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Institute of Technical Education
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Certification system

More information about the certification system for full-time / part-time education, traineeship programmes and Work-Study programmes.

Last updated 27 August 2025

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Full-time education
Traineeship programmes
Work-Study programmes
Part-time Education

The ITE Certification System comprises certification levels as follows:

Full-time education

  • National ITE Certificate (Nitec) for courses that require completion of GCE ‘N’ Level or GCE ‘O’ Level as an entry requirement, with pre-requisites for certain courses.

  • Higher National ITE Certificate (Higher Nitec) for courses that require GCE ‘O’ Level or GCE 'N' (Academic) Level with pre-requisites as an entry requirement.

  • Technical Diploma for courses that require relevant Higher Nitec / Nitec as an entry requirement.

Traineeship programmes

  • Some Nitec and Higher Nitec courses are offered in traineeship mode as well. Entry requirements are similar to related courses in full-time education.

Work-Study programmes

  • Work-Study Diploma for courses that are in partnership with employers targeted at ITE Graduates with relevant Higher Nitec / Nitec or relevant working experience as an entry requirement.

Part-time Education

  • National ITE Certificate (Nitec) for courses that cater to the upgrading needs of the workforce, and require completion of GCE ‘N’ Level or GCE ‘O’ Level as an entry requirement, with pre-requisites for certain courses.

  • Higher National ITE Certificate (Higher Nitec) for courses that cater to the upgrading needs of the workforce, and require GCE ‘O’ Level or GCE 'N' (Academic) Level with pre-requisites as an entry requirement.

  • ITE Skills Certificate (ISC) for courses that cater to the upgrading needs of the workforce.

  • SkillsFuture Series Certificate of Competency (COC) for short courses that provide industry-relevant training in emerging and critical skills areas, comprising beginner to intermediate to advance levels.

  • Train The Trainer programme (TTT) prepares trainers and On-the-Job Training practitioners to effectively instruct, coach, assess, and develop curriculum and assessments for industry training.