Information Technology has become an essential tool in today's competitive corporate world in India. There is a huge demand for quality IT professionals in India. The demand and supply gap of the same is increasing day by day. Recently, many IT educational institutes have cropped up all over India. The level and quality of knowledge imparted by these institutes vary greatly. Hence the Government of India introduced a DOEACC scheme in order to bring all those seeking computer education at a uniform national level. Thus helping the IT industry to meet this growing demand for IT professionals in a systematic manner.

DOEACC is a joint scheme of Department of Information Technology (formerly Department of Electronics) under Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Govt. of India and All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), a statutory body for the development of technical education, including Computer Education in India.

The objective of this scheme is to generate qualified manpower in the area of Information Technology (IT) at the national level, by utilising the facilities available with the institutions & organizations in the non-formal sector.

For this purpose DOEACC Society has been established which is an autonomous body of the Department of Information Technology. The DOEACC Society, an ISO 9001-2000 certified body, is a professional examining body which accredits  institutes for conducting particular course, specializing in the non-formal sector of IT education.

The Society conducts four different levels of examinations (in JAN and JUL every year) namely -

O Level - Foundation level,

A Level - Advanced level,

B Level - equivalent to MCA degree, and

C Level - equivalent to M. Tech.

The 'O' Level course enables a student to learn and acquire the basic skills (foundation level) of Information Technology. The candidates who successfully qualify the 'O' Level examination can make their careers as Jr. Programmers, EDP Assistants, Web Designers and Lab Faculties.

'O' Level course consists of 4 Theory modules, 1 Practical and 1 Project. The course structure of  'O' Level is as follows :

COMPULSORY

M1        IT Tools and Applications

M2        Business Systems

M3        Internet and Web Design

ELECTIVE (Select ONE)

M4.1    Programming and problem solving through 'C' Language

M4.2    Programming through 'Visual Basic'

The 'O' level examinations are conducted twice a year on every Second Saturday & Sunday of January and July. Minimum passing marks in Theory papers and Practical examinations is 50%.

For taking these examinations, a student has to first Register himself/herself with the DOEACC Society by paying Registration fees of Rs. 300/-  payable through a Demand Draft in favour of 'DOEACC' payable at 'NEW DELHI'.

A candidate can register oneself in one of following TWO ways :

1. Through Accredited Institute :

If the candidate has passed (10+2) examination

AND

is undergoing a 'O' Level course from an  Institute accredited by DOEACC Society.

2. As a Direct Candidate :

If the candidate has passed (10+2) examination

AND

has minimum of ONE Year relevant experience in IT industry.

After registration, the student receives an Identity Card and a Registration Number. This registration is valid for a period of FIVE years i.e. a candidate is allowed to appear in maximum 10 consecutive examinations (conducted twice a year) from the date of registration.

Cut-off dates for 'O' Level registration are :

• For Direct Candidates :

  •     31 December for July examinations

  •     30 June for January examinations

   

• For Candidates through Accredited institutes :

  •     31 January for July examinations

  •     30 July for January examinations

For every examination, the candidates have to apply separately through Exam Forms available in the months of APRIL and OCTOBER for JULY and JANUARY exams respectively. The candidates have to indicate the modules they wish to take exams and have to pay examination fees of Rs. 250/- per module to DOEACC Society.

Complete details and Registration form can be obtained from the DOEACC website http://www.doeacc.org.in

The office address of the society is as follows :

DOEACC Society, Electronics Niketan, 6 CGO Complex, NEW DELHI - 110003

Tel : 011-24363330,31,32, 24366577,79.80. Fax : 011-24363335

E-Mail : doeacc@doe.ernet.in

The certificates provided even by very reputed Private or Semi-government educational bodies are normally not accepted by Government Departments for the purpose of recruiting IT professionals. There requirement in general is a Government recognized certificate or diploma. The main advantage of the 'O' Level certification is that a candidate gets a fully Government recognized IT qualification which is accepted all over India and gradually by many foreign countries like Japan.