Any program that you're going to undertake has to build towards a nationally accepted accreditation as an end-goal - definitely not some 'in-house' diploma - fit only for filing away and forgetting. Unless your qualification is issued by a conglomerate such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or Adobe, then you'll probably find it could have been a waste of time and effort - because it won't give an employer any directly-useable skills.

Proper support should never be taken lightly - locate a good company offering 24x7 direct access to instructors, as anything else will annoy you and definitely hold up your pace and restrict your intake. Many only provide email support (too slow), and phone support is usually just a call-centre which will make some notes and then email an advisor - who'll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, at a time suitable for them. This is no use if you're sitting there confused over an issue and can only study at specific times.

World-class organisations tend to use an online round-the-clock system combining multiple support operations from around the world. You get a single, easy-to-use environment that switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres no matter what time of day it is: Support when it's needed. Never settle for less than this. Online 24x7 support is the only kind that ever makes the grade when it comes to technical courses. Perhaps you don't intend to study during the evenings; usually though, we're out at work during the provided support period.

A sneaky way that colleges make extra profits is by charging for exams up-front and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. It looks like a good deal, until you think it through:

Everyone knows they're still being charged for it - it's quite obvious to see that it's already been included in the overall price charged by the course provider. It's definitely not free (although some people will believe anything the marketing companies think up these days!) It's everybody's ambition to qualify on the first attempt. Entering examinations one by one and paying as you go sees you much better placed to get through first time - you take it seriously and think carefully about the costs.

Don't you think it's more sensible to go for the best offer at the time, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance to a training course provider, and to take it closer to home - instead of the remote centre that's convenient only to the trainer? Buying a course that includes payments for examinations (plus interest - if you're financing your study) is insane. Don't line companies bank accounts with your hard-earned cash simply to help their cash-flow! There are those who hope that you won't get to do them all - so they get to keep the extra funds. Re-takes of any failed exams with training companies who offer an 'Exam Guarantee' are always heavily controlled. They'll insist that you take mock exams first until you've proven that you're likely to pass.

The cost of exams was approximately 112 pounds twelve months or so ago through VUE or Pro-metric centres in the UK. So don't be talked into shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds more for 'an Exam Guarantee', when it's obvious that the most successful method is consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software.

Many trainers provide a bunch of books and manuals. Obviously, this isn't much fun and isn't the best way to go about studying effectively. If we can utilise all of our senses into our learning, then we normally see dramatically better results.

You can now study via self-contained CD or DVD materials. Real-world classes from the instructors will mean you'll find things easier to remember through their teaching and demonstrations. Then you test your knowledge by using practice-lab's. Always insist on a training material demonstration from the training company. You should ask for demo's from instructors, slideshows and interactive labs where you get to practice.

It's usually bad advice to go for purely on-line training. With highly variable reliability and quality from most broadband providers, you should always obtain CD or DVD ROM based materials.

A ridiculously large number of organisations only look at the plaque to hang on your wall, and completely miss what it's all actually about - getting yourself a new job or career. You should always begin with the end goal - don't make the journey more important than where you want to get to. You could be training for only a year and end up doing a job for a lifetime. Don't make the mistake of finding what seems like an 'interesting' course and then spend decades in a job you hate!

Stay focused on what it is you're trying to achieve, and create a learning-plan from that - don't do it back-to-front. Keep your eyes on your goals and begin studying for an end-result that'll reward you for many long and fruitful years. Our recommendation would be to take advice from a skilled advisor before making your final decision on a study course, so there's no doubt that the chosen route will give you the appropriate skill-set.

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