The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator course is a perfect match for anyone wanting to become a supporter of networks. Whether you’re already knowledgeable but need to formalise your skills with an acknowledged certification, or you’re new to the industry, you should soon be able to find a course to fit your requirements.

To become certified at the MCSA level you need to pass 4 Microsoft Certified Professional exams (MCP’s). If this is your first entry into computing exams, you’ll probably be required to learn a few things before studying for all four MCP’s. Look for a company that has a team of advisors who can identify the ideal program for you and who will get you started in the right place.

A question; why ought we to be looking at commercial qualifications rather than more traditional academic qualifications gained through schools, colleges or universities?

Corporate based study (to use industry-speak) is far more specialised and product-specific. Industry is aware that a specialist skill-set is what’s needed to service the demands of an increasingly more technical workplace. CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA are the key players in this arena.

The training is effectively done by focusing on the actual skills required (alongside an appropriate level of related knowledge,) rather than spending months and years on the background ‘extras’ that degrees in computing can get bogged down in (to fill up a syllabus or course).

Just like the advert used to say: ‘It does what it says on the label’. The company just needs to know what they need doing, and then advertise for someone with the specific certification. Then they’re assured that a potential employee can do exactly what’s required.

Chat with almost any professional advisor and they’ll regale you with many awful tales of students who’ve been conned by dodgy salespeople. Stick to a professional advisor that quizzes you to find out what’s right for you – not for their retirement-fund! It’s very important to locate the right starting point of study for you.

Sometimes, the starting point of study for a student with experience is largely different to the student with no experience.

Consider starting with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. Beginning there can make the learning curve a little less steep.

Make sure you don’t get caught-up, as can often be the case, on the accreditation program. Your training isn’t about getting a plaque on your wall; you should be geared towards the actual job at the end of it. Focus on the end-goal.

It’s an awful thing, but a great many students start out on programs that sound amazing in the sales literature, but which delivers a career that doesn’t fulfil at all. Speak to a selection of university students for examples.

You must also consider your feelings on earning potential, career development, and whether you intend to be quite ambitious. It makes sense to understand what industry expects from you, what particular accreditations they want you to have and how to develop your experience.

Seek guidance and advice from a skilled advisor, even if you have to pay – it’s considerably cheaper and safer to discover early on if you’ve chosen correctly, rather than realise after several years of study that you’re doing entirely the wrong thing and have to start from the beginning again.

One area often overlooked by potential students thinking about a course is the issue of ‘training segmentation’. This basically means the method used to break up the program for timed release to you, which makes a huge difference to what you end up with.

The majority of training companies will set up a 2 or 3 year study programme, and deliver each piece one-by-one as you finish each section. Sounds reasonable? Well consider these facts:

How would they react if you didn’t complete everything at the speed they required? Sometimes their preference of study order won’t be as easy as another different route may.

To provide the maximum security and flexibility, it’s not unusual for students to insist that all study materials are couriered out in one package, all at the beginning. It’s then your own choice at what speed and in which order you want to work.