There are two specialist areas of training in a full CompTIA A+ program; you're thought of as an A+ achiever when you've achieved certifications for both of these areas. Training courses in A+ cover diagnostics and fault finding - via hands on and remote access, in addition to building, fixing, repairing and operating in antistatic conditions. It could be a good idea to think about doing Network+ as it will give you the knowledge to become a networking engineer, which is where the bigger salaries are.

Frequently, your typical IT hopeful really has no clue how they should get into the IT industry, or even what area they should be considering getting trained in. Consequently, if you don't have any know-how of the IT industry, how can you expect to know what any qualified IT worker does each day? Let alone arrive at what certification program would be most appropriate for success. Ultimately, any kind of right choice will only come from a meticulous investigation across many altering factors:

* Personality plays a significant role - what gives you a 'kick', and what are the activities that you really dislike.

* Are you driven to get qualified because of a certain reason - i.e. are you pushing to work from home (working for yourself?)?

* Is salary further up on your wish list than other factors.

* Getting to grips with what typical Information technology areas and sectors are - and what makes them different.

* What effort, commitment and time you will set aside for your training.

In actuality, you'll find the only real way to research these issues tends to be through a good talk with an advisor that has years of experience in IT (and chiefly it's commercial needs and requirements.)

Exam 'guarantees' are sometimes offered as part of a training package - inevitably that means paying for the exams at the very beginning of your studies. However, prior to embracing guaranteed exams, consider this:

Of course it isn't free - you're still footing the bill for it - it's just been wrapped up in the price of the package. It's everybody's ambition to qualify on the first attempt. Entering examinations in order and funding them as you go sees you much better placed to get through first time - you take it seriously and are conscious of what you've spent.

Shouldn't you be looking to not pay up-front, but at the appropriate time, not to pay the fees marked up by a college, and to do it in a local testing office - instead of miles away at the college's beck and call? Paying upfront for exam fees (plus interest - if you're financing your study) is a false economy. Resist being talked into filling the training company's account with extra money of yours simply to help their cash-flow! Some will be pinning their hopes on the fact that you will never make it to exams - but they won't refund the cash. Also, 'Exam Guarantees' often aren't worth the paper they're written on. The majority of companies will not pay again for an exam until you can prove to them you're ready to pass.

With average prices for VUE and Pro-metric examinations costing in the region of 112 pounds in this country, it makes sense to pay as you go. Why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra at the beginning of your training? Commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

Far too many companies are all about the certification, and completely miss what it's all actually about - which is a commercial career or job. Your focus should start with the end in mind - don't make the vehicle more important than the destination. You could be training for only a year and end up doing a job for a lifetime. Don't make the error of taking what may be an 'interesting' course only to waste your life away with an unrewarding career!

Prioritise understanding what expectations industry may have of you. What precise certifications you'll need and in what way you can gain some industry experience. Spend some time setting guidelines as to how far you reckon you're going to want to go as it may control your selection of qualifications. Seek guidance and advice from an industry professional, irrespective of whether you have to pay - it's usually much cheaper and safer to find out at the start whether you've chosen correctly, rather than find out after 2 years that you're doing entirely the wrong thing and have to return to the start of another program.

The sometimes daunting task of securing your first role in IT can be relieved by some training providers because they offer a Job Placement Assistance programme. With the massive shortage of skills in the United Kingdom today, it's not necessary to get too caught up in this feature though. It's not as difficult as you may be led to believe to get your first job as long as you've got the necessary skills and qualifications.

Update your CV at the beginning of your training though - look to your training company for advice on how to do this. Don't delay until you've graduated or passed any exams. Having the possibility of an interview is more than not being known. A surprising amount of junior positions are bagged by trainees (who've only just left first base.) If you'd like to get employment in your home town, then you'll probably find that an independent and specialised local employment service could be more appropriate than some national concern, due to the fact that they are much more inclined to have insider knowledge of the local job scene.

Fundamentally, as long as you put the same commitment into finding a position as into training, you're not going to hit many challenges. A number of trainees bizarrely put hundreds of hours into their training course and then just stop once they've got certified and would appear to think that businesses will just discover them.

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