First consider what computer use skills you already have and how confident you feel when using a computer.
1. If you are just starting out or don’t yet feel confident you may consider the option of doing the e-Citizen Certification.
2. This would also be sufficient if you simply want to be more comfortable using the Internet and to generally participate in the information society.
3.  e-Citizen can also be an effective steppingstone to ICDL Core for those that wish to build more confidence before tackling the full scope of ICDL Core.
4. If you have a lot of computer skills and confidence in using the computer you can do the ICDL Core. Self-paced study might also be a good choice. This will probably add several dimensions to your already well developed computer use skills set. More importantly it will give you internationally recognized proof that you have such skills.
5. You have an ICDL and are very confident – why not become an ICDL EXPERT
 
A second consideration is to determine what level of skill you want/need to attain.

1. You need the skill for personal reasons and the self satisfaction that you have them.
2. You are planning to participate in higher education and want to be sure you have solid computer skills for this level. ICDL Core will provide you with your needs and many institutions will recognise your credential for advanced standing or transfer credit
3. You want to be more competitive in the job market. The ICDL is a good general definition of what you really need to know about and be able to do with a computer to be considered a competent computer user at work.
4. You have or are planning to get your ICDL and will need to take it to the next level because you are in finance or accounting and spreadsheets are seriously part of your work. You would plan to do your Advanced Module 4 Spreadsheets.
5. Similar to 4, someone working with records may want to do Advanced Module 5 Database
6. Someone in publishing corporate documents or a legal administrator may want to do Advanced Module 3 Word Processing
7. The leaves presenters, people in sales and marketing, trainers and others who want more can do Advanced Module 6 Presentations.
 
Finally, you can plan to start with a certification that you feel is attainable and then decide to move on to the next.  One of the rules for doing Advanced Modules is that you must have done the corresponding Core level module. Eventually, you may complete all of the Advanced Modules for which you will receive the ICDL Expert Certificate.  Alternatively, some candidates prefer to enrol in the ICDL Expert which includes all four modules