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IT trainer
Hours
37-40 per week
Starting salary
£18,000 + per year
IT trainers design and teach computer courses. They work for colleges, IT training companies and in the training departments of larger organisations. If you are interested in IT and you like the idea of teaching, this could be just the job you are looking for.
To become an IT trainer, you will need to have knowledge of IT programs and systems. You will need excellent spoken and written communication skills. Sometimes you will have to change the training to match your clients' abilities.
You can become an IT trainer through several routes. In most cases, you will need to have a recognised IT qualification at level 3 or above.
WorkDesc
The work
As an IT trainer, you could teach courses ranging from commonly used programs like word processing and spreadsheets to technical areas, such as programming or PC maintenance. If you work at a company, you may provide in-house training, for example teaching accounts staff how to use a new payroll system.
In all cases, your job would include:
- assessing clients' training needs and agreeing learning aims
- designing new training programmes or adapting existing ones
- preparing the training room and resources
- delivering training programmes
- evaluating how effective the training is
- keeping records up to date.
A lot of training is now available online, so IT trainers may be supporting learners in a virtual learning environment.
Please see the online tutor job profiles for more information.
HoursDesc
Hours
In a full-time job you will usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. However, you may need to work evenings or weekends to meet client requirements.
Part-time work is also available.
Your workplace would vary depending on your employer. For example, you might work at several college sites in an area and travel between them, or you may be based at a training centre full-time. If you work for a private training company, your job is likely to involve travelling locally, around the region and possibly across the country.
IncomeDesc
Income
Starting salaries for IT trainers can be around £18,000 a year.
Experienced trainers can earn between £19,000 and £26,000 a year, and IT trainers with management responsibilities can earn around £30,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You can become an IT trainer through several routes. You could work as an IT professional and learn skills through your job experience, or you can qualify initially as a training officer and specialise in IT skills. In most cases, you will need to have a recognised IT qualification at level 3 or above.
Several IT qualifications cover the major desktop programs, 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 – Level 1 (Certificate), Level 2 (Diploma) and Level 3 (Advanced Diploma)
- Edexcel (BTEC) National Certificate and Diploma for IT Practitioners
- British Computer Society European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) and ECDL Advanced
- Microsoft Office Specialist programme.
If you want to focus on technical training, see the qualifications mentioned in the Training and Development section below. The Computer Service and Repair Technician, Web Developer and Network Engineer job profiles on this website will also give you information on qualifications.
To teach at a further education college, you will need:
- at least a level three IT qualification
- appropriate teaching qualifications.
For more information on teaching at a college.
Please see the further education lecturer job profiles for more information.
You may also find it helpful to have some understanding of computer programs used by people with sight or hearing impairment. See the Skill website for information.
The City & Guilds Certificate in Supporting Users of Assistive Technology could help you improve your skills in this area.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
You can take various qualifications relating to desktop applications and technical areas. These include:
- Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) Certified Technical Trainer (CTT+) – includes PC maintenance, networking, security and Linux technologies
- Novell's Certified Instructor (CNI) programme – networking and Linux systems
- Microsoft Master Instructor and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT)
- Cisco Certified Systems Instructor (CCSI).
Work-based NVQs for training and development, coaching, mentoring and assessing are also available.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To become an IT trainer, you will need to have:
- an up-to-date knowledge of commonly used IT programs and systems
- excellent spoken and written communication skills
- planning, training and presentation skills
- the confidence to deliver training to individuals and groups
- the ability to adapt training to match your clients' abilities
- timekeeping and organisational skills
- problem-solving skills
- a patient and understanding approach, and the ability to motivate learners
- an awareness of IT accessibility and usability issues.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Microsoft UK 
www.microsoft.com/uk
Skill
www.skill.org.uk
Novell
www.novell.com/
Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
www.comptia.org
Cisco Systems (UK and Ireland)
www.cisco.com/cisco/web/UK
e-skills UK
1 Castle Lane
London
SW1E 6DR
0207 963 8920
www.e-skills.com
Learning and Skills Improvement Service
0300 303 1877
Email: lluk.advice@lsis.org.uk
www.lsis.org.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
Employers include larger companies that provide in-house training for their staff, colleges and IT training companies.
You could progress to lead trainer, department manager or area training coordinator. Other options include teaching, technical writing or working in other areas of IT, for example e-learning development.
As an experienced trainer, you may also be able to work freelance.
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The IT industry includes people in IT companies, such as those offering IT services, technology‐orientated consulting, technology development, systems analysis, programming, systems testing and technology sales. It also includes IT professionals working in other sectors, such as people whose primary job role is IT orientated, which includes IT departments and IT support staff in companies. The IT industry together with Telecoms is represented by e‐skills UK Sector Skills Council.
A sector trend is the convergence of telecommunications, computing and networking and the move from hardware intensive to software intensive platforms. Embedded voice communications capability is already part of the internet, which also has to manage voice, data and video and location information.
The social, economic and market forces shaping UK IT skills are evolving as technology continues to progress from the back office to the board room. This is changing the market for IT skills, creating demand for both technology‐oriented business people and business‐oriented technologists – and blurring the lines between traditional business and IT disciplines.
Key facts:
- There is a total IT and Telecoms workforce of 1.5 million of which:
- 890,000 people are in IT and Telecoms products and services
- 600,000 IT and Telecoms professionals are working in organisations outside of the IT and Telecoms industries
- There are around 105,000 businesses in the UK offering IT and Telecoms products and services.
- IT‐intensive sectors represent 55% of the UK's total Gross Value Added.
- Less than 1% of those employed in IT and Telecoms occupations are under 18.
- 22% of companies who are trying to recruit IT and Telecoms professionals report difficulties in attracting applicants with the right skills.
- 58% of the workforce has a degree or higher education qualification.
- The IT industry is predicted to grow at a rate of 2.5% per year for the next ten years.
- There are 100,930 IT manufacturing and services establishments in the UK employing 600,000 people.
- The IT workforce accounts for 4% of the UK workforce.
Jobs in the IT industry include: Business analyst; Games developer; CAD/CAM Programmer/Trainer; IT trainer; Service technician; Software engineer/architect; Technology consultant; Web designer; Systems architect; Technical author.
National and regional data
Across the UK, there is an estimated IT and Telecoms workforce of 1.5 million who are predominately located in London and the South East. The IT workforce can be classified in IT manufacturing and IT services. The largest number of companies is located in:
- IT manufacturing
- South East
- London
- East of England
- IT services
- South East
- London
- East of England
Key regional facts:
- 39% of IT and Telecoms professionals are located in London and the South East
- the East of England has the third highest number of IT and Telecoms employees
- Northern Ireland, Wales and the North East combined comprise just 6% of the IT and Telecoms professionals
- 44% of all types of IT and Telecoms companies are located in London and the South East
- the highest median gross weekly earnings for IT and Telecoms staff are in London, the South East and the East of England, which are all above the UK median
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey (April‐June), 2009.]
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