Because you're doing your research on MCSE courses, the chances are you're in one of two categories: Maybe you're thinking of a radical change of career to the world of IT, and your research tells you there's a massive need for people with the right qualifications. In contrast you're someone with a certain amount of IT knowledge - and you should formalise your skills with the MCSE accreditation.

Be sure you see evidence that your provider is actually training you on the latest Microsoft level. Many trainees are left in a mess when they discover they've been educated in an out-of-date syllabus which will need updating. Avoid businesses that are just interested in your money. You deserve time, expertise and advice to verify that you're registering on the correct course. Guard against being rushed into their standard course by an over-keen salesman.

Considering the amount of options that are available, it's not really surprising that nearly all career changers don't really understand the best career path they should even pursue. Scanning lists of IT career possibilities is next to useless. The vast majority of us have no concept what our good friends do at work - let alone understand the complexities of a new IT role. Achieving a well-informed decision will only come via a methodical examination of many altering factors:

* Our personalities play an important part - what kind of areas spark your interest, and what are the things that ruin your day.

* Why you want to consider stepping into IT - it could be you're looking to overcome a particular goal such as firing your boss and working for yourself for example.

* The income needs that are important to you?

* Always think in-depth about the energy involved to achieve their goals.

* You have to take in what is different for each individual training area.

To bypass all the jargon and confusion, and discover the best path to success, have a good talk with an experienced professional; someone who will cover the commercial realities and truth whilst covering each certification.

You'll come across courses which guarantee examination passes - inevitably that means paying for the exams at the very beginning of your studies. But before you get taken in by a course with such a promise, why not think about this:

Everybody's aware that they're still footing the bill for it - obviously it has been added into the overall figure from the training company. It's definitely not free (although some people will believe anything the marketing companies think up these days!) It's well known in the industry that when students fund their own exams, one by one, they will be much more likely to get through on the first attempt - because they're aware of the cost and their application will be greater.

Why should you pay the training course provider early for examinations? Go for the best offer when you take the exam, instead of paying any mark-up - and sit exams more locally - rather than in some remote place. Paying upfront for exam fees (plus interest - if you're financing your study) is madness. Why fill a company's coffers with additional funds only to please their Bank Manager! A lot bank on the fact that you will never make it to exams - so they get to keep the extra funds. Re-takes of previously unsuccessful exams through organisations who offer an 'Exam Guarantee' inevitably are heavily regulated. They will insist that you take pre-tests first so you can prove to them you have a good chance of passing.

Exams taken at VUE and Prometric centres are in the region of 112 pounds in Britain at the time of writing. Why pay exorbitant charges for 'Exam Guarantees' (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) - when the best course materials, the right level of support and commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

Any advisor who doesn't question you thoroughly - it's more than likely they're just trying to sell you something. If they're pushing towards a particular product before understanding your background and current experience level, then you know it's true. If you've got any real-world experience or certification, it may be that your starting point of study is now at a different level to a new student. Always consider starting with some basic PC skills training first. Beginning there can make the learning curve a bit more manageable.

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