A+ consists of four exams and sections to study, but your only requirement is to achieve certification in two to qualify for your A+. This is why many educational establishments simply offer two. But giving you all four options will provide you with a more confident perspective of it all, which you'll come to realise is vital in industry.

A+ consists of four exams and sections to study, but your only requirement is to achieve certification in two to qualify for your A+. This is why many educational establishments simply offer two. But giving you all four options will provide you with a more confident perspective of it all, which you'll come to realise is vital in industry.

In addition to learning about building and fixing computers, trainees on A+ courses will be shown how to work in antistatic conditions, as well as diagnostics, fault-finding and remote access.

You might also choose to think about supplementing the A+ with Network + as you can then also take care of computer networks, which means greater employment benefits.

It's so important to understand this key point: Always get full 24x7 instructor support. You'll definitely experience problems if you let this one slide.

Never purchase certification programs which can only support trainees with a call-centre messaging service after 6-9pm in the evening and during weekends. Training schools will try to talk you round from this line of reasoning. But, no matter how they put it - you want to be supported when you need the help - not when it suits them.

As long as you look hard, you will find professional companies that give students online support at all times - at any time of day or night.

Never make do with less than you need and deserve. 24x7 support is the only viable option when it comes to technical training. Perhaps you don't intend to study during the evenings; but for the majority of us however, we're at work when traditional support if offered.

We're often asked why traditional academic studies are now falling behind more commercial qualifications?

Key company training (as it's known in the industry) is most often much more specialised. Industry has realised that specialisation is necessary to handle a technically advancing world. CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA are the dominant players.

The training is effectively done through concentrating on the skills that are really needed (together with a proportionate degree of related knowledge,) rather than trawling through all the background detail and 'fluff' that degree courses can get bogged down in (to fill up a syllabus or course).

It's a bit like the TV advert: 'It does what it says on the tin'. Companies need only to know what they're looking for, and then match up the appropriate exam numbers as a requirement. Then they know that anyone who applies can do the necessary work.

Consider only training paths that'll progress to commercially approved accreditations. There's a plethora of small companies suggesting unknown 'in-house' certificates which are worthless when it comes to finding a job.

Unless the accreditation comes from a company like Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco, then chances are it won't be commercially viable - as no-one will have heard of it.

A top of the range training course package will undoubtedly incorporate accredited exam preparation packages.

Be sure that the practice exams are not only asking questions in the right areas, but additionally ask them in the way the real exams will pose them. It throws students if they're faced with unrecognisable phrases and formats.

It's a good idea to have some simulated exam questions so you can check your understanding at any point. Practice exams will help to boost your attitude - then the real thing isn't quite as scary.