Many training academies still use a now out-dated method of training - classroom attendance. Often sold as a benefit, after discussion with someone who has first-hand experience, don't be surprised to be lectured on several if not all of these problems:

- Lots of back and forth visits - normally 100's of miles or more.

- Workshop availability; frequently weekdays only and usually 2-3 days at a time. You then have the difficulty of the time off work.

- Most of us discover 4 weeks holiday each year doesn't go very far. Spend a good 50 percent of that for study workshops and see how much more difficult it makes things.

- 'In-Centre' workshop days can end up over full.

- Tension can be created in mixed classes as the right pace for one student is not the same as another.

- Take into account all of all the travelling, food, parking and accommodation and you could be in for a major shock. Students have reported extra costs of hundreds to thousands of pounds over time. Sit down and add it up - and understand where they're coming from.

- It's important to maintain privacy. We wouldn't want to run the risk of losing any possible promotion at our current place of work because of our studies.

- Asking questions around our class-mates will often make any one of us a little awkward. Ever avoided asking a question because you were worried it might make you look silly?

- For those of us who need to occasionally live away for part of the week, imagine the trouble involved in reaching the needed classes, when time-off becomes even harder to obtain.

A more flexible training route is to exploit pre-filmed lessons wherever you want to take them - and do it when it's convenient to you - not someone else. You can study at home on your computer or if you've got a laptop, you can go anywhere. If you've got questions, then utilise the 24x7 Support (that we hope you'll insist on with any technical courses.) You can watch and re-watch the modules at any time you need to revise. There's absolutely no need to scribble any notes because you'll always have access to the teaching. Could it be more straightforward: No travelling, wasted time or money; plus you end up with a more peaceful study setting.

A couple of specialities also exist on the MCSE training track; that of Messaging and Security. This can necessitate an additional two MCP's, or an additional one depending on which ones were selected from the first seven. It's sensible thinking about this from the beginning if you're keen on one or both of these subjects, since some forward planning will mean you only have a maximum of 8 MCPs to sit. Upgrade examinations have now also been made available by Microsoft, (exam 70-648 for 'MCSA' and exam 70/649 for 'MCSE') for Server 2008 'MCTS' (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist). It's sensible to look at including one of these updates (or an equivalent) as soon as possible. If you do, you will increase your possibilities for more jobs, & mean you're future-proofed to a greater degree.

Students looking to begin a career in IT generally haven't a clue which route they should take, let alone which market to achieve their certification in. How likely is it for us to understand the tasks faced daily in an IT career when we haven't done that before? Often we don't know someone who performs the role either. Generally, the way to deal with this quandary correctly flows from a deep discussion of a variety of topics:

- Personality plays a starring role - what things get your juices flowing, and what are the areas that really turn you off.

- Why you're looking at starting in computing - it could be you're looking to achieve a particular goal such as working for yourself maybe.

- Any personal or home needs that guide you?

- Learning what the normal IT types and sectors are - and what differentiates them.

- How much time you're prepared to put into getting qualified.

At the end of the day, the best way of understanding everything necessary is by means of a long chat with an advisor or professional who understands the market well enough to give you the information required.

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