If you're looking for a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) training course, it's important to realise that training varies from company to company; some work and some don't. You'll discover a number of options, whether you're a beginner, or an IT professional hoping to gain acknowledged certifications. To qualify for an MCSA you need to pass 4 Microsoft Certified Professional exams (MCP's). If you're joining the industry for the first time, it's likely you'll need to learn a few things before studying for the first of the four MCP's. Search for a training organisation that has industry experts who will find the ideal program for you and can match a course start point to your current skill set.

Consider only training paths which move onto commercially acknowledged exams. There's an endless list of trainers pushing 'in-house' certificates which aren't worth the paper they're printed on in today's commercial market. Only fully recognised certification from the top companies like Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco and Adobe will have any meaning to employers.

Commercial certification is now, undoubtedly, beginning to replace the more academic tracks into the IT sector - so why is this happening? The IT sector now recognises that to cover the necessary commercial skill-sets, official accreditation from companies such as Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA most often has much more specialised relevance - and a fraction of the cost and time. The training is effectively done through concentrating on the skills that are really needed (together with an appropriate level of background knowledge,) as opposed to spending months and years on the background 'padding' that academic courses can get bogged down in (to fill up a syllabus or course).

Assuming a company knows what work they need doing, then all they have to do is advertise for the exact skill-set required to meet that need. Vendor-based syllabuses are set to meet an exact requirement and don't change between schools (like academia frequently can and does).

It's likely that you've always enjoyed practical work - a 'hands-on' person. Typically, the trial of reading reference books and manuals is something you'll make yourself do if you have to, but it's not really your thing. Check out video-based multimedia instruction if learning from books is not your thing. If we're able to involve all our senses in the learning process, then we normally see dramatically better results.

Interactive full motion video featuring instructor demo's and practice lab's will beat books every time. And you'll actually enjoy doing them. It makes sense to see some examples of the kind of training materials you'll be using before you purchase a course. You should expect instructor-led video demonstrations and audio-visual elements backed up by interactive lab's.

It's unwise to opt for on-line only training. With highly variable reliability and quality from your average broadband company, ensure that you have access to actual CD or DVD ROM's.

With all the options available, there's no surprise that a large majority of trainees have no idea which career they should even pursue. Flicking through a list of IT job-titles is no use whatsoever. Surely, most of us don't really appreciate what our next-door neighbours do at work each day - so what chance do we have in understanding the intricacies of a particular IT career. Deliberation over several points is important when you need to get to a solution that suits you:

* The kind of individual you are - what kind of jobs you enjoy, plus of course - what you definitely don't enjoy.

* What time-frame are you looking at for your training?

* Have you thought about salary vs the travel required?

* Always think in-depth about the amount of work expected to gain all the necessary accreditation.

* You have to take in what is different for each area of training.

To cut through all the jargon and confusion, and reveal what'll really work for you, have an informal meeting with an experienced professional; a person that will cover the commercial realities and truth whilst covering all the qualifications.

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