Should you be wanting to study to get an MCSE, you're probably in 1 of 2 situations. You may want to come into the computer world, and your research tells you the IT industry has a huge demand for those with appropriate certifications. On the other hand you are perhaps an IT professional looking to formalise your skill set with an MCSE.

As you discover more about computer training companies, make sure you stay away from those who cut costs by not upgrading their courses to the most up-to-date Microsoft version. This is a false economy for the trainee their knowledge will be of the wrong MCSE version which doesn't correspond to the present exams, so it will make it very difficult for them to pass. Computer training companies should be committed to discovering the ultimate program for their trainees. Directing learning is equally about helping people to work out which direction to go in, as it is giving them help to reach their destination.

One interesting way that training providers make a big mark-up is by charging for exams up-front then giving it 'Exam Guarantee' status. This looks like a great idea for the student, but let's just examine it more closely:

Everybody's aware that they're ultimately paying for it - obviously it has been inserted into the full cost of the package supplied by the training provider. It's certainly not free - and it's insulting that we're supposed to think it is! People who go in for their examinations when it's appropriate, funding them one at a time are in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt. They're mindful of their investment and take the necessary steps to ensure they are ready.

Find the best exam deal or offer available when you're ready, and keep hold of your own money. In addition, it's then your choice where to do your exams - which means you can stay local. Why tie up your cash (or borrow more than you need) for exams when you didn't need to? Big margins are made by companies charging upfront for all their exams - and hoping either that you won't take them, or it will be a long time before you do. In addition to this, exam guarantees often have very little value. The majority of organisations will not pay for you to re-take until you're able to demonstrate an excellent mock pass rate.

VUE and Prometric examinations are approximately 112 pounds in Great Britain. Students should be very wary of forking out hundreds of pounds extra in charges for 'Exam Guarantees' (most often hidden in the package) - when a quality course, support and study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really guarantee success.

Looking at the myriad of choice out there, is it any wonder that nearly all students don't really understand the best career path they will enjoy. Perusing lists of IT career possibilities is no use whatsoever. Most of us don't really appreciate what our good friends do at work - so what chance do we have in understanding the intricacies of any specific IT role. To attack this, we need to discuss several core topics:

* What hobbies you have and enjoy - often these highlight what areas will provide a happy working life.

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

* What priority do you place on salary vs job satisfaction?

* Getting to grips with what the main career areas and sectors are - plus how they're different to each other.

* The time and energy you'll have available to commit the training program.

Ultimately, the most intelligent way of covering these is through a long chat with an advisor that through years of experience will provide solid advice.

A skilled and practiced consultant (vs a salesman) will cover in some detail your current level of ability and experience. This is paramount to establishing the starting point for your education. An important point to note is that, if in the past you've acquired any previous certification, then you can sometimes expect to pick-up at a different starting-point to a student who's starting from scratch. Consider starting with some basic user skills first. It will usually make the transition to higher-level learning a little less steep.

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