Commencing with the idea that we need to home-in on the area of most interest first and foremost, before we're even able to chew over what training course meets that requirement, how do we decide on the right path? I mean, without any background in the IT sector, how are you equipped to know what some particular IT person actually does day-to-day? Let alone arrive at what accreditation path will be most suitable for ultimate success. Contemplation on many points is imperative when you need to reveal the right answers:

- Your individual personality as well as your interests - which work-centred jobs you like and dislike.

- What length of time can you allocate for your training?

- What are your thoughts on travelling time and locality vs salary?

- With many, many different sectors to gain certifications for in Information Technology - you'll need to pick up a solid grounding on what makes them different.

- Having a proper look at how much time and effort that you can put aside.

For the average person, getting to the bottom of each of these concepts tends to require the help of someone that can explain things properly. And we don't just mean the accreditations - but also the commercial requirements of the market as well.

Those that are drawn to this type of work are usually quite practically-minded, and won't enjoy sitting at a desk in class, and poring through books and manuals. If you identify with this, go for more modern interactive training, with on-screen demonstrations and labs. Studies in learning psychology have shown that memory is aided when we involve as many senses as possible, and we put into practice what we've been studying.

You can now study via interactive discs. Instructor-led tutorials will mean you'll learn your subject via the expert demonstrations. Knowledge can then be tested by interacting with the software and practicing yourself. You'll definitely want a look at some courseware examples from your training provider. The materials should incorporate slide-shows, instructor-led videos and interactive labs where you get to practice.

Plump for CD or DVD ROM based materials whenever you can. You're then protected from the variability of broadband quality and service.

You'll come across courses which guarantee examination passes - inevitably that means paying for the exams at the very beginning of your studies. Before you get carried away with a course with such a promise, why not look at the following:

Of course it isn't free - you're still paying for it - it's just been wrapped up in the price of the package. Should you seriously need to pass in one, evidence suggests you must fund each exam as you take it, focus on it intently and be ready for the task.

Why pay a college at the start of the course for exam fees? Hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take the exam, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance - and take it closer to home - rather than possibly hours away from your area. What's the point in paying early for examinations when you didn't need to? Big margins are secured by training companies getting paid upfront for exams - and hoping either that you won't take them, or it will be a long time before you do. The majority of companies will insist on pre-tests and not allow you to re-take an exam until you've demonstrated an excellent ability to pass - so an 'Exam Guarantee' comes with many clauses in reality.

The cost of exams was about 112 pounds in the last 12 months when taken at VUE or Pro-metric centres in the UK. Therefore, why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra to get 'Exam Guarantees', when common sense dictates that the most successful method is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.

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