As you've arrived here there's a good chance that either you want to get into networking and you've heard good things about MCSE's, or you're already a professional and you're aware that the next stage is the MCSE accreditation.

When researching training providers, don't use those who cut costs by not upgrading their courses to the latest level of Microsoft development. Ultimately, this will frustrate and cost the student a lot more because they've been educated in an old version of MCSE which will have to be revised almost immediately. Avoid the companies that are just interested in your money. You should be given detailed advice to make sure you're taking the right decisions. Guard against being rushed into their standard course by an over-keen salesman.

With so much choice, it's not really surprising that most potential newcomers to the industry get stuck choosing the job they should even pursue. Flicking through long lists of different and confusing job titles is no use whatsoever. Most of us don't really appreciate what our next-door neighbours do at work each day - so we're in the dark as to the intricacies of any specific IT role. Arriving at the right choice will only come from a careful study of many varying key points:

* What hobbies you have and enjoy - often these show the possibilities will provide a happy working life.

* Are you hoping to get certified due to a certain raison d'etre - i.e. are you looking at working based at home (self-employment?)?

* Is salary further up on your priority-scale than some other areas.

* When taking into account all that Information Technology covers, you really need to be able to see how they differ.

* You'll also need to think hard about the amount of time and effort you'll put into the accreditation program.

For most of us, getting to the bottom of all these ideas needs a long talk with an advisor that can explain things properly. And we don't just mean the certifications - but also the commercial requirements of the market as well.

Get rid of a salesman that offers any particular course without performing a 'fact-find' so as to understand your abilities and also your level of experience. Ensure that they have a generous array of training from which they could give you an appropriate solution. With a bit of live experience or certification, your starting-point of learning is very different to someone completely new. Where this will be your first effort at an IT exam then you might also want to start with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first.

Training support for students is an absolute must - locate a good company that provides 24x7 direct access, as not opting for this kind of support could hold up your pace and restrict your intake. Try and find training where you can receive help at any time of day or night (no matter if it's in the middle of the night on a weekend!) Ensure you get access directly to professional tutors, and not a message system as this will slow you down - consistently being held in a queue for a call-back when it's convenient for them.

Keep your eyes open for training programs that incorporate three or four individual support centres from around the world. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to provide a single interface and round-the-clock access, when it suits you, with no fuss. Unless you insist on 24x7 support, you'll regret it. You might not want to use the service throughout the night, but you may need weekends, early mornings or late evenings.

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