A level BTEC National Certificate for IT Practitioners

BTEC National Certificate for IT Practitioners

Why should I study BTEC National Certificate for IT Practitioners?
It will provide you with a specialist work-related programme of study that covers the key knowledge and practical skills for Advanced ICT Practitioners with a focus on business. The BTEC National Certificate is broadly equivalent to two A Levels and attracts similar UCAS Points. It is graded Pass, Merit and Distinction (with combinations). The work based nature of the qualification also ensures that if you choose to leave college without going to university you are provided with the skills, knowledge and understanding required to obtain work in the ICT and business sectors.

What will I study?
The course follows the ICT and Business strand. AS and A2 comprises of six units; two mandatory core units (*) and four specialist units as follows:

AS Units
1 Communication and Employability Skills for IT (*) 2 Computer Systems (*) 6 Advanced Spreadsheet Skills 7 IT Systems Analysis and Design 23 Installing and Upgrading Software 24 Digital Graphics and Computers

A2 Units
3 Information Systems (*) 35 Impact of the Use of IT on Business Systems (*)

Plus four units to be chosen from the following:

5 Advanced Database Skills 8 Communication Technologies 16 Maintaining Computer Systems 20 Event Drive Programming 26 Computer Animation 27 Principles of Computer Networks

What skills do I need?

• Able to work on your own to solve problems and undertake research assignments to given timescales
• Good organisational skills and an ability to recognise and meet deadlines
• An ability to analyse a problem and carry out evaluations
• An interest and enthusiasm for computers is a must, together with an awareness of the range of contexts in which computers are used.

How will I be taught?
The units are taught by individual specialist teachers. The teaching is practically-based, using high specification hardware and the latest versions of industry standard software including MS Office Professional and Adobe CS4. The College VLE Blackboard is used extensively for the delivery and management of the course.

How is the course assessed?
The BTEC National Certificate consists of 12 units which are assessed through the production of an internally assessed portfolio for each unit.

What will this course prepare me for?
This qualification is welcomed by universities and higher education colleges for entry to HND and degree courses. Advice on opportunities for further study will be provided during your time at NEW College.

Private Study
As an approximate guideline AS subjects require 3-4 hours per week of independent study each and A2 subjects 4-5 hours each per week. As this is a double award, the amount of weekly private study should be doubled for the BTEC National Certificate

What materials will I need to purchase?
You will benefit greatly from having Microsoft Office at home. Student licences can be purchased privately at a cost of approximately £45 from