Are you toying with the idea of doing an MCSE? It's very possible then that you're probably in 1 of 2 situations: You're currently an IT professional and you'd like to consolidate your skill-set with the MCSE qualification. Instead this might be your initial foray into the computer world, and research demonstrates there is a great need for qualified people.

As you discover more about training providers, ensure that you don't use those who reduce their costs by failing to use the latest level of Microsoft development. This is no use to the student their knowledge will be of outdated MCSE course material which doesn't correspond to the current exam syllabus, so it will make it very difficult for them to pass. Stay away from organisations that are just interested in your money. Advisors should be helping to ensure you are taking the right decisions. Don't be shoe-horned into a standard product by some pushy sales person.

It's so important to understand this key point: You absolutely must have proper 24x7 instructor support. You'll severely regret it if you don't heed this. Look for training where you can access help at any time of day or night (even if it's early hours on Sunday morning!) You want direct-access to qualified mentors and tutors, and not simply some messaging service that means you're waiting for tutors to call you back during office hours.

Keep looking and you'll come across professional companies who offer direct-access online support around the clock - even in the middle of the night. You can't afford to accept a lower level of service. Support round-the-clock is the only viable option when it comes to technical training. Maybe burning the midnight-oil is not your thing; but for the majority of us however, we're working while the support is live.

Potential Students looking to kick off a career in IT usually aren't sure which route they should take, or what market to build their qualifications around. What is our likelihood of grasping what is involved in a particular job if we've never been there? Maybe we haven't met someone who is in that area at all. To come through this, we need to discuss a variety of different aspects:

* What hobbies you have and enjoy - often these define what areas will give you the most reward.

* What length of time can you allocate for the retraining?

* What priority do you place on travelling time and locality vs salary?

* Considering the huge variation that Information Technology encapsulates, you really need to be able to see what is different.

* You should also think long and hard about the level of commitment you'll put into your training.

To cut through the industry jargon, and uncover the best route for you, have an informal meeting with an experienced professional; an individual that appreciates and can explain the commercial realities while explaining the certifications.

Chat with any knowledgeable advisor and you'll be surprised by their many horror stories of salespeople ripping-off unsuspecting students. Stick to an experienced industry advisor that quizzes you to discover the most appropriate thing for you - not for their paycheque! You must establish the very best place to start for you. With a bit of commercial experience or qualifications, you may find that your starting point is now at a different level to a new student. Always consider starting with user-skills and software training first. This can set the scene for your on-going studies and make the learning curve a bit more manageable.

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