Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Analysing Data or Information Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.

The Work

IT trainers teach people to use computers in businesses, schools, colleges, universities and employment training schemes. They may be working with people who have no previous experience of computers, giving them a basic understanding of the technology, or they may be showing more computer literate people how to use a specific computer system or software product.

Trainers support people's learning, encouraging those who may be quite frightened of computers and gradually enabling them to become more confident and self-sufficient.  
 
Trainers cover a wide range of computer related subjects, depending on who they teach. Trainers also help people to learn how to use application packages such as SAP. Companies usually require assistance in learning how to implement such complex systems.  
 
Trainers sometimes use self-teaching packages. These are computer programs that guide the trainee through a system, explaining each step along the way. Trainers monitor how the course members are progressing and give them any help they need.  
 
The length of training courses varies depending on the trainees' needs. Some are short, for example, those that cover word processing or database systems, while others last for several months.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
• Compile, administer, and grade examinations or assign this work to others.
• Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as programming, data structures, and software design.
• Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
• Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
• Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
• Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
• Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
• Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
• Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Most entrants are graduates who have gained several years' experience in other computing jobs, for example, systems analysis or programming, and then gone into training.  
 
Teaching experience linked to computer knowledge is another possible entry route, as is secretarial or administrative work that has included experience of computer applications.  Many computer training schools offer the Teachers Diploma in Computer Training which is an intensive year long course in computer training. This Qualification enhances the career opportunities of those who wish to work in IT teaching or training. 

Tutors/Teachers/Facilitators to gain employment will require registration with the [TCI] teachers council of Ireland, under the relevant qualification stream 1-4.  

Any person who meets the degree qualification requirements outlined therein is eligible for conditional registration for a period of three years, in which time a Council accredited teacher education qualification must be completed.

There are currently eleven accredited teacher education qualifications specific to the further education sector.

For further information, please see:

• Qualification requirements for further education teachers
• Registration process for Route 3 Further Education

Training & Development Pathways

FET Centre Traineeship: Business Admin, Management, and facilitation 'train the trainer' in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search our FET Coursefinder

FET PLC Courses: Business Management, Teaching at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

Apprenticeship: Occupational IT Cybrsecurity, Networking, Software development. In terms of teaching, there are no apprenticeship programs in this occupational area currently, check for apprenticeships in development Search apprenticeship

Higher Education CAO Entry: Education & Training, Teaching & facilitation NFQ Level 8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Professional Development 

Postgraduate Study Options Education, Facilitation, Teaching NFQ level 9

The Teaching Council

Last Updated: November, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €24k - €53k

Salaries vary greatly depending on sector worked on, especially between those who teach introductory computer courses and those who work for corporations training staff and customers in advanced IT services, who would generally be on the higher end of the salary range.

Salaries vary based on employer (state or private) , location, experience, role, duties, and hourly sessional or contract retained rates.

Data Source(s):
ETBI Salaries/ Indeed/ Payscale / TUI

Last Updated: March, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was below average over the five-year period, with little growth since 2020. It should be noted that career guidance professionals working in the second level system are most likely captured in the secondary teaching occupations. Employment permits issued in 2022 were all intra-company transfers and related to roles outside of the education sector.

ICT profs 

The negative average annual employment growth rate over the five-year period for this occupation is partly related to changes in the LFS in 2017; however, employment has declined annually since 2020. Those employed were primarily male, working full-time and held third-level qualifications. The share of non-Irish citizens employed far exceeded the national average (41% compared to 19% nationally). Despite the decline in employment, over 3,500 new employment permits were issued in 2022 across a range of roles including IT analysts/engineers (cloud, security, systems, network, test), There was a high volume of mentions in the Recruitment Agency Survey for network/security and site reliability engineers while vacancies for software testers were cited as difficult to fill by employers in the Skills for Growth data, particularly for those with cybersecurity, cloud computing and HTML skills.

The number of online job adverts declined by 12% in 2022, predominantly due to the fall in postings for systems analysts which alone accounted for nearly half the total decline in ICT job postings in 2022. Despite falling employment numbers, strong demand remains evident across the indicators in key areas such as network/cloud and security engineering. The move to remote working since the onset of the pandemic, along with the war in Ukraine, have increased the prevalence of cybersecurity threats39 with demand for these skills likely to persist. The fall in online vacancy advertisements indicates a slowing in demand but shortages remain, at least in the short-term.

• The Teaching Council

  • Block A, Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth Co. Kildare
  • (01) 651 7900
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Technology Ireland

  • 84/86 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2
  • (01) 605 1500
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• ICS - The Society for Chartered IT Professionals in Ireland

  • 87-89 Pembroke Road, Dublin 4
  • (01) 237 7788
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI)

  • Piper's Hill, Kilcullen Road, Naas, Co Kildare, Ireland
  • +353 (0)45-901070
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here