Too many colleges just do courses. Always use a provider that specialises in IT training geared to the needs of industry. Each type of role asks for different levels of qualifications and skills, so we strongly recommend that you take advice from an industry expert before settling on a course or career path. That way you can be confident that the syllabus of your learning package fits the skill set of the job you want.

Most colleges offer only two of the training courses the CompTIA A+ provide as you're considered A+ competent when you've passed the test for two of the four areas.

In reality you will need the training for all four areas as many jobs will require the skills and knowledge of all four areas. It's not essential to take all four exams, but we would recommend you study all four courses. Then you can choose which one you take alongside the CompTIA Essentials exam.

CompTIA A+ Training. What Jobs Will It Lead To?

These vary slightly depending on which other skills you also have. CompTIA A+ on its own will give you the ability to fix and repair stand-alone computers which are not part of a network - basically in the home market.

Help-desk work. This could involve solving problems verbally over the phone, or more likley remote access tools to take over someone's computer via the internet or network. To do this work the addition of user-skills such as ECDL, MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) or MCDST (Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician) will give you the skills you need.

If you would like to be the person who wanders around a company fixing and supporting, you'll need to add CompTIA Network+, or consider the Microsoft networking route (MCSA - MCSE) as you'll need a deeper understanding of how networks work.

If you are attracted to this sort of work, then you're probably a practical, hands-on sort of person. You prefer to learn by getting stuck in and having a go! Reading manuals is a last resort when you can't figure out what to do next, and any manuals you have got are probably gathering dust, and you've never read a whole one.

If you're half smiling and thinking, that's me, What you need is fully interactive on-screen training. The study route of dry manuals and classrooms is something you would have to make yourself do.

Instead, you can watch tutorials of some of the best trainers in video format then see them demonstrate the actual process on-screen . Then it's your turn to get hands-on, interacting with the software in virtual labs to practice what you've just been shown. You'll surely look forward to the next time you can train - with no need to pick up a book or attend classes every week, that next session is much more convenient and can be whenever you want it to be.

Back this up with online 24/7 support from industry experts and you've got the perfect package for you. Oh yes... If you look around you can find a course that costs considerably less than the competition too.