Membership 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; OCR (Oxford & Cambridge & RSA);
National Qualification
Q. Why has the IITT changed its membership requirements?
A. As a Professional Body representing the IT training profession, we believe that there should be one standard and one qualification for trainers and since the Government launched a new qualification that transcends training delivery (commercial trainers, tutors, facilitators, teachers and teaching assistants) we have aligned to this. We have consulted other professional bodies, Awarding Bodies and the membership (through our series of Member Focus Groups and at the IITT National Conference this year) and have obtained full support to do this.
Q. How do I obtain the new National Qualification?
There are two routes to obtaining the new Level 4 qualifications: 1. If you have the necessary skills to train, you need to obtain a Live Assessment through one of the IITT's Authorised Qualification & Assessment Centres/Authorised Assessment Centres. This will provide you with the IITT's Certified Training Practitioner Certificate (a joint award from IITT & BCS). You will then need to generate additional evidence which together with the assessors report forms a portfolio which can then be submitted for verification. On successful verification by the awarding body (OCR), you will be awarded with the new accredited qualification PTLLS. 2. If you are new to training, we suggest that you attend a train the trainer course (that has been mapped to the new standards) from an IITT Authorised Qualification & Assessment Centre and receive your Live Assessment and your IITT Certificate. You will then need to generate and submit a portfolio of evidence for verification as above., On successful verification by the awarding body (OCR) you will be awarded with the new accredited qualification PTLLS.
Q. How long does it take to obtain the Qualification and what are the costs?
A. Once again, there are two options: 1. If you already possess training delivery skills, you need to obtain a Live Assessment (half day) and then generate and submit the requisite portfolio of evidence. Cost would be the cost of the Assessment - we may be able to help you towards the cost of this. 2. If you require a train the trainer course, most courses are 3-5 days (so, say �850-�1200) - you would be paying this currently anyway. A Live Assessment should be incorporated into the course cost. Once again, we may be able to help you towards the cost of this.
Q. I have been told that the new National Qualification is for the Educational/Teacher sector only. Is this correct?
A. Most definitely no! The Government has launched this one standard/one qualification to cater for all those who teach irrespective of the sector, irrespective of the content they teach, and irrespective of the environment. It is aimed precisely at all teachers, trainers, tutors, facilitators whether they are IT trainers, L&D; trainers, sales trainers, e-Learning tutors, learning consultants, teachers in schools, colleges or other HE/FE establishments. To further make the point, the CIPD are also offering their members the PTLLS/CTLLS/DTLLS awards. Remember: one standard/one national qualification.
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), 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. 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 - how the change affects you now
Q. Do you still accept TAP for membership?
A. Yes, we do accept those with a previous IITT Certificate in Delivery Skills that was issued to all those who attended a TAP training course. On the new standards it is graded at Associate Member as it is not on the Qualification Curriculum Authority's Database of Accredited Qualifications (see www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk and look under Learning & Development qualifications).
Q. I have invested a lot in TAP for my organisation. Is that now wasted?
A. Definitely not. Your investment in means that your staff are at a level that the IITT can accept for Associate Membership. If you would like them to have a nationally recognised qualification that is portable throughout the UK and Europe, then they require a Live Assessment from an IITT AQAC or AAC and then demonstrate additional skills and knowledge which can be collectively be put forward as a portfolio of evidence. We will help you achieve that at minimal cost. If you have enough trainers, you could become an Authorised Assessment Centre and assess your trainers yourself.
Q. I am currently an ICTP member and hold an IITT certificate in Delivery Skills, achieved through the TAP programme less than three years ago; is my membership affected?
A. Yes, the ICTP membership is being strengthened as part of the restructuring of all the Institute's professional membership grades and this membership grade now carries a requirement for a Level 4 qualification such as PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector) as well as the Institute's ICTP certificate. The transition from the IITT certificate you currently hold to the current requirements is straightforward, with the first step being to validate your delivery skills by gaining an Institute Certified Training Practitioner certificate. This ICTP assessment can be obtained through an Institute AQAC or AAC. You can then take the resultant assessment report, add some additional knowledge and skills evidence, and submit the composite portfolio to OCR, through the Institute, for recognition against the Level 4 award PTLLS.
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 arena 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 to 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 look to you to demonstrate the skills appropriate to your job through registering on and completing a Skills Tracker questionnaire supported by the appropriate validation.
Q. I have just gained an IITT Delivery Skills (TAP) certificate. What level of Institute membership am I eligible for?
A. As the Institute has revised its membership criteria more directly to the UK qualifications framework and the certificate gained is not recognised under this framework, you are eligible for the Institute's Professional membership grade of Associate.
Q. I am currently not an Institute member but gained the IITT certificate in Delivery Skills over 3 years ago. Does this mean I can join at the grade of ICTP?
A. No, as there is a 3 year currency for Institute certification required for ICTP, but you would be able to join at the Professional grade of Associate. If you then wish to upgrade your membership to ICTP you would need to gain an Institute ICTP certificate via the Institute's TPMA assessment process and gain a Level 4 certificate PTLLS. This would demonstrate your current skill sets are to the Institute's required standards for this higher grade of membership.
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 qualification in Learning and Development, such as PTLLS. One way this can be contributed to is by undertaking an Institute TPMA assessment, through an Institute AQAC or AAC, which uses a live assessment. Then add to the resultant assessment report, evidence of additional knowledge and experience to comprise a portfolio. Upon successful verification of the evidence by the awarding body (OCR) you will achieve the accredited qualification PTLLS which then makes you eligible for either ICTP or full Member status.
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 further 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 yearly 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 Skills Tracker which includes setting your own target membership grade and submit with suitable external validation. If 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 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 is now the accepted certification.
Q. If I currently hold an IITT Certificate in Delivery Skills achieved 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. This qualification can be contributed to by taking a TPMA assessment through an Institute AQAC/AAC.
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 12 month time period for members to fulfill the revised requirements. 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.
Q. I am currently an Associate and use the letters AIITT after my name but do not hold a Level 3 certificate. Can I continue to use the AIITT letters?
A. Yes, although we are now guiding all trainers who do not currently hold nationally recognised qualifications to engage in active CPD leading to appropriate certification to develop their Professional membership. When you have developed your skills, as recognised against the National standards, then Senior Associate, ICTP or Member level memberships are open to you and provide appropriate post nominal letters recognising your raised professional status.
Notes and explanations
