International Computer Driving Licence

Computer literacy certification programme by ECDL Foundation

Logo ICDL

International Computer Driving License (ICDL), formerly known as European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), is a computer literacy certification program provided by ECDL Foundation,^[1] a not-for-profit organisation. The ICDL / ECDL certification is a globally recognised information and communication technology (ICT) and digital literacy qualification.^[2]

In 1995 the ECDL certification programme was developed through a task force of the Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS) and was recommended by the European Commission High Level Group, ESDIS, to be a Europe-wide certification scheme.^[3] The task force compared several national certification schemes and chose the CDL from Finland as the basis for piloting and later adoption into the ECDL.^[4]

Though the ICDL does not refer to Microsoft or its Office software suite by name in the official course syllabus,^[5] training occurs almost exclusively with Microsoft's products as they are ubiquitous in the business world. Users can also be introduced to Google Applications.

For the Base certificate, there are no pre-requisites regarding computer use.

Levels

The ICDL Base certificate comprises all four of these modules:

basic operation of a computer (with Microsoft Windows or Ubuntu in some editions)^[6]^[7]
basic operation of the internet
basic use of Microsoft Word or LibreOffice Writer^[7]
basic use of Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc^[7]

The ICDL Standard certificate involves the aforementioned Base module, and three of the following modules:

databases (with Microsoft Access or LibreOffice Base)^[7]
creating and using presentations (Microsoft PowerPoint)
collaborating online (mostly Microsoft Teams)
IT security
editing images (with Photoshop or GIMP)^[7]

The ICDL Advanced certificate comprises one of the following modules; the ICDL Expert certificate three of the following modules:

advanced use of Microsoft Word
advanced use of Microsoft Excel
advanced use of Microsoft Access
advanced use of Microsoft PowerPoint^[5]

Testing

In order to take the tests, a candidate buys an ECDL Skills Card, which usually is issued electronically and serves as a login to the testing platform. To prepare for a module test, the candidate may use ECDL diagnostic tests.^[8] Testing is done using software which simulates the Windows/Microsoft Office environment. The candidate's mouse movements and keystrokes are monitored and the result of the test is reported immediately after the test is completed.^[2]

Value

The ICDL certificates are seen as valuable in business/government administration – as they save the time to evaluate an applicant's computer skills.

In professions like publishing, graphic and web design, science or information technology, a completed ICDL course is not a desired quality however as the work requires specialist skills and experience with other software.^[9]

References

^ "ECDL Foundation". Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
^ ^a ^b "European Computer Driving Licence". UCL Information Services Division. University College London. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
^ "eEuropeTargets 2001/2002". European Commission. 2 July 2007. Archived from the original on 27 June 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
^ Leahy, Denise; Dolan, Dudley (September 2010). Tatnall, Arthur (ed.). "History of the European Computer Driving License". History of Computing: Learning from the Past: 136. ISSN 1868-4238.
^ ^a ^b https://www.ecdl.ch/fileadmin/ECDL/CH/Dokumente/ECDL-Syllabus-Base-de.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ Fabio Frittoli (11 April 2013). "ECDL con software libero". ICDL.it (in Italian). Retrieved 20 July 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Sample tests". ICDL. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
^ "ECDL Diagnosetests online lösen". www.diagnosetest.ch.
^ "Computerführerschein: Was bringt er wirklich?".