BCS Qualifications Explained

Working in IT is a popular career choice, but it is essential to know which qualifications will help you to build a successful career in this area. 

BCS qualifications can help you do just that, and provide a solid basis for your career development in the business and IT industries, whether you are confident in your IT skills but need a CV boost or are just starting out and need to develop your professional skills and abilities.

The British Computer Society (BCS) is the chartered institute for IT, and offers internationally-recognised qualifications in IT which are known as BCS qualifications. By studying for a BCS qualification, you will develop your IT skills framework and knowledge-base, hone your practical skills which will help expand your career opportunities.

When you complete a BCS course, you will have a qualification accredited by a professional body, demonstrating that you have learned core, industry-specific skills for working in areas such as IT security, data management, software engineering, artificial intelligence, business and project management.

There are two main types of BCS qualification which are suitable for learners of different experience and skills levels: beginner certifications and advanced qualifications. All BCS Level certifications are accredited by the BCS, and will teach you the skills and knowledge you need to progress through your IT career path. The two types of BCS qualification are outlined below to help you find the right type of BCS qualification for you.

Beginner BCS certifications are suitable for people with little to no experience in the subject area, and there are several beginner BCS certifications to choose from. They have no specified entry requirements, and these lower level certifications can open up a whole range of career opportunities as well as the potential for higher level study.

These entry level qualifications will teach you the fundamentals of information technology through core modules delivered online.

Some examples of beginner qualifications include the BCS Foundation certificate in business analysis, the BCS Foundation certificate in information security and the Project Management career programme, which provide the knowledge and skills you need at foundational-level.

BCS advanced qualifications cater for learners who have experience in the area but would like to increase their knowledge and skills. These courses are a great way to develop your career, move into higher positions within your industry and increase your confidence in your work. 

These courses provide a more in depth look at information systems and will explore specific areas such as professional systems development, business analysis practice, business change management, modeling business processes, stakeholder management and the use of programmes such as Agile.

There are several options if you want an advanced level BCS qualification meaning that you are sure to find one which is suitable for your chosen career path. Some of the qualifications include the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis and the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) advanced course.

BCS advanced qualifications can range from Level 4 certificates to international diplomas to higher education qualifications (BCS HEQs) including undergraduate degrees and professional graduate diplomas.

BCS qualifications are highly accessible, flexible and affordable as they can be done from anywhere in the world. Through online BCS courses, you can study anywhere at any time to suit you, and learn at your own pace as there are no set learning hours. The syllabus for each course is set so that students can work as and when they are able to and have access to course materials easily, making for excellent user experience.

This flexible way of learning is especially useful if you are working full time or part time, have family commitments or travel restrictions, and it also makes learning more affordable as online courses are able to be delivered at a lower fee than in-person courses. You can even get work in an IT or an IT apprenticeship with a qualified training provider, and work alongside your studies to build up some work experience to compliment your professional qualification.

Once you complete a BCS qualification course and obtain a pass mark, you will gain the industry-standard qualification and be able to add it to your resume, demonstrating that you have learned the required skills and knowledge to achieve the professional certification. You can also sign up as a BCS professional through BCS membership once you enroll on one of their courses.

BCS qualifications are a must for anyone wanting to begin a career as or develop as an IT professional, whether you dream of being a business analyst or are looking to explore software development These qualifications come at both beginner and advanced levels to suit your current skills, knowledge and experience, and they are super accessible due to being able to study them online. 

The only entry requirements which may be needed for beginner BCS qualifications is basic English language, however you can study these IT qualifications from anywhere including England, Ireland and further afield due to the online nature of the courses.

Employers around the world recognise BCS qualifications as an established qualification that ensures that learners have the expertise to thrive in an IT career. Due to the range of subject areas, you can advance in areas you would like to work in such as internet security or professional project management, and there are qualifications from foundational to postgraduate level for you to choose from.