The knowledge and skills needed to achieve the IT Systems Support Technician qualification, can be acquired through a taught course and practice on equipment with a City & Guilds ITSST qualification accredited centre (ie a college, training provider or employer) and through self-study with the course CD-ROM.

Students wishing to obtain the full qualification will need to register with an ITSST qualification accredited centre, where they will be able to complete the practicals and assessments for each of the eight course units.

The course has been specifically designed to provide the underpinning knowledge for vocational training in the IT Services sector, notably for the National/Scottish Vocational Qualification (NVQ/SVQ), IT Services - Customer Systems Support, Level 2 (or City & Guilds Progression Award Level 2).

NVQs/SVQs comprise a set of occupational standards that define what employees do in their jobs, based on practical skills demonstrated in the workplace. They help to validate and build on the technical but also personal and inter-personal skills that are vital to the sector. An NVQ/SVQ can be achieved on its own or as part of a training programme such as a Modern Apprenticeship.

The newly qualified IT Systems Support Technician will also have the possibility to work towards the next level qualification, IT Systems Support Professional, which is currently under development.