Choosing a provider
ELCAS approved training providers for IT and cyber security
Approval is an administrative standard, not a quality rating. Here is who is approved in this niche, what each one is actually good at, and the questions to ask before you commit a claim.
You only get three ELC claims, so the provider you spend one with matters. Several approved providers deliver IT and cyber security training to service leavers, including ITonlinelearning, Robust IT Training, Newto Training, ATC Training and ourselves.
The thing worth understanding: ELCAS approval confirms a provider meets the scheme's administrative requirements. It is not an assessment of teaching quality, support or outcomes, and the MOD does not rank approved providers. Two providers can both be approved and deliver very different experiences for the same money.
Approved providers in this space
Provider numbers are checkable on the official ELCAS register. If a number here does not match what you find there, trust the register.
| Provider | ELCAS ID | What they offer | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITonlinelearning | 6447 | Trading since 2007. States it has helped over 2,000 Armed Forces personnel. Partners include APM, PeopleCert, APMG, BCS, CompTIA, CIPD and CMI. The largest review base of any provider here. | Broadest catalogue and longest track record in this niche. |
| Robust IT Training | Approved | Founded 2011, Welwyn Garden City. Offers offline course materials, which matters if you are deploying or at sea, and publishes service leaver testimonials. | Worth a look if connectivity during your course is a real constraint. |
| Newto Training | 14501 | Founded 2021, London. Live instructor led delivery rather than self paced, with an ELCAS entitlement calculator on site. | Suits people who want scheduled live teaching rather than studying alone. |
| ATC Training | 13259 | Approved provider running the standard 80 per cent upfront contribution model with a claim authorisation process. | A smaller catalogue, worth checking against your specific target certification. |
| Course2Career | 14012 | Founded 2021, London. Self paced IT, cyber security, networking, data and AI programmes with tutor support and recruitment support included. Prices published openly. | That is us. We have kept ourselves out of the ranking above for obvious reasons. |
Details recorded 5 August 2026 from each provider's own public pages. Providers change their offering, so verify anything that matters to your decision directly with them before claiming.
What to ask before you spend a claim
- What is your ELCAS provider number?Then check it yourself on the official register. Any hesitation here is your answer.
- Are the examination fees included in the price?This is the single biggest hidden cost in the training market. Exam vouchers can be several hundred pounds a certification. Get it in writing.
- How long do I have access, and what happens if I need longer?Deployment, operational commitments and resettlement timing all cause overruns. Ask what an extension costs and whether accepting one affects anything else you have been promised.
- What support do I get, and from whom?Tutor support, recruitment support, CV help. Ask what each actually means in practice and how quickly someone responds.
- What is the total, in writing, before I submit anything?Full fee, ELC portion, your contribution. One document. Do not submit a claim against a verbal figure.
And the one that protects your claim
Never pay a provider before your claim is approved and you are holding the Claim Authorisation Note. Retrospective claims are not permitted, and a provider that encourages you to pay up front and sort the paperwork later is putting your entitlement at risk.
Common questions
How do I check whether a training provider is ELCAS approved?
Search the provider list on the official ELCAS website at enhancedlearningcredits.com. Every approved provider has a number. If a provider will not give you their number, or the number does not appear on the official list, do not submit a claim against them.
Does it matter which approved provider I choose?
Yes, considerably. Approval means the provider meets the scheme's administrative requirements. It is not a quality rating and it is not an endorsement of their teaching, their support or their outcomes. Compare the certifications included, whether examination fees are covered, how much tutor support you get and what happens if you fall behind.
Can I use one claim across two providers?
No. A claim relates to a single course of higher level learning with a single approved provider. If you want training from two providers you need two separate claims in two separate financial years.
What should I ask a provider before I claim?
Ask for their ELCAS provider number, a written quote showing the full fee and your personal contribution, confirmation of which examinations are included in the price, the access period, and what happens if you need an extension. Get all of it in an email rather than on a call.
How much ELCAS funding can I get?
ELC pays 80 per cent of the course fee, up to your tier cap. Lower tier is capped at £1,000 per claim and higher tier at £2,000 per claim. You must pay a minimum of 20 per cent of the fee yourself, and you cannot use ELC to cover that 20 per cent.
How many years of service do I need?
Lower tier requires at least six years of eligible service. Higher tier requires at least eight years. The six year rule came in under the 2016 Order: if you had already completed four years of eligible service before 1 April 2017, you qualify for lower tier on the old four year threshold. Only service accumulated since 1 April 2000 counts.
Do I need to register for ELC before I leave?
No, not any more, and a lot of provider websites are still out of date on this. The Armed Forces (Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme and Further and Higher Education Commitment Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2016 removed the registration requirement. Members of the armed forces are automatically enrolled in the ELC Scheme once they have completed Phase 1 training.
How many claims do I get?
Three in total, and only one per financial year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March. Plan the order you use them in, because you cannot get a claim back once it is spent.
Can I still claim after I have left the forces?
Yes, within five years of your discharge date. If you left before 1 April 2016 you have ten years. Check your own date against this rather than assuming, because the window changed.
Can I claim for a course I have already paid for?
No. Retrospective claims are not permitted under any circumstances. The claim has to be approved before the course starts, so speak to us before you pay for anything.
Not sure which tier you are on, or how many claims you have left?
Tell us your service dates and what you want to end up doing. We will tell you which tier you qualify for, what a claim would actually cover on each course, and whether ELC is even the right fund for your situation. No obligation, and if a different provider or route suits you better we will say so.
Course2Career is a trading name of Course Correct Ltd, ELCAS approved provider 14012. Full accreditations, registrations and terms are on our credentials and evidence page. Official scheme guidance is published at enhancedlearningcredits.com, and where anything on this page differs from theirs, theirs is correct.