ELCAS approved CompTIA DataSys+ course

The full price is £799. On higher tier ELC pays £639.20 and you pay £159.80. On lower tier ELC pays £639.20 and you pay £159.80. Each of those uses one of your three claims.

Yes. It is delivered by Course2Career, a trading name of Course Correct Ltd, ELCAS approved provider 14012, and the course is levelled by CompTIA at RQF Level 3.

Yes. The fee includes one CompTIA DataSys+ (DS0-002) exam voucher, with a retake if you need it. DS0-002 is the current version, launched on 13 October 2026.

No. The fee is £799, below £1,250, so ELC pays the full 80 per cent (£639.20) on either tier and you pay £159.80.

No formal prerequisites. CompTIA recommends 2 to 3 years of hands-on experience as a database administrator.

Self paced. CompTIA estimates 25 to 40 hours for its CertMaster Learn course, plus revision and exam practice. Leave time for your claim as well: MOD guidance says submit it at least 25 clear working days before your start date.

Typical roles include Database Administrator, Database Developer and Data Analyst. The UK median for Database Administrator is £60,000, with the 10th percentile at £41,250 (ITJobsWatch, permanent vacancies, six months to 24 October 2026). A median is not a starting salary, and certification improves your chances of being considered rather than setting your pay.

The current version, DS0-002, which CompTIA launched on 13 October 2026. The previous exam, DS0-001, retires in English on 16 April 2027, so new learners should prepare for DS0-002.

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.

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.

No, not any more, and a lot of provider websites are still out of date on this.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.

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.

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.

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.

Submit the claim well before your course start date. MOD guidance for Service personnel states claims should be submitted at least 25 clear working days beforehand. Build in more time than you think you need, because an incomplete form goes back to you and the clock keeps running.

ELC funding is only available for higher level learning, meaning courses leading to a nationally recognised qualification at Level 3 or above on the National Qualifications Framework in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Level 6 or above on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework, or an approved international equivalent. The course must also be delivered by an approved provider listed on the ELCAS website.

Many service leavers do use other resettlement funding towards their personal contribution. What you cannot do is use ELC itself to cover the 20 per cent, because the scheme requires a genuine personal contribution. Check the specific rules of any other fund with your Education Staff or Service Leaver representative before relying on it.