Sunday, December 28, 2008

The MCSA Course - Which One Is Best?

By Scott Edwards

The Microsoft MCSA course (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) is an ideal qualification for anyone wanting to become a network support technician. Whether you already have experience but need to formalise your skills with certification, or you're about to join the IT industry, you will be able to find a course to suit your needs.

Each of these options needs a different type of course, so make sure you're on the right one before spending your money. Look for a company that takes the time to understand what you're looking to do, and can help you work out what you want to do long before they start talking about courses.

They should be able to explore your likes and dislikes in the working environment, and your personality to find the best job role for you. Then you need them to explain a day in the life of that role to check you're happy with your choice.

Once you know where you are heading, the next point is to start training at your current skill level, whatever that might be. Also make sure that the certification you are working towards is the one industry prefers.

The pinnacle of MCSA training is home-based. It consists of the latest state-of-the-art video tutorials, detailed on-screen demonstrations and interactive environments where you can practice your new found skills. This is by far the easiest and most natural way to learn - you can go over the material as often as you like, as they are delivered on sets of discs and not a manual to be read.

Students on such an MCSA course need to enjoy full support that's properly maintained. Many companies only offer 'office hours' support - backed up with an out-of-hours message system. They still refer to it as 24/7 support, so it's wise to check (as that's not much good if you're studying alongside a job!)

You need REAL 24/7 support - with a team of tutors available working around the clock to help you there and then, avoiding a stop start situation that is likely to annoy you and extend your training.

Because of the quality of this type of training material, you're getting individual attention from the comfort of your PC. This makes your life much easier, with no need to travel away from your home and family to attend classrooms.

Also look for a course that includes exam practice software. These are pre-exam tests that enable you to practice the exams prior to sitting the real thing - so you can confidently pass first time. Experience shows that the chances of passing your first exam without this kind of aid can be decreased.

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