An ECDL Base course is aimed at people who already have some experience with PCs. All those who want to use the Office programs Word, Excel and Outlook as well as the Internet productively in their everyday working life. For this reason, people are admitted to the ECDL Base course if they already have some basic knowledge and access to a PC (with Windows, Internet connection, Word, Excel and Outlook). Those who successfully pass the exam receive the ECDL Base certificate, which is internationally recognized.

There are a number of locations throughout Switzerland where you can take your ECDL Base exam. At many locations, these ECDL Test Centers also offer courses directly tailored to the exam, which will prepare you optimally. You can also find schools that offer the best training in the individual modules here on Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch. The area search on the right-hand side of the page will help you to find competent providers in your area.

The Institute of Information Systems at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts has conducted a study on this subject on behalf of the Hasler Foundation. The comparison of these two largest providers of ICT certificates showed that both providers operate at the same high level in terms of organization, well-qualified staff and course delivery. 76% of ECDL and 84% of SIZ certificate holders stated in the survey that their knowledge and skills had been transferred to the workplace. 70% and 79% of those surveyed also stated that they could now carry out their professional tasks more efficiently. This means that the differences between the two providers are marginal and the costs and effort are roughly the same. However, the ECDL certificate is internationally recognized, while the SIZ certificate is particularly important in Switzerland. It is therefore worth choosing a provider based on your own needs with regard to the area of recognition.

There are five different certifications and therefore ECDL courses:

• ECDL Base Certificate
• ECDL Standard Certificate
• ECDL Advanced Certificate
• ECDL Expert Certificate
• Typing Skills Certificate (fast and error-free typing)

Each of these certificates consists of different modules that are tested independently of each other.

The ECDL Standard course covers the following:

• ECDL Base Module 1 - Computer Basics
  • Knowledge of the basic components of a PC
  • Knowledge of the basic concepts of information technology (IT) such as data storage and working memory
  • Competence in using the basic functions of a PC and its operating system
• ECDL Base Module 2 - Online Basics
  • perform basic search tasks on the web
  • Bookmarking search results
  • Print web pages and search reports
• ECDL Base Module 3 - Word processing
  • be able to use a word processing program on the computer
  • Creating, formatting and finalizing a word processing document
• ECDL Base Module 4 - Spreadsheet calculation
  • basic concepts of spreadsheets on the computer
  • Understand and be able to perform steps for creating, formatting and using a spreadsheet
• Three freely selectable standard modules from
  • Use databases
  • Presentations
  • Online collaboration
  • IT security
  • Image processing

You will receive the standard certificate if you can prove that you have competent user knowledge and are familiar with key applications. To do this, you must pass all four basic modules and three standard modules. These contain the following overall knowledge that is taught on an ECDL Standard course:

• Using databases: Basic knowledge of database structure, data maintenance, database applications
• Presentation: use of presentation program with animation effects, slide design, handouts
• Online collaboration: online meetings, social media, mobile devices, online learning platforms
• IT security: ICT use, internet security, data security, information security, secure network connections
• Image editing: Practical application of image editing programs

• Computer basics
• Online basics
• Word processing
• Spreadsheet calculation

• Use databases
• Presentation
• Online collaboration
• IT security
• Image processing

• Word processing
• Spreadsheet calculation
• Database
• Presentation

The ECDL Core or Basic modules must all be completed in order to receive a certificate. This certifies that you have solid knowledge of:

• Computer basics: It provides you with the knowledge and skills you need to use computers, create and manage files, ensure data security and use networks
• Online basics: This module covers the topics of online communication, searching for information, web browsing and email use.
• Word processing: Word processing skills are covered in this module, such as inserting tables, creating letters, spell checking, setting up pages, formatting.
• Spreadsheet: This module teaches you skills such as data sorting, chart creation, formula application and data entry in cells.

The Advanded certificate can be obtained independently of all other certificates. Passing one module is sufficient to obtain the ECDL Advanced certificate. The exam focuses on the following topics:

• Skills for the professional use of a word processing program (e.g. the use of field functions, forms and templates)
• Knowledge of spreadsheets (e.g. analyzing tables, conditional formatting or user-defined number formats)
• Understands the key concept of a relational database, creates complex structures using appropriate software and analyzes data
• advanced presentation skills such as inserting film and sound, linking and embedding data and using target group-oriented presentations