If you’re reading this then it’s likely that you’d like to enter the world of computers and you’ve heard good things about MCSE’s, or you’re already in a networking related industry and it’s apparent that you can’t get any further without the Microsoft qualification.

We’d recommend you prove conclusively that your provider is definitely teaching with the latest Microsoft level. A lot of students have come unstuck when they discover they’ve been educated in an old version of MCSE which will require an up-date.

Don’t rush into buying a course before having all your questions answered. Look for a company that will put effort into advising you on a well matched program for your needs.

Every program under consideration really needs to work up to a widely recognised accreditation at the finale – definitely not some ‘in-house’ plaque for your wall.

The top IT companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA all have nationally acknowledged skills courses. These heavyweights can make sure you stand out at interview.

Make sure you don’t get caught-up, as many people do, on the training course itself. Training for training’s sake is generally pointless; you’re training to become commercially employable. You need to remain focused on where you want to go.

It’s quite usual, for example, to get a great deal of enjoyment from a year of study but end up spending 10 or 20 years in something completely unrewarding, simply because you did it without the correct research at the beginning.

Prioritise understanding the exact expectations industry will have. Which particular certifications you’ll need and in what way you can gain some industry experience. It’s also worth spending time setting guidelines as to how far you’d like to progress your career as it may force you to choose a particular set of certifications.

Long before starting a particular training programme, it makes sense to chat over the exact market requirements with an experienced industry professional, to make sure the study program covers all the necessary elements.

Review the facts below very carefully if you’re inclined to think that old marketing ploy of ‘guaranteeing’ exams sounds like a benefit to the student:

You’ll be charged for it ultimately. It certainly isn’t free – they’ve just worked it into the package price.

People who take exams one at a time, funding them as they go are much more likely to pass. They’re aware of their investment and take the necessary steps to be up to the task.

Shouldn’t you be looking to not pay up-front, but when you take the exam, not to pay the fees marked up by the training course provider, and to do it in a local testing office – rather than in some remote centre?

Many questionable training colleges net huge profits through asking for exam fees early then hoping that you won’t take them all.

The majority of organisations will insist on pre-tests and not allow you to re-take an exam until you’ve completely proven that you’re likely to pass – which makes an ‘Exam Guarantee’ frankly useless.

Exam fees averaged approximately 112 pounds in the last 12 months via UK VUE or Prometric centres. So what’s the point of paying maybe a thousand pounds extra to have ‘Exam Guarantees’, when any student knows that the best guarantee is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.

Many people assume that the state educational route is the right way even now. So why are commercially accredited qualifications slowly and steadily replacing it?

The IT sector now acknowledges that for an understanding of the relevant skills, proper accreditation from such organisations as Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA most often has much more specialised relevance – at a far reduced cost both money and time wise.

Clearly, a certain amount of associated information needs to be taught, but focused specialisation in the areas needed gives a vendor educated person a massive advantage.

Just as the old advertisement said: ‘It does what it says on the label’. Employers simply need to know what areas need to be serviced, and then advertise for someone with the specific certification. That way they can be sure they’re interviewing applicants who can do the job.

(C) Scott Edwards 2009. Pop to MCSACourse4PC.co.uk or Click Here.

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