If you're considering any form of computer training, the most important thing to take into account is what your ultimate goal is. Have you got a job in your mind that demands particular I.T. user skills, or do you merely wish to know the way to surf the internet more widely? Perhaps it's much more than that, and you're actually interested to develop a brand-new vocation as an IT technician.

Knowing your objective is key to the training that will get you to it. If you are sure about the reason you would like to get trained, you can make a more informed decision on which will be the best type for you. This important process will also save you time and expense, and will mean you are not using up effort on the wrong thing.

Employment opportunities in IT can be broken down into several main groups: Programming (including Software Development), Networking (including Security & Support), Web-Design (including both creative & technical) and Databases (including Administration and Development). Each different specialisation demands its own specific skills & accreditations, with an array of certifications from beginner to extremely advanced. The options could seem a little mind-boggling to anybody who's new to the industry. Some areas are suited to certain personalities better than others, & different instruction methods may benefit certain people as well. Each of these things can be clarified by an industry-advisor.

You will get the opportunity to find out more about the different IT careers and training routes from dedicated web-pages on this website. In addition, our free Information pack provides you with in-depth advice, as well as access to our team of training professionals.

People at the very start of their computer user learning-curve should choose the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL). It will teach you how to run the basic elements of "Windows" (the system which 'runs' most personal PCs.) You will also discover about web-browsers (to help you to search on the net,) and email software (to help you stay in contact with colleagues and friends.) You'll also be taught the basic principles of word processing and a little about what databases and spreadsheets are generally useful for.

Taking things a stage further, you may want more vocational coaching to boost your employment prospects. Probably the most common of these is further instruction in Microsoft 'Office'. By far the most useful professional certifications covering 'Office' are Microsoft 'Office Specialist' & Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (identified recognised in industry as MOS and 'MCAS'). 'MOS' has been about for several years & is based around Office 2003 and 'XP', which continues to be very well utilised commercially. MCAS emphasises 'Office' 2007 and 'Vista', so obviously has greater life expectancy. Both accreditation tracks contain individual exams across the key Microsoft Office applications: Word (word processing), 'Excel' (spreadsheets), 'Access' (databases) & "Powerpoint" (presentations.) These accreditations will indicate to a company that you're effectively qualified to utilise these applications to their fullest extent.

If you plan to aim for the 1st stages of Professional IT certification, then User & Systems-support could be a logical step. Typically, if you are going to offer Software Support to users inside a corporate environment, then the MCDST ('Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician') could be relevant. Allow about a hundred hrs of training time to obtain this type of certification.

We come onto full IT career training courses at the following level. To obtain a position providing hardware support or network support you must look at doing 'A+' and N+ certifications from 'CompTIA'. These will take care of the basics of hard-ware & network installation, trouble-shooting, administration, security and support. Study time is often predicted to be about 200 to 250 hrs to cover both courses, which can be reasonably concluded in six months on a part-time basis.

Many people switch into I.T. from different professions. This may indicate different starting points, subject to past experience & software skill abilities. For much more senior programs it is a good idea to talk your ideas through with an industry expert who has IT knowledge. Really, if you are thinking about a new career, make sure you have this conversation before you decide to undertake any accreditation - to confirm you are on the correct path from the start. Trainees who don't schedule where they're going from the beginning often wind up blowing considerable time & money - that might have been prevented with a simple 30 min conversation.

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