Are you toying with the idea of doing an MCSE? If so, it's probable that you'll fall into one of two camps: You're someone with a certain amount of knowledge and you want to enhance your CV with the Microsoft qualification. Alternatively this might be your initial foray into commercial IT, and research demonstrates that there are many opportunities for those with appropriate certifications.

When researching MCSE's, you will discover training providers that lower their out-goings by not upgrading their courses to the latest Microsoft version. Stay away from these companies as you'll experience challenges when it comes to exams. If you've been taught an old version, it will make it very difficult to pass. Training providers must be devoted to offering the correct route for their trainees. Directing study is equally about guiding people on establishing which way to go, as well as helping them get there.

A lot of people are under the impression that the traditional school, college or university route is the way they should go. So why are commercially accredited qualifications slowly and steadily replacing it? Corporate based study (in industry terminology) is most often much more specialised. Industry is aware that specialisation is vital to meet the requirements of a technically advancing world. Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA are the dominant players. Typically, students are simply taught the necessary specifics in depth. It isn't quite as lean as that might sound, but principally the objective has to be to focus on the exact skills required (including a degree of required background) - without going into too much detail in all sorts of other things (as universities often do).

Think about if you were the employer - and your company needed a person with some very particular skills. What should you do: Pore through a mass of different academic qualifications from various applicants, having to ask what each has covered and what vocational skills they have, or pick out specific commercial accreditations that specifically match what you're looking for, and make your short-list from that. The interview is then more about the person and how they'll fit in - rather than establishing whether they can do a specific task.

Make sure that all your certifications are what employers want - forget programs which end up with a useless in-house certificate or plaque. Only properly recognised examinations from the top companies like Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe and Cisco will mean anything to employers.

Incorporating examination fees as an inclusive element of the package price and offering an 'Exam Guarantee' is a popular marketing tool with many training course providers. Consider the facts:

Everyone knows they're still paying for it - it's obviously been inserted into the overall price charged by the college. It's certainly not free - don't think these companies are so generous with their money! Evidence shows that when students fund each examination, one at a time, they'll be in a better position to pass every time - since they'll be conscious of their investment in themselves and therefore will put more effort into their preparation.

Don't you think it's more sensible to find the best exam deal or offer at the time, instead of paying a premium to the college, and also to sit exams more locally - rather than in some remote centre? A lot of extra profit is made by some training companies who get money for exam fees in advance. Many students don't take them for one reason or another and so the company is quids-in. Surprising as it sounds, providers exist who actually bank on it - as that's where a lot of their profit comes from. Remember, with 'Exam Guarantees' from most places - they control when and how often you are allowed to do a re-take. You will have to demonstrate an excellent pass-rate before they'll approve a re-take.

On average, exams cost approximately 112 pounds twelve months or so ago through VUE or Pro-metric centres in the UK. So why pay hundreds or thousands of pounds extra to have 'an Exam Guarantee', when common sense dictates that the most successful method is a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools.

It would be wonderful to believe that our jobs are secure and our work prospects are protected, but the growing likelihood for most jobs around the UK today is that the marketplace is far from secure. When we come across increasing skills shortfalls and high demand areas of course, we often hit upon a new kind of market-security; driven by a continual growth, organisations just can't get the number of people required.

A recent UK e-Skills study showed that 26 percent of all IT positions available haven't been filled mainly due to a chronic shortage of appropriately certified professionals. Showing that for each 4 job positions existing around IT, we have only 3 certified professionals to perform that task. Gaining full commercial computer accreditation is as a result a 'Fast Track' to realise a long-lasting as well as enjoyable career. It would be hard to imagine if a better time or market circumstances is ever likely to exist for getting trained into this quickly growing and budding market.