IT trainers design, deliver and organise information and communications technology (ICT) training courses. They work with clients from different backgrounds and different levels of ability ranging from beginners to advanced. Trainers work for:

• colleges and universities
• training companies
• voluntary and community groups.

They also work in the training and development departments of larger companies and public sector organisations. Some trainers are self-employed.

Training generally falls into two categories - software applications:

• word processing
• databases
• spreadsheets
• internet and email
• presentations
• desktop publishing.

 - and technical fields:

• programming
• web development / design
• networking
• PC maintenance.

IT trainers usually specialise in one field or the other although it is possible, with sufficient expertise, to cover both.

The work varies according to the structure of the employing organisation, the client group, whether trainers are self-employed, and any specialist skills they have. It can range from training a first-time user in computer basics to training a group of staff in a company's payroll accounts package.

Typical duties include:

• assessing clients' training needs and agreeing learning outcomes
• designing new programmes or customising existing courses to meet those outcomes
• preparing the learning environment and resources
• delivering programmes to clients
• evaluating the effectiveness of the training and course outcomes
• dealing with administrative records.

IT trainers working for a training and development department of a company or organisation have to identify employee skills gaps, and design and deliver programmes to help the organisation meet its current and future business needs.

A great deal of training is now available online, so trainers may be supporting learners in virtual learning environment (VLE). See the profile for Online Tutor in the Education and Training job family. There may be an element of outreach work to attract new learners to training courses if they work for a college, adult education service or library.

Hours and Environment

Full-time trainers usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday, but may need to work evenings or weekends to meet client requirements. Part-time work is widely available.

IT trainers work in:

• classroom environments
• training centres and offices
• colleges
• libraries
• clients' homes.

Trainers are likely to have to travel locally, regionally and nationally if working for a commercial training company. A driving licence is helpful.

Skills and Interests

To be an IT trainer you should:

• have an up-to-date knowledge of common IT applications and systems
• be willing to keep yourself informed of new developments in IT
• have good oral and written communication skills
• have good planning, training and presentation skills
• be confident in delivery to individuals and groups
• be able to tailor and pace training to client needs and knowledge
• be organised and punctual
• have good analytical skills
• be energetic and able to motivate learners
• be aware of accessibility and usability issues
• be patient and understand the anxieties of people with little knowledge of computing.

Knowledge of minority languages may be required, depending on the client group.

Entry

There are many different routes into this type of work. You could be an IT professional and become skilled in training through work experience, or you can qualify as a trainer and specialise in IT skills.

If you want to work in a further or higher education college, you must have a training/teaching qualification at Level 4. For details about Level 4 options, see the profile for Lecturer:Further Education.

Requirements for training companies and voluntary bodies may differ (more options are outlined on the profile for Training Instructor), so check with individual organisations. In all cases, a recognised qualification in IT software applications and/or systems, at Level 3 or above is preferable and in many cases, essential.

Several qualifications are available covering the major desktop applications, including:

• OCR Certificate/Diploma for IT Users – Level 1 (New CLAiT), Level 2 (CLAiT Plus), and Level 3 (CLAiT Advanced)
• City & Guilds E-Quals IT Users awards (7262) – Level 1 (Certificate), Level 2 (Diploma) and Level 3 (Advanced Diploma)
• Edexcel (BTEC) National Certificate and Diploma for IT Practitioners
• Microsoft Office Specialist programme (formerly MOUS).

Although these courses use Microsoft Office products, some can be adapted to cover Lotus SmartSuite. These courses are widely available at most colleges and adult education centres. For more detailed information, check local colleges or see the contacts in Further Information.

If you want to work in technical training, you may need to consider some of the qualifications outlined in the Training section below. Further options are detailed on the profiles for:

• Computer Service and Repair Technician
• Web Developer
• Network Engineer.

Knowledge of IT resources for working with particular groups is helpful. Skill, the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities, has information and links to organisations providing specialist support, including computer hardware and software adaptations (assistive technologies).

BECTA, the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency, has a large range of resources for IT tutors and trainers on its website, for example, translation sheets which convert common IT terms from English into several different languages. For more information about these resources, see their respective websites in Further Information.

For more information about working in IT training, see the e-skills UK website in Further Information.

Training

Desktop applications
The Institute of IT Training (IITT) offers a range of professional training courses for trainers through their Trainer Assessment Programme (TAP) and Certified e-Learning Professional Programme (CeLP). They also have details of which other qualifications (most mentioned below) they recognise as evidence of training competence. For details contact the IITT below.

The Joint Examining Board (JEB) offers the Level 3 Certificate in Education Practice: ICT Skills, aimed at those teaching IT at basic and intermediate levels, and the Level 3 Diploma in Education Practice: ICT Advanced, aimed at teachers of advanced IT courses. Courses are available on a part-time and flexible basis from JEB-registered training centres - contact the JEB for details.

Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor training programme is available for those wishing to concentrate entirely on Microsoft software applications. For details see the Microsoft website below.

Technical
A number of awards are available, some cut across different products and systems (vendor-neutral); others cover specific products (vendor-specific). A selection is outlined below.

The Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) offer the Certified Technical Trainer (CTT+) programme which accredits technical expertise in a number of fields including PC maintenance, networking, servers, security, e-business and Linux technologies, whilst offering instructor training in those fields. For details see the CompTIA website below.

Similarly, Novell's Certified Instructor (CNI) programme is available in networking, including units on Linux technologies. You normally need to hold Certified Novell Engineer (CNE) status (see Network Engineer) and CTT+ mentioned above. For more details see the Novell website below.

Other vendor-specific instructor training is offered by Microsoft and Cisco. These include Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) and Cisco Certified Systems Instructor (CCSI). To do these, you normally have to demonstrate technical knowledge through experience and/or prior training, often with the same organisations. Although these concentrate on the company's own products, many of the units can be used with other systems. For information, see contacts below.

There is a variety of NVQ/SVQs available for IT trainers in training and development, coaching and mentoring, and direct training and support; there are also numerous NVQ/SVQ qualifications for students of IT. If delivering an NVQ/SVQ programme, you may want to consider undertaking NVQ/SVQ assessor qualifications, which allow you to assess competency in IT use, as well as offering the instruction element. See the profile for NVQ/SVQ Assessor/Verifier.

Opportunities

There is a growing demand for IT trainers. Large organisations with their own IT departments employ their own trainers and there are many other opportunities for IT trainers with software providers.

There are several government initiatives aimed at raising the level of IT literacy within the UK. These are taking place in further and adult education colleges, libraries and training companies, thus increasing demand for qualified trainers. IT trainers can also be self-employed.

Career development can include progression to lead trainer, departmental manager or area training coordinator. Other options include teaching, technical authorship or moving into other areas of IT, such as e-learning development. For freelance work, training consultancy may be an option.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

New IT trainers earn from £15,000 upwards.
Experienced trainers earn between £18,000 and £25,000 a year.
IT trainers with management responsibilities can earn up to £30,000 a year.

Further information

1 Castle Lane
London
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Cirencester
Gloucestershire
GL7 2PF
Tel: 01285 641747 Customer Service Team
One90 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7BH
Tel: 0870 240 9800