One thing you must always insist on is full 24x7 support through trained professional instructors and mentors. Too many companies only provide support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later (but not weekends usually). Avoid those companies that use 'out-of-hours' messaging systems - with your call-back scheduled for the next 'working' day. It's no use when you're stuck on a problem and need an answer now.

Be on the lookout for study programmes that utilise many support facilities across multiple time-zones. All of them should be combined to provide a single interface and also access round-the-clock, when you need it, with no fuss. Seek out an educator that is worth purchasing from. Only true live 24x7 round-the-clock support gives you the confidence to make it.

In first place for the biggest single let-down for IT students is usually having to turn up to 'In Centre' days or workshops. Many certification companies extol the virtues of the 'benefits' of going in to their classes, but most students end up finding them a growing difficulty due to:

- Many round journeys - normally hundreds of miles each and every time.

- Availability of classes; often weekdays only and sometimes two to three days together. You then have the difficulty of the leave of absence.

- The majority of us end up feeling twenty days annual leave is barely enough. Use up a big chunk of this for study days and watch how much harder things become.

- Taking into account the costs associated with delivering a workshop, most colleges make the classes quite large - certainly not ideal (increasing the ratio of students to teachers).

- The pace of the workshop - workshops invariably consist of trainees of varying talent, consequently tension can run high between students with more background knowledge and those who prefer a more relaxed pace.

- The growing costs associated with travel - driving backwards and forwards to the training college and of course several days accommodation can really add up with each visit. Assuming just a basic 5-10 workshops at a cost of 35 pounds for an over-night room, plus 40 pounds petrol and food at 15 pounds, we find an extra four to nine hundred pounds of extra costs to cover.

- It's important to maintain privacy. We should never risk throwing away any lift up the ladder due to us while we're training.

- It's really not that uncommon for attendees to hide the fact that they want to raise a question - just because they're with their peers.

- For those of us who need to on occasion work or live away part of the time, think of the now-increased trouble of travelling to the required workshops, as time is now more scarce than ever.

It would be better to simply watch and be trained by teachers one-on-one via pre-filmed classes, working on them when it suits you - not somebody else. You can train wherever you want. Got a laptop?... Then you could catch a little sunshine outside while you work. Any difficulties and make use of the 24x7 support. No matter how often you want to re-do a section, video instructors aren't ever likely to rush you! Also, as a consequence, note-taking becomes a thing of the past. It's already there for you. Basically: Time and money is saved, you have reduced hassle and you avoid killing more trees.

Usually, trainers will provide a big box of books. It's not a very interesting way to learn and not ideal for achieving retention. Memory is vastly improved when multiple senses are involved - learning experts have been saying this for decades now.

Learning is now available on CD and DVD discs, so you can study at your own computer. Video streaming means you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how something is done, followed by your chance to practice - with interactive lab sessions. Don't take any chances and look at some of the typical study materials provided before you sign on the dotted line. Always insist on videoed instructor demonstrations and a variety of audio-visual and interactive sections.

Select CD and DVD ROM based physical training media every time. You're then protected from broadband outages, failure and signal quality issues etc.

Being at the forefront of revolutionary new technology is as thrilling as it comes. You personally play your part in shaping the next few decades. There are people who believe that the technological advancement we have experienced is cooling down. This couldn't be more wrong. Terrific advances are ahead of us, and most especially the internet will be the most effective tool in our lives.

A average IT man or woman in Great Britain will also earn much more than his or her counterpart in other market sectors. Mean average remuneration packages are amongst the highest in the country. Demand for certified IT specialists is certain for a good while yet, due to the substantial expansion in the technology industry and the massive skills gap still in existence.

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