QCTO Accredited Occupational Qualification:
Computer Technician
Full Qualification | NQF Level 5 | SAQA ID – 101408
Keep your networks, desktops and users running with our Computer Technician Occupational Qualification.
- Duration: 24 months
- Credits: 282
- Internationally Recognised QCTO Certificate
Understanding the Computer Technician Qualification
Computer Technician Overview
The Computer Technician Occupational Qualification prepares staff to keep an organisation’s computing environment working. Learners install and configure desktops, laptops, servers and peripherals, diagnose and resolve hardware, software and network faults, maintain security at user level, and support end users in person, by telephone or remotely.
At 282 credits it is the most substantial IT support qualification in our QCTO range, and the depth shows in the content: computer architecture is covered across both hardware and software, alongside data communication and networking, sustainable green computing, and the business communication skills that separate a competent technician from a good one. Your organisation gets a technician who resolves problems rather than escalating them.
What individuals will learn
- Data communication and networking fundamentals
- Computer architecture: selecting and interconnecting hardware components
- Computer architecture: selecting and interconnecting software components
- Sustainable computer environments and green technologies that reduce e-waste
- Social media and digital literacy in a business context
- End user computing across documents, spreadsheets, presentations and email
- Business communication and customer service
- Ready-for-work standards, self-management and professional conduct
- Troubleshooting computer and network faults using diagnostic tools
- Installing and configuring computer software and hardware
- Maintaining computer and network security, including anti-virus and malware response
- Providing structured support to end users, on site and remotely
Details to know
Our occupational qualifications are conducted with maximum use of practical application of the skills acquired. After facilitator led training has taken place via the course material, group work and scenario driven exchanges, learners will have the opportunity to relate the information back to their workplace. We offer a fun and relaxed learning environment, where participants will learn from each other, gain knowledge and acquire skills that will result in improved work performance.
This qualification is designed for any individual who is, or wishes to be, part of the information and communication technology (ICT) industry. It will give students the skills they need to excel in this area of your organisation.
Learners will need competency in the following areas:
- NQF Level 4
After completing a Computer Technician Occupational Qualification an individual can work in the following roles:
- Computer Technician
- Desktop Support Technician
- Desktop Support Engineer
- Helpdesk Technician
- Information Technology (IT) Support Specialist
- Application Support Specialist
- Customer Support Engineer
This Occupational Qualification is fully accredited with QCTO. By choosing an Occupational Qualification that is accredited with QCTO, you can ensure you obtain BEE points for your Skills Development efforts and your students receive an education that is of high quality.
Businesses that we have done staff training for:
How to make the most of a Computer Technician QCTO Qualification
Why choose this Qualification?
Hardware and software depth that most IT support training skips. KM-02 and KM-03 carry 30 credits each, which is 60 of the 109 knowledge credits spent on computer architecture alone. A technician who understands why components are selected and interconnected the way they are will diagnose an unfamiliar fault; one trained on procedures will not.
Fault-finding and user support are the practical core. PM-01 Troubleshoot Computer and Network Faults and PM-03 Provide Support to End Users are worth 30 credits each, 60 of the 73 practical credits. Learners work with diagnostic tools, data recovery, connectivity re-establishment and remote support, which is exactly what a first-line and second-line support role demands day to day.
One hundred credits of workplace experience across five modules. Work experience covers responding to fault requests, setting up user equipment and verifying installation, maintaining systems and peripherals, applying green technologies to reduce e-waste, and keeping proper records of transactions, problems and remedial actions. That record-keeping module is worth 20 credits on its own, and it is what makes a support function auditable.
Computer Technician NQF Level 5 Module Breakdown
Qualification Breakdown
KM-01 Introduction to data communication and networking (Credits 15)
KM-02 Basics of computer architecture: hardware (Credits 30)
KM-03 Basics of computer architecture: software (Credits 30)
KM-04 Basic concepts of sustainable computer environment and green technologies (Credits 10)
KM-05 Social Media and Digital Literacy (Credits 5)
KM-06 End User computing (Credits 6)
KM-07 Business communication and customer services (Credits 8)
KM-08 Ready for work standards (Credits 5)
PM-01 Troubleshoot computer and network faults (Credits 30)
PM-02 Maintain computer and network security (Credits 8)
PM-03 Provide support to end users (Credits 30)
PM-04 Install computer software and hardware (Credits 5)
WM-01 Respond to user enquiries regarding fault request (Credits 30)
WM-02 Set up equipment for users, check operating system performance and ensure proper installation of cables and software (Credits 25)
WM-03 Process of maintaining computer systems and peripherals (Credits 15)
WM-04 Identify the potential green technologies process and procedures for cost effective application and create a sustainable computer environment to reduce e-waste (Credits 10)
WM-05 Maintain records of daily data communication transactions, problems and remedial actions taken, or installation activities (Credits 20)
Take a look at the other occupational qualifications we have on offer