A sneaky way that training providers make a lot more is via an 'exam inclusive' package and then including an 'Exam Guarantee'. It looks impressive, but is it really:

We all know that we're still footing the bill for it - it's obviously been inserted into the overall price charged by the course provider. It's absolutely not free (it's just marketing companies think we'll fall for anything they say!) For those who want to pass in one, evidence suggests you must pay for one exam at a time, focus on it intently and be ready for the task.

Isn't it in your interests to hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you're ready, not to pay any mark-up to a training college, and to do it locally - rather than in some remote centre? Why tie up your cash (or borrow more than you need) for exams when there was no need to? A great deal of money is made because training colleges are getting paid upfront for exams - and banking on the fact that many won't be taken. It's worth noting, with 'Exam Guarantees' from most places - you are not in control of when you are allowed to do a re-take. Subsequent exam attempts are only authorised at the company's say so.

Paying maybe a thousand pounds extra on an 'Exam Guarantee' is naive - when hard work, commitment and the right preparation via exam simulations is what will really guarantee success.

The vendor-neutral world-wide organisation CompTIA now delivers perhaps the most recognised & highly-regarded impartial IT qualifications. There are also many other companies, such as the ISC2 (shortened from their somewhat long-winded: 'International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium'!) and 'CWNP' ('Certified Wireless Network Professional'). Clearly Microsoft & Cisco provide a comprehensive selection of skilled professional accreditations. Because there are so many training & career possibilities in this area, it's prudent to get more personal advice from an experienced industry expert before choosing your particular course. This will likely stop you from making an expensive mistake, in terms of money and time-spent.

If you're like many of the students we talk to then you're quite practically minded - a 'hands-on' person. If you're like us, the trial of reading reference books and manuals can be just about bared when essential, but it's not really your thing. Consider interactive, multimedia study if learning from books is not your thing. Recent studies into the way we learn shows that we remember much more when we use all our senses, and we take action to use what we've learned.

The latest audio-visual interactive programs featuring instructor demo's and practice lab's will forever turn you away from traditional book study. And they're far more fun. Each company you're contemplating must be able to demonstrate some simple examples of the type of training materials they provide. You should hope for instructor-led videos and interactive areas to practice in.

Go for actual CD or DVD ROM's whenever you can. You can then avoid all the difficulties of broadband 'downtime' or slow-speeds.

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