The European Computer Driving License (ECDL – European Computer Driving Licence) is the most widespread digital skills certification program recognized internationally in over 100 countries (outside Europe ICDL – International Computer Driving Licence)
The ECDL permit provides its holder with a standard base of IT knowledge necessary in the new information society that is constantly developing.
The ECDL program is the product of studies carried out over several years by a group led by CEPIS (European Council of Professional Informatics Societies), an organization that represents approximately 200,000 IT experts working in various sectors of activity: industrial, training, education or government.
Administered by the ECDL Foundation Ltd., the worldwide leader of all accredited organizations both in Europe where it is known as ECDL and abroad where it is known as ICDL, the ECDL program is designed to cover a wide range of skills and knowledge to enable candidates to operate competently as users in any computer-using environment.
The ECD Foundation’s reputation is based on its pioneering role in identifying and developing testing programs and methodologies that meet the highest quality standards.
Another success factor of the ECDL program is that it presents a generic, uniquely accepted program. ECDL is strongly supported by a growing number of governments, corporations and institutions around the world, meeting the increasingly diverse requirements for a global qualification that is based on well-defined, measurable and relevant skills. Among those who use the ECDL program are government departments, ministries of defense, car manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, oil companies, financial institutions, schools, universities and others, who have become convinced of the effectiveness of ECDL in certifying real IT skills and are preparing to face the demands of the future.
The accession of ATIC to CEPIS allowed Romania to join the ECDL program. ATIC received the exclusive right of license and sub-license for ECDL in Romania, and ECDL ROMANIA is the one that administers the ECDL license and manages the authorization of test centers on the territory of Romania.
Accredited testing centers are the core of the ECDL program. If the role of the ECDL Foundation at the international level and of the ECDL ROMANIA at the local level is to ensure compliance with the imposed standards and thus ensure the quality and credibility of the program, the test centers are the ones that actually carry out the tests and their related activities, namely the test simulation sessions and the training.
Organizations that are ECDL Accredited Testing Centers comply with the ECDL Quality Standards.
These standards are imposed to ensure quality compliance in every ECDL Accredited Testing Center, regardless of where it is located in the world. The ECDL permit certifies not only that the holder has knowledge of computer use, but also that this knowledge is at an internationally approved and used level.
Compliance with ECDL standards is an essential condition for the value and credibility of the program, therefore this component is very strict. At the same time, these standards ensure the quality of the Testing Center’s services leading to the fulfillment of ECDL’s mission.
ECDL is for the IT field similar to certifications like Toefl or Cambridge for attesting knowledge of foreign languages. With the help of the European Computer Driving Permit, the degree of professional mobility can be increased at any age, regardless of profession or field of activity.
Starting from September 1, 2013, the following types of ECDL certifications are available in Romania:
Details on the ECDL program and the full list of accredited centers can be found atwww.ecdl.org.ro.