Of course: the training itself or an accreditation isn't what this is about; a job that you're getting the training for is. Many trainers unfortunately put too much weight in the qualification itself. It's common, in many cases, to obtain tremendous satisfaction from a year of studying and then find yourself trapped for decades in a job you hate, simply because you did it without the correct level of soul-searching at the outset.

Prioritise understanding the exact expectations industry will have. What precise qualifications you'll need and in what way you can gain some industry experience. Spend some time setting guidelines as to how far you think you'll want to progress your career as it will often present a very specific set of qualifications. Take guidance from a professional advisor, irrespective of whether you have to pay - it's considerably cheaper and safer to discover early on if something is going to suit and interest you, instead of finding out after two full years that you're doing entirely the wrong thing and now need to go back to square one.

It's not uncommon for companies to offer inclusive exam guarantees - inevitably that means paying for the exams when you pay for the rest of your course. However, prior to embracing guaranteed exams, be aware of the facts:

Obviously it's not free - you're still coughing up for it - it's just been included in your package price. The fact is that if students pay for their relevant examinations, when they're ready to take them and not before, they will be much more likely to pass every time - as they are conscious of their payment and their application will be greater.

Isn't it outrageous to have to pay a college up-front for exams? Go for the best offer when you're ready, don't pay mark-ups - and do it in a local testing centre - rather than in some remote place. Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on examination fees when there's absolutely nothing that says you have to? Big margins are secured by training companies getting money in early for exam fees - and hoping either that you won't take them, or it will be a long time before you do. It's worth noting, in the majority of cases of 'exam guarantees' - the company decides when you can do your re-takes. Subsequent exam attempts are only authorised at the company's say so.

Exams taken at VUE and Prometric centres are around 112 pounds in this country. Why spend so much more on fees for 'exam guarantees' (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) - when the best course materials, the right level of support and exam preparation systems and a dose of commitment and effort are what's required.

Accredited exam preparation packages are a must - and absolutely ought to be supplied by your training supplier. Don't fall foul of relying on non-accredited preparation materials for exams. The terminology of their questions can be quite different - and sometimes this can be a real headache when the proper exam time arrives. Why don't you check whether you're learning enough by doing tests and practice exams to prepare you for taking the real thing.

Several of the best industry-recognised qualifications now are produced by the independent 'Computing Technology Industry Association' (CompTIA). Organisations like ISC2 offer security qualifications, & 'CWNP' offer specialised wireless networking tracks. Most prominently of course are Cisco & Microsoft themselves, both offering their very own accreditation tracks. With so many training and employment possibilities in this area, it's sensible to get more personal advice from an experienced industry professional prior to choosing your particular route. You could possibly save yourself a good deal of time & money, to say nothing of annoyance and disappointment.

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