The key issue to have in mind whenever you are thinking about any sort of IT training course is what you wish to achieve out of it. Do you have employment planned that requires a number of Computer literacy skill-sets, or is it that you merely want to know the best way to surf the internet more widely? Maybe it's substantially more than that, and you're planning to develop a new vocation as an I.T. expert.

Deciding on what you need to achieve from the training is always your foremost priority. And then, once you realize where you're headed, you can make the best well-informed decisions on what type of training course could suit your circumstances. It should also prevent you from making costly errors by selecting an inappropriate program.

If you're considering a change of career in to I.T., it's likely that you'll want to start out somewhere amidst these programs, subject to your overall level of I.T. literacy. Moving on from this level normally requires a chat with a specialist advisor. Really, if you're thinking about a career move, it's best to have this conversation before you undertake any certification - to be sure you are embarking on the right path from the outset. A lack of preparation can lead to much frustration down the road, & cost you a good deal more money than was necessary!

Generally, the starting place for an absolute beginner, who just wants to get a fundamental idea of how to get the most out of their personal computer, is the ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence). This will cover how to work the basic components of "Windows" (which is the system that runs the majority of home computers.) You can also discover about web-browsers (to help you to browse the web,) and e-mail software (to help you be in contact with colleagues and friends.) A bit is also taught about how to make use of spreadsheets and do a little word processing.

A further step is to get some more formalised instruction to enhance your Curriculum Vitae or get you prepared for additional tasks at the office. A wide understanding of Microsoft Office is definitely the skill-set most require at this grade. By far the most useful commercial accreditations covering 'Office' are Microsoft 'Office Specialist' and Microsoft 'Certified Application Specialist' (identified recognised in industry as MOS and MCAS). Whereas the former emphasises the Microsoft Office 2003 environment under Windows XP, the second is based around 'Windows Vista' & Office 2007. 'XP' remains most common in business, but Vista may be more future-proof. Each Ms Office application is examined individually with both certifications, specifically - "Word" (word-processing), 'Excel' ('spreadsheets'), "Access" ('databases') and 'Powerpoint' (presentations.) The advantage of acquiring these accreditations is that they prove your advanced ability level when using these packages.

There are several distinct employment areas for IT experts: 1) Networking, (Security & Support), 2) Programming & Software-development, 3) Database Administration & Development and 4) Web-Design, - both creative and technological elements. Each different area of expertise calls for it's own distinct skill-sets and certifications, with a selection of accreditations from entry level to very advanced. The choice can appear a bit over-whelming to anybody who is new to the industry. Some aspects are suited to some personalities better than others, and different instruction methods can benefit certain individuals as well. Each of these things can be clarified by an advisor.

If you browse around the pages on this site you'll discover specific pages covering all these sectors - plus the certification tracks that are required - so you can check things out a little more. If you prefer, we can send you our in-depth e-book 'Lollypedia' free of charge, which offers you the chance to make contact with our specialist advisors.

Should you plan to go for the first stages of Professional I.T. certification, then User And Systems Support might be a reasonable step. The 'Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician' ('MCDST') is a good quality training course if you are planning to offer technical help for commercial users. Allow for approximately 100 hours of study time for you to get this standard of certification.

We come in to full I.T. career training at the next level. 'CompTIA' offer the most widely accepted entry level examinations (known as A+ & Network+) for networking, hardware-support and security. Training will cover hardware and network installation at a fundamental level, plus elements of support, security and administration. The majority of blended A+ & Network+ training courses take the person with average skills somewhere around 200 to 250 hrs to finish, and so can quite feasibly be taken alongside a full-time job.

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