Pearson Education Ltd · Level 3
EDEXCEL Level 3 BTEC National Certificate for IT Practitioners (ICT Systems Support)
You don’t just earn this. You learn to use it, one-to-one, on your own real work.
- LevelLevel 3
- Total credits161
- Guided learning720 hours
- Units in this qualification23
Awarded by Pearson Education Ltd · on the Ofqual register
What you’ll learn
What each unit actually teaches you to do
A vocationally-related qualification, the Level 3 BTEC National Certificate for IT Practitioners (ICT Systems Support) focuses on the digital technology sector. Learners will develop skills in networking, computer hardware, and applications software development. It is suitable for individuals seeking employment in IT.
These are the units Pearson Education Ltd registers against this qualification. It is a catalogue, not a syllabus. Which of them you take depends on the combination the qualification requires, and that is set by the awarding body rather than by us. Every unit here is regulated, and every one you earn is yours to keep.
Applications Software DevelopmentReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Design application software based on given specifications and user requirements.
- Develop application software using appropriate programming languages and tools.
- Test application software to ensure functionality, reliability, and performance.
- Understand different software development methodologies and their application in software projects.
Business Information SystemsReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the role of information systems in supporting business operations
- Know different types of information systems and their specific functions
- Use business information systems to access and analyse data
- Understand data security and integrity principles to protect sensitive information
- Understand the impact of information systems on organisational structure and processes
Communications TechnologyReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles of communication technology, including data transmission and protocols.
- Know different communication methods, including wired and wireless technologies.
- Use communication technologies effectively for different purposes.
- Understand network fundamentals, including network topologies and protocols.
- Troubleshoot common communication issues, such as connectivity problems and data loss.
Computer HardwareReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the function and characteristics of various computer hardware components
- Know the correct procedures for installing computer hardware components
- Diagnose faults in computer hardware using appropriate methods
- Replace faulty computer hardware components safely and effectively
- Understand the importance of hardware compatibility and how to ensure it
Computer SystemsReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the different components of a computer system, including hardware and software.
- Know how computer systems operate, including data processing and storage.
- Configure computer systems to meet specific user requirements.
- Understand the principles of operating systems, including resource management and security.
- Maintain computer systems, including software updates and hardware maintenance.
Data Communications and NetworksReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles of data communication.
- Know different network topologies and communication protocols.
- Configure network devices to establish network connectivity.
- Troubleshoot common network problems to restore network functionality.
- Understand key network security concepts and practices.
End User SupportReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles that underpin effective end user support.
- Diagnose and identify the root cause of common end user problems.
- Provide effective and timely end user support, meeting agreed service levels.
- Understand the procedures for escalating complex or unresolved end user issues.
- Accurately document support activities, including problem diagnosis and resolution steps.
Human Computer InterfaceReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles underpinning human computer interaction.
- Recognise and describe different types of user interface.
- Design user interfaces that are appropriate for the intended users and tasks.
- Evaluate the usability of a user interface using recognised methods.
Internetworking BasicsReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand different network topologies and their advantages and disadvantages
- Know the different IP addressing schemes, including IPv4 and IPv6
- Configure network devices with appropriate IP addresses and subnet masks
- Understand the function of different network communication protocols, such as TCP/IP and UDP
Introduction to Software DevelopmentReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles of software development.
- Know the different stages of the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
- Write basic code using a programming language.
- Understand core programming concepts, such as variables, data types, and control structures.
- Test software to identify and fix errors.
Language and CommunicationsReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Analyse different communication methods used in professional contexts.
- Evaluate the impact of language, tone, and style on communication effectiveness.
- Understand communication barriers and how to overcome them.
- Adapt communication style to suit different audiences and situations.
Network Design and AdministrationReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of network design, including scalability, redundancy, and security
- Know the common network administration tasks, such as user management, security patching, and performance monitoring
- Design a network to meet specific requirements
- Administer a network, including managing users, configuring devices, and monitoring performance
- Understand network security measures, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and access control lists
Network Operating SystemsReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles of network operating systems
- Know the key components of a network operating system
- Configure essential network settings within an operating system
- Troubleshoot common network issues using operating system tools
- Understand core network security concepts relevant to operating systems
Networking ProjectReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Plan a networking project, including defining objectives, scope, and resources
- Implement a network solution according to the project plan
- Test network functionality to ensure it meets the project requirements
- Document the project, including the design, implementation, and testing phases
Networking Routers and RoutingReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental functions performed by network routers
- Know the different types of routing protocols and their characteristics
- Configure routers for basic network connectivity
- Troubleshoot common routing issues and implement solutions
Networking Routing, Switching and Virtual LANsReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the core concepts of network routing and how data packets are directed across networks
- Know the various switching protocols and technologies used in network infrastructure
- Configure virtual LANs (VLANs) to segment and manage network traffic effectively
- Troubleshoot network connectivity issues using appropriate diagnostic tools and techniques
- Understand the key security considerations related to network routing, switching, and VLANs
Operating SystemsReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles of operating systems.
- Know the different architectures of operating systems.
- Manage operating system resources efficiently.
- Configure operating system settings to optimise performance.
- Understand the security aspects of operating systems and potential vulnerabilities.
PC Specification and MaintenanceReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the different specifications of PCs and their impact on performance
- Select appropriate PC components based on specific requirements
- Build a PC according to a given specification
- Maintain PC hardware to ensure optimal performance and longevity
- Troubleshoot common PC problems and implement effective solutions
System JustificationReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the core concept of system justification and its implications.
- Know the different types of system justification strategies.
- Analyse system justification arguments critically.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of system justification efforts in various contexts.
Systems Analysis and DesignReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand various methodologies used in systems analysis.
- Know the key principles of effective system design.
- Gather and document system requirements from stakeholders.
- Create comprehensive system design specifications.
- Evaluate system designs against specified criteria and best practices.
Website ManagementReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles of effective website design
- Plan website content, considering target audience and business objectives
- Manage website content effectively, ensuring accuracy and relevance
- Maintain website security to protect against threats and vulnerabilities
- Evaluate website performance using relevant metrics and analytics
Wide Area NetworkingReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the different WAN technologies, such as leased lines, MPLS, and VPNs
- Know the different WAN protocols, such as PPP, Frame Relay, and HDLC
- Configure WAN connections using appropriate protocols and technologies
- Understand the security considerations for WANs and implement appropriate security measures
Wide Area NetworksReal unit · Pearson Education Ltd
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the different technologies used in wide area networks (WANs) for long-distance communication
- Know the protocols and standards that govern WAN communication
- Configure WAN connections using appropriate hardware and software
- Monitor WAN performance to ensure optimal network operation
- Understand the security implications associated with WANs and how to mitigate risks
The honest bit
You’ve started things before
Most courses were built for a room full of people who aren’t you. A cohort moves on whether or not your week allowed it, and by the third week the thing you’re behind on becomes the reason you stop opening it.
There’s no cohort here, and no timetable to fall behind. Before anything starts, Zavmo asks when you’re sharpest and how long you can realistically sit down for, then builds the sessions around those answers. A bad fortnight changes your pace. It doesn’t put you behind.
And you only pay once you start learning. Searching and planning are free, and you can cancel any time — so the cost of finding out is an afternoon, not a year.
Your passport
Every credit is a stamp you keep
Level 3 credits are regulated. They don’t vanish when a subscription ends or a website closes. They travel to any employer, and Zavmo keeps the map of what you’ve earned and what’s next.
Each stamp is a real unit registered against this qualification.
Who’d teach you this
The Evidence Evaluator
Assessor
Helps you show what you can actually do, gathering the evidence that proves it as you learn.
Meet all twelve tutorsWhere this connects
Where these credits take you
A qualification is never a dead end here. See the jobs its credits open, the national occupational standards its units map to, and the future skills they quietly build.
Where this can lead
IT Support Manager / Principal Endpoint Engineer
Your journey starts here, but where it goes is really up to you. We're committed to providing the opportunities and support for you to build a truly impactful career, whether that's climbing the management ladder or becoming a world-class technical expert. The sky's the limit, honestly.
See the whole journey →Skills it covers
What the job actually needs. These are the standards the units are built against, in the words employers and awarding bodies already use for the work itself.
How you’ll actually learn this
One-to-one, on your own real work
A qualification is usually something done to you: sit the class, sit the exam, hope it sticks. Here it’s the opposite. You learn it one-to-one with a companion, on your own real work, and you keep going until you can use it, not just recall it.
Applied to your work in any of these jobs
Learners will develop skills to design, develop, and test application software based on specifications and user requirements. The unit includes understanding software development methodologies and documenting design specifications to ensure software functionality and reliability.
- Remember
- Understand
- Apply
- Analyse
- Evaluate
- Create
Built for EDEXCEL Level 3 BTEC National Certificate for IT Practitioners (ICT Systems Support)
23 units in this credential, in the order it lists them, awarded by Pearson Education Ltd.
- Applications Software Development
- Business Information Systems
- Communications Technology
- Computer Hardware
- Computer Systems
- Data Communications and Networks
and 17 more in the full unit list below.
One to one, not one to many
No two people run this the same way
A course is written once and handed to everyone. This is assembled around you, and keeps changing as it learns you. Five things it reads, and what each one changes.
- Your actual work Every unit is taught against a live piece of your own work, not a worked example from a textbook.
- What you already know The first conversation finds your starting point, so you skip what you can already do and spend the time on what you cannot.
- The conditions you learn under Not a learning-styles quiz. The evidence does not support those. The dimensions the research does back, read once and used to shape the plan.
- How far you got last time It picks up mid-thought. The tutor knows what you said, what you struggled with, and what it asked you to try.
- Which tutor suits the moment Twelve of them, each for a different kind of thinking. The one who walks you through a first idea is not the one who stress-tests it.
See how you learn, free. Eight questions, no sign-up. A directional taster; the diagnostic inside Zavmo goes deeper and keeps adapting.
Why it sticks
Most courses stop at remembering
There’s a well-known ladder of how deeply you learn something, called Bloom’s Taxonomy. Most courses get you up the first two rungs: you remember some facts, you pass a test, you forget it. Real skill lives at the top. Judging, deciding, creating. And this isn’t a generic ladder: every rung has a named Zavmo tutor who walks you up it.
- 6CreateThe Creative Catalyst
- 5EvaluateThe Evidence Evaluator
- 4AnalyseThe Analyst
- 3ApplyThe Coach
- 2UnderstandThe Connector
- 1RememberThe Builder
Where most courses leave you Where Zavmo takes you
The value
Why the companion is worth £70 a month
You’re not paying for the units. They’re regulated, and the same wherever you earn them. You’re paying for the one thing that decides whether you actually get there: a companion that makes them stick, on your real work.
That is one-to-one on this qualification, every day, on the work you already do, for £70 a month. Your first module is free, so you can see the teaching before you pay for any of it. Billed monthly, cancel any time and billing stops.
This qualification is no longer awarded.
Registrations for it closed some time ago, so it cannot be started today. It appears here because it is on the Ofqual register and may be one you already hold. If you are looking for a current route, browse the qualifications that are still open.
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