Commencing with the idea that it's necessary to locate the market that sounds most inviting first, before we can mull over what method of training would meet that requirement, how are we supposed to find the right path? Working through long lists of different and confusing job titles is just a waste of time. Most of us have no concept what our own family members do for a living - so what chance do we have in understanding the subtleties of any specific IT role. Usually, the way to come at this predicament appropriately comes from a full conversation around a variety of topics:

- Your individual personality as well as your interests - what work-oriented areas you enjoy or dislike.

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

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

- Some students don't fully understand the energy required to get fully certified.

- You need to understand what differentiates each individual training area.

When all is said and done, the most intelligent way of investigating all this is through a long chat with an advisor who through years of experience will be able to guide you.

Charging for examinations as an inclusive element of the package price then including an exam guarantee is a common method with a good many training companies. But look at the facts:

They've allowed costings for it somehow. It certainly isn't free - it's simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole. Evidence shows that when trainees fund each examination, one by one, the chances are they're going to pass every time - since they'll think of what they've paid and their application will be greater.

Don't pay up-front, but seek out the best deal for you when you take the exam, and keep hold of your own money. You'll then be able to select where you take your exam - which means you can stay local. Why tie up your cash (or borrow more than you need) for examination fees when there's absolutely nothing that says you have to? Big margins are netted by organisations getting paid upfront for exams - and then cashing in when they're not all taken. Re-takes of previously unsuccessful exams via organisations with an 'Exam Guarantee' are always heavily controlled. You'll be required to sit pre-tests so you can prove to them you have a good chance of passing.

Exam fees averaged approximately 112 pounds in the last 12 months when taken at VUE or Pro-metric centres in the UK. Therefore, why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra for 'an Exam Guarantee', when common sense dictates that the most successful method is a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools.

There are also 2 specialist areas on the 'MCSE' track - security and messaging. Depending on exactly which preliminary seven MCPs are selected, this may call for an extra one or two additional MCP examinations. If you are thinking about one of these specialities then it is sensible to think about this from the start - as it then means only eight examinations are needed, instead of nine. Upgrade exams have also been brought in by MS, (exam 70/648 for the 'MCSA' and exam 70/649 for the 'MCSE') for Server 2008 'MCTS' (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist). We would recommend that you think seriously about including one of the above into your training-package. If you do, you'll open up your possibilities to get more work, & be future proofed to a greater degree.

Don't forget: the training program or the accreditation isn't what this is about; a job that you're getting the training for is. Too many training companies put too much weight in the qualification itself. Students often train for a single year but end up doing the actual job for 10-20 years. Avoid the mistake of choosing what sounds like an 'interesting' training program only to spend 20 years doing a job you don't like!

You also need to know what your attitude is towards earning potential, career development, and how ambitious you are. You need to know what industry expects from you, which certifications will be required and how you'll gain real-world experience. Have a conversation with someone who has a commercial understanding of the realities faced in the industry, and is able to give you an in-depth explanation of what you actually do in that role. Getting to the bottom of all this long before you start on any learning program will prevent a lot of wasted time and effort.

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