There are actually 4 different sectors in the complete CompTIA A+ course, of which you need to pass two for your A+ qualification. Be aware though that only studying two out of the 4 subjects available could expose flaws in your knowledge when applying for a job. Try to cover all four – this will give you the edge in the working environment.

A+ computer training courses cover fault-finding and diagnostics – via hands on and remote access, alongside building, fixing, repairing and understanding antistatic conditions.

You may also want to think about adding Network+ training to your A+ as it will give you the knowledge to work with networks, which is where the bigger salaries are.

Get rid of the typical salesman who recommends a training program without a thorough investigation so as to understand your abilities plus your experience level. Ensure that they have a generous range of products so they can provide you with what’s right for you.

Sometimes, the starting point of study for a person experienced in some areas can be massively different to someone without.

If this is your initial effort at an IT exam then you may want to start with a user-skills course first.

A ridiculously large number of organisations are all about the certification, and avoid focusing on what it’s all actually about – getting yourself a new job or career. Always begin with the end goal – don’t get hung-up on the training vehicle.

You could be training for only a year and end up doing a job for a lifetime. Don’t make the mistake of opting for what may seem to be an ‘interesting’ training program and then put 10-20 years into something you don’t even enjoy!

Spend some time thinking about what you want to earn and how ambitious you are. This can often control what particular qualifications you’ll need to attain and how much effort you’ll have to give in return.

Have a conversation with an experienced advisor who knows about the sector you’re looking at, and is able to give you detailed descriptions of the kind of things you’ll be doing on a daily basis. Establishing this well before you start on any retraining course will prevent a lot of wasted time and effort.

Watch out that all accreditations you’re considering doing will be recognised by employers and are current. The ‘in-house’ certifications provided by many companies are generally useless.

If your certification doesn’t come from a conglomerate such as Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA or Adobe, then you may discover it will be commercially useless – because it won’t give an employer any directly-useable skills.

Potential Students hopeful to kick off an IT career normally don’t know what direction is best, let alone what area to build their qualifications around.

Therefore, if you don’t have any know-how of IT in the workplace, how are you equipped to know what some particular IT person does each day? Let alone decide on which educational path would be most appropriate for you to get there.

Consideration of many points is essential when you want to get to the right answer for you:

* The sort of individual you reckon you are – the tasks that you get enjoyment from, and on the other side of the coin – what makes you unhappy.

* Is your focus to re-train due to a particular reason – for example, do you aim to work based at home (working for yourself?)?

* What priority do you place on job satisfaction vs salary?

* Many students don’t properly consider the amount of work needed to attain their desired level.

* How much time you’re prepared to commit your training.

To cut through the confusing industry jargon, and discover the most viable option for your success, have an informal meeting with an industry expert and advisor; a person that will cover the commercial realities and truth and of course each qualification.

Copyright 2010 Scott Edwards. Pop to MCSE Course or www.CCNATraining4U.co.uk.