There are a total of 4 specialist training sectors in the A+ syllabus, of which you'll need certification in two subjects for competency in A+. Be aware though that limiting yourself to 2 of the four specialities is likely to leave your knowledge base somewhat light. Try to cover all four - employers will notice the difference.

When you embark on the A+ training course you will learn how to build computers and fix them, and work in antistatic conditions. Fault finding and diagnostic techniques through hands on and remote access are also covered. If you're considering being someone who works in a multi-faceted environment - supporting, fixing and maintaining networks, you'll need to add CompTIA Network+, or alternatively look at doing an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft in order to have a more advanced experience of the way networks work.

Be alert that all accreditations you're studying for will be commercially viable and are the most recent versions. 'In-house' certificates are generally useless. All the major IT organisations such as Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco have internationally acknowledged skills programs. These heavyweights can make sure you stand out at interview.

Potential Students looking to begin a career in IT often have no idea of what route to consider, or even what sector to build their qualifications around. As having no solid background in Information Technology, how can most of us be expected to understand what any job actually involves? Contemplation on many factors is important when you need to uncover the right answers:

• The type of personality you have plus what interests you - what kind of work-related things you love or hate.

• For what reasons you're starting in computing - it could be you're looking to overcome a life-long goal like being your own boss for example.

• The income needs you may have?

• With everything that Information Technology encapsulates, you really need to be able to absorb what's different.

• It's wise to spend some time thinking about the amount of time and effort you're going to give to the accreditation program.

For most of us, considering each of these concepts needs a long talk with someone who can investigate each area with you. And we're not only talking about the certifications - but the commercial requirements and expectations also.

Think about the following facts in detail if you've been persuaded that that old marketing ploy of an 'Exam Guarantee' sounds great value:

We all know that we're still paying for it - it's not so hard to see that it's been added into the overall price charged by the training company. Certainly, it's not a freebie - and it's insulting that we're supposed to think it is! If it's important to you to pass in one, then the most successful route is to pay for one exam at a time, focus on it intently and apply yourself as required.

Why pay the training course provider in advance for examinations? Find the best exam deal or offer when you take the exam, instead of paying any mark-up - and do it in a local testing centre - not at somewhere of their bidding. Big margins are made by many training colleges that get money upfront for exam fees. For various reasons, many students don't take their exams and so the company is quids-in. Amazingly, providers exist who actually bank on it - as that's very profitable for them. Also, you should consider what an 'exam guarantee' really means. The majority of companies won't pay for you to re-take until you're able to demonstrate an excellent mock pass rate.

Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on 'Exam Guarantees' is foolish - when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is actually the key to your success.

Commercially accredited qualifications are now, undoubtedly, starting to replace the traditional routes into IT - so why is this? With fees and living expenses for university students climbing ever higher, along with the IT sector's general opinion that vendor-based training often has more relevance in the commercial field, there's been a dramatic increase in CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA certified training courses that provide key skills to an employee at a fraction of the cost and time involved. They do this through focusing on the particular skills that are needed (together with a proportionate degree of associated knowledge,) as opposed to trawling through all the background 'extras' that degree courses are prone to get tied up in - to fill a three or four year course.

When an employer understands what areas they need covered, then all they have to do is advertise for the particular skill-set required. Vendor-based syllabuses are set to meet an exact requirement and do not vary between trainers (as academic syllabuses often do).