?
A. The Institute does not wish to penalise existing members and therefore is setting a time period for members to fulfill the revised requirements. In other words we shall want to see that you are working towards a Level 3 or 4 qualification. Under the new grading system no member should lose their right to retain Professional membership, although depending on qualifications held after this period this may mean a change in grade. As ever, the IITT will be pleased to help you if this becomes a problem for you or your employer.
Notes and explanations
