Are you toying with the idea of doing an MCSE? If the answer's 'yes', there's a good chance that you'll fall into one of the following categories: You're someone with a certain amount of knowledge and you need to formalise your skill set with an MCSE. In contrast you could be completely new to commercial IT, and you've discovered that there's a growing demand for people with the right qualifications.

As you find out about training colleges, ensure that you steer clear of those who reduce their out-goings by failing to provide the latest level of Microsoft development. This is a false economy for the student because they'll have been studying an old version of MCSE which doesn't correspond to the present exams, so it's likely they'll fail. Don't get bullied into a course without the right advice. Look for a computer training company that will ensure you are on a well matched program for meeting your goals.

It's not uncommon for companies to offer inclusive exam guarantees - inevitably that means paying for the exams at the very beginning of your studies. Before you get carried away with guaranteed exams, think about this:

Obviously it's not free - you're still coughing up for it - it's just been wrapped up in the price of the package. The fact is that when trainees fund their own exams, at the time of taking them, there's a much better chance they'll qualify each time - since they're aware of the cost and will therefore apply themselves appropriately.

Do your exams as locally as possible and go for the best offer you can find when you're ready. Big margins are secured by many companies that get money for exam fees in advance. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don't get to do their exams but the company keeps the money. Amazingly, there are training companies who rely on that fact - as that's very profitable for them. Also, you should consider what an 'exam guarantee' really means. Most companies will not pay again for an exam until you're able to demonstrate an excellent mock pass rate.

Splashing out often many hundreds of pounds extra on 'Exam Guarantees' is short-sighted - when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is what will really guarantee success.

Commencing with the idea that it's necessary to locate the job we want to do first, before we can even weigh up what training program meets that requirement, how do we decide on the right direction? Since in the absence of any previous experience in computing, how should we possibly understand what a particular job actually consists of? Getting to a well-informed decision really only appears through a meticulous study across many different factors:

* Which type of individual you think yourself to be - what tasks do you get enjoyment from, plus of course - what don't you like doing.

* Are you looking to accomplish a closely held objective - like working from home someday?

* Where is the salary on a scale of importance - is it very important, or does job satisfaction rate a lot higher on your list of priorities?

* Understanding what the main job roles and markets are - plus how they're different to each other.

* The level of commitment and effort you'll commit your training.

When all is said and done, the most intelligent way of investigating all this is through an in-depth discussion with someone that through years of experience will provide solid advice.

One area often overlooked by potential students weighing up a particular programme is the issue of 'training segmentation'. Basically, this means the breakdown of the materials for delivery to you, which can make a dramatic difference to the point you end up at. Delivery by courier of each element one piece at a time, taking into account your exam passes is the normal way of receiving your courseware. This sounds logical, but you should consider these factors: What if you don't finish every single exam? Maybe the prescribed order won't suit you? Due to no fault of yours, you may not meet the required timescales and not receive all the modules you've paid for.

The very best situation would see you getting all the training materials delivered to your home before you even start; the whole caboodle! Then, nothing can hinder the reaching of your goals.

Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always comprehensive 24x7 direct-access support from dedicated instructors and mentors. It's an all too common story to find providers that only provide office hours (or extended office hours) support. Avoid those companies which use 'out-of-hours' call-centres - with the call-back coming in during standard office hours. It's no use when you're stuck on a problem and need an answer now.

Top training providers provide an online access round-the-clock facility involving many support centres from around the world. You'll have a single, easy-to-use environment that seamlessly selects the best facility available at any time of day or night: Support on demand. If you accept anything less than online 24x7 support, you'll regret it. It may be that you don't use it during the night, but you're bound to use weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.

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