The right sort of training program should have accredited exam preparation systems. Be sure that the exams you practice are not just posing the correct questions in the right areas, but are also posing them in the way the real exams will ask them. This can really throw some students if the phraseology and format is completely different. You should make sure you check how much you know through tests and practice exams prior to taking the real deal.

'Windows' 'NT' Operating-systems are now very rare, yet quite a number of Windows '2000' can still be found. It's still early days yet for Windows Server '08, with '2003' continuing it's dominance. Because Server '2003' remains the dominant in commerce, the company's most important accreditations are still based upon this. The 'Microsoft' MCSE and 'MCSA' training programs have developed over time in accordance with the servers. Presently, both 'MCSE' '2003' & 'MCSA' 2003 are MS's main Network qualifications. As upgrade coaching for Server '08 is actually out there though, it's a good idea to cover this as well.

Remember: the course itself or the accreditation is not what you're looking for; the job or career that you want is. Too many training companies place too much importance on the course or the qualification. It's possible, for instance, to thoroughly enjoy one year of training only to end up putting 20 long years into a job you hate, as an upshot of not doing some quality research at the beginning.

Prioritise understanding the expectations of your industry. What precise qualifications they'll want you to gain and how to gain experience. It's also worth spending time setting guidelines as to how far you think you'll want to go as it will often control your selection of qualifications. It's good advice for all students to chat with a professional advisor before they make a decision on a particular study program. This gives some measure of assurance that it contains the commercially required skills for that career path.

Many training schools are still offering the slightly musty old method of classroom lessons. Usually touted as a major benefit, following a chat with most students who've had to attend a couple, you'll find them listing some or most of the following problems:

- All the travelling required - many journeys and normally over 100 miles a pop.

- Taking time out of work - typical training providers provide class availability from Monday to Friday and often group days together in a clump. To be honest, this doesn't suit working people, and this is made worse when travel time is included.

- With just 4 weeks annual leave, giving half of them to study events leaves us with very few opportunities for days off.

- With the high costs involved, most trainers really push the size of the class - which is not ideal (and with less one-on-one time).

- Often, tension develops in the classroom because the right pace for one student is not the same as another.

- Add up the cost of all the travel, fares, parking, food and accommodation and you'll be in for a big surprise. Attendees have reported extra costs of hundreds to thousands of pounds over time. Do the maths - and understand where they're coming from.

- Privacy is important to us all. We shouldn't risk giving up any advancement that could awarded to us just because we're retraining.

- Who amongst us hasn't avoided putting our hand's up, because we wanted to maintain the illusion that we did, in fact, understand?

- Usually, days in-centre become pretty much unreachable, in cases where you work or live away for days at a time.

The absolute best situation rests with watching a ready-made, videoed class - having instructor-led teaching on hand whenever it's convenient for you. Imagine... If you've got a laptop you're able to study wherever you happen to be at that time. And live 24 hr-a-day support is just a web-browser away when you get challenged. Repeat any of the classes whenever it's convenient - repetition is good for memory. And note-taking is gone forever - everything is already laid on for you. Essentially: You save time, hassle, money and avoid polluting our environment.

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