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IT Training Courses & IT Careers Certification Programs...

If you know the IT certification that you're interested in, then click on the appropriate box below for more in-depth information. If you're unsure about what area you'd like to train towards then you can check out our Career Advice pages, or have a read of our IT Career Outlines and FAQs.

Or why not just download our FREE comprehensive information pack & 'Lollypedia' by clicking to the left?

It has 200 pages crammed with computer training courses and IT training and certification details, including all our career-track programs and industry advice.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Please understand that these pages are not a replacement for a proper informed discussion of your needs with an experienced industry advisor. Click on the 'Free IT Training Guide' graphic to download our FREE E-Book and find out more.

You should also read our guidelines on current certification standards - as these do change every now and then. You can click the 'Back' button on your browser afterwards to come back to this page.

So... Where Do I Start?

If you're looking at some type of computer training, then the first thing to consider is what your ultimate goal is: Are you looking at simply improving your ability to use your computer at home, or are you looking for more in-depth training for your CV or job?

Then of course, you may be looking to change your career completely and get into the IT industry itself.

Begin With The End In Mind...

Deciding on what you want to achieve from your training is always your first priority...

...Then, when you know where you're headed, you can make the right informed choices on what type of training will suit your circumstances. It will also prevent you from making expensive mistakes by choosing an inappropriate program.

Fundamental User-Skills

Essentially, the starting point for an absolute beginner, who just wants to gain a basic understanding of how to get the most out of their PC, is the ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence.) This will cover how to operate the basic components of 'Windows' (which is the system that 'runs' most home computers.) You will also learn about web-browsers (so you can surf the internet,) and email software (so you can stay in touch with friends and colleagues.) You'll also cover the basics of word-processing and a little about what spreadsheets and databases are used for.

Microsoft & Office Skills

The next step is to gain some more formal training to improve your CV or prepare you for additional roles at work. The most common of these is more in-depth training in Microsoft Office. The main qualification is the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS).

The MOS 2003 emphasises the Microsoft Office 2003 environment under Windows XP (which is still probably the most commonly used in business), whereas the MOS 2007 (previously known as the MCAS or Microsoft Certified Application Specialist) is based around Windows Vista and Office 2007, and so may be better suited for the future. MOS 2010, based on Office 2010 is also now available.

All three certifications contain several individual exams around the key MS Office applications: Word (word processing), Excel (spreadsheets), Access (databases) & PowerPoint (presentations.) These certifications will show an employer that you're properly trained to use these packages to their fullest extent.

User Support

Going one step further again, you could look into the first level of professional certification: User and Front-Line or Second-Line Systems Support.

Typically, if you're going to provide software support to users in a corporate environment under Windows XP, then the MCDST (Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician) may be appropriate, (although Microsoft have officially retired this exam as of 30th June 2011.) With no previous experience, you would typically be looking at around 100 hours of study for this level.

There are also a number Windows 7 based support and administration exams, including the Microsoft MCTS 70-680: Configuring Windows 7.

Network Or Systems Support

After this, we enter the realms of full professional IT accreditation. The most popular starting point for hardware support, networking & security roles are the CompTIA A+ and Network+ certifications.

These will cover the basics of hardware and network installation, administration, security, trouble-shooting and support. Study time for someone with no previous experience is often estimated at around 200-250 hours (to do both), which can be reasonably completed in 6 months on a part-time study basis.

A Career In IT?

If you're looking at a career change into IT, then it's likely that you'll need to start somewhere amidst these programs, depending on your current level of IT literacy. Progressing from this point generally requires a chat with a professional advisor. Indeed, if you're planning a career move, you should have this discussion before you attempt any certification - to ensure you're on the right track from the outset.

Students who don't plan where they're going from the beginning often end up wasting a lot of time and money - that could have been avoided with a simple 30 minute discussion.

IT Career Areas

Careers in IT are often broken down into several main categories:

Each area of expertise requires it's own particular skill-sets and certifications, with an array of qualifications from starter to highly advanced.

The Next Steps...

The sheer quantity of certifications available in these areas can be initially off-putting to the new student, but this is where a sensible careers discussion with an advisor can clear the way to what is appropriate for your personality-type, goals and learning-style.

If you browse through the pages of our Free Training & Certification Guide, you'll find dedicated pages covering each of these areas - as well as the certification tracks that are involved - so you can investigate a little more.