The MCSA course is an ideal qualification for those thinking of getting into network support. So if you want to get going or are experienced already but want a professional course with a good qualification, you’ll find the correct training for you. Each level should have a specialised course, so verify that you’re on the right one when investing your cash. Look for a company that has the courtesy to understand what you’re trying to achieve, and can help you identify where you can go, well before they start talking about courses.
The age-old way of teaching, involving piles of reference textbooks, is usually pretty hard going. If you’re nodding as you read this, check out study materials which have a majority of interactive, multimedia parts. Our ability to remember is increased with an involvement of all our senses – this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for as long as we can remember.
Study programs now come in the form of CD and DVD ROM’s, so you can study at your own computer. Video streaming means you are able to see your instructors showing you how to perform the required skill, and then practice yourself – with interactive lab sessions. It’s wise to view some examples of the kind of training materials you’ll be using before you hand over your cheque. The minimum you should expect would be instructor-led video demonstrations and interactive audio-visual sections with practice modules.
Avoid training that is purely online. Ideally, you should opt for CD and DVD ROM courseware where offered, as you need to be able to use them whenever it’s convenient for you – you don’t want to be reliant on a good broadband connection all the time. Adding in the cost of examination fees as an inclusive element of the package price then including an exam guarantee is a common method with many training course providers. Consider the facts:
You’re paying for it ultimately. You can be assured it’s not a freebie – it’s simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole. We all want to pass first time. Going for exams one by one and funding them as you go sees you much better placed to get through first time – you revise thoroughly and are conscious of what you’ve spent.
Do your exams somewhere local and find the best exam deal or offer available then. Why tie up your cash (or borrow more than you need) for exams when you didn’t need to? A great deal of money is secured by training companies charging upfront for all their exams – and banking on the fact that many won’t be taken. Additionally, exam guarantees often have very little value. The majority of organisations won’t pay again for an exam until you can prove to them you’re ready to pass.
With average prices for VUE and Pro-metric exams coming in at around 112 pounds in the UK, by far the best option is to pay for them as you take them. It’s not in the student’s interests to fork out hundreds or thousands of pounds for exams when enrolling on a course. Consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.
A capable and practiced advisor (vs a salesperson) will ask questions and seek to comprehend your current level of ability and experience. This is paramount to calculating your starting level of study. Remember, if you’ve had any relevant qualifications that are related, then you may be able to commence studying further along than someone new to the industry. For those students starting IT studies and exams for the first time, it’s often a good idea to break yourself in gently, by working on user-skills and software training first. This can easily be incorporated into any educational course.
We can’t make a big enough deal out of this point: You absolutely must have proper 24×7 instructor and mentor support. Later, you’ll kick yourself if you don’t follow this rule rigidly. Never accept certification programs which can only support students with a call-centre messaging system after office-staff have gone home. Training companies will give you every excuse in the book why you don’t need this. But, no matter how they put it – you want support at the appropriate time – not when it’s convenient for them.
The best trainers use multiple support centres around the globe in several time-zones. An online system provides an interactive interface to seamlessly link them all together, irrespective of the time you login, help is just a click away, without any contact issues or hassle. Don’t under any circumstances take anything less. Direct-access 24×7 support is the only way to go with IT training. Maybe burning the midnight-oil is not your thing; but for the majority of us however, we’re out at work at the time when most support is available.
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