If you're thinking of using a certification company that is still pushing 'in-centre workshop days' as part of their program, then take note of these hassles met by the majority of IT hopefuls:

- Loads of visits to the workshop centre - sometimes hundreds of miles.

- Monday to Friday availability with events can be usual, and trying to take several days leave in a single chunk can represent quite a problem for most working students.

- I think you'd agree that we usually find 20 days holiday per year doesn't go very far. Spend a big chunk of this for training days and you'll experience even more problems.

- In a situation where running costs are very high, many companies make the classes quite large - not ideal (and far less personal).

- The pace of the workshop - workshops normally contain students of mixed talent, therefore there is often tension between the quicker-learners and those who want to go a little slower.

- Soaring travel costs - travelling to the training premises and of course accommodation for the duration can start to get expensive with each visit. Assuming just an average of 5 to 10 centre-days costing 35 pounds for an over-night room, plus 40 pounds for petrol and food at 15.00, we find an extra four to nine hundred pounds of extra costs to cover.

- Maintaining the privacy of our training will be of paramount importance to a lot of trainees. Why would you want to sacrifice any possible promotions, income boosts or accomplishment in your job while you're training. When your boss discovers that you're undertaking certification in a completely different market, what do you think they'll do?

- Who amongst us hasn't avoided putting our hand's up, because we didn't want to look stupid?

- If your work takes you away from home, you now have to deal with the fact that workshops can become difficult to get to - but unfortunately, the money has already been paid.

It would be better to simply watch and study with teachers one-to-one in filmed lessons, taking them when it's convenient for you, not someone else. Consider... Using a notebook PC then you could study wherever you want. And live 24x7 support is only a web-click away at times of difficulty. It really doesn't matter how frequently you feel you need to repeat something, on-screen tutors aren't ever likely to rush you! Plus, as an added bonus, note-taking becomes a thing of the past. It's all there for you when you need it. Although there's no way this can take away every problem, it undeniably makes things easier, simpler and less stressful. Plus you've got less hassle, costs and travel.

Often, students don't think to check on a painfully important area - the way the company actually breaks down and delivers the courseware elements, and into how many separate packages. Typically, you'll join a programme staged over 2 or 3 years and get posted one section at a time - from one exam to the next. It seems to make sense on one level, but consider these issues: What could you expect if you didn't actually complete all the exams at the proposed pace? Often the staged order doesn't work as well as another different route may.

An ideal situation would be to have every piece of your study pack couriered to your address right at the beginning; the complete package! Then, nothing can hinder your capability of finishing.

Being at the forefront of revolutionary new technology really is electrifying. You become one of a team of people defining the world to come. Society largely thinks that the increase in technology we've had over recent years is slowing down. There is no truth in this at all. Massive changes are on the horizon, and the internet in particular is going to dominate how we conduct our lives.

And don't forget that the average salary in the IT industry in the United Kingdom is a lot higher than in other market sectors, so you'll more than likely gain a lot more once qualified in IT, than you'd get in most other industries. The requirement for appropriately qualified IT professionals is certain for quite some time to come, due to the substantial growth in the marketplace and the huge skills gap that we still have.

Please understand this most important point: You have to get round-the-clock 24x7 instructor support. We can tell you that you'll strongly regret it if you don't heed this. Look for training where you can receive help at any time you choose (irrespective of whether it's the wee hours on Sunday morning!) Make sure it's always direct access to tutors, and not a message system as this will slow you down - consistently being held in a queue for a call-back at a convenient time for them.

Be on the lookout for colleges that use several support centres around the globe in several time-zones. Each one should be integrated to give a single entry point and 24 hours-a-day access, when you want it, with no fuss. Don't accept second best with the quality of your support. The vast majority of would-be IT professionals that drop-out or fail, are in that situation because of a lack of support.

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