IT Distance Training Checklist

Nov. 16, 2009 - PRLog -- Is The Course The Most Current?
Some training providers may sell courses that are no longer relevant. Before enrolling, check the most recent and relevant certifications for the career path you want. Consider that it may be 1-2 years before you are fully qualified, so technologies recently released, will be more important once you have completed.

Do They Go Through a Genuine Process?
It’s a big decision, you are investing in your future, and therefore it’s vitally important to get it right from the start. Don’t chop and change unnecessarily, this results in partial qualifications in different fields with no overall coherent skill set.

Do they investigate your current skill set, career potential, ability & qualifications, experience? Will they identify your areas of strength as well as those that need extra support? Do they match them to a profile and appropriate courses and levels to help you make the right decision and back it up with expert opinion?

Is The Whole Course Necessary?
Check course content - some are padded with irrelevant qualifications included to justify higher prices rather than help you into IT. E.g. CompTIA A+ certification (which is technical) is unnecessary to get a foot on the ladder in Web Design.

Can You Complete In The Time Allowed?
A responsible training provider will check time you have free then show you the duration of the course. Some companies even provide study plans: something to benchmark your progress against and help you stay on track. Be cautious of long courses with limited support time – you may pay more for additional support to finish.

Have They Only Made Realistic Promises?
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of companies making unrealistic guarantees e.g. a job guarantees or interview guarantees are only viable if they are directly from the employer. Also, be wary of companies guaranteeing a high salary for your first job. Unless you have experience, it is unlikely you will walk into a £40k job. They should be able to show how your career and salary can progress.

Does The Training Provider Have Relevant Accreditations?
Look for independent accreditation such as Institute of IT Training (IITT). Organisations who gain this have been through a thorough process looking into quality of materials, standard of support, and continual improvement. This also means you have an independent third party you can raise any issues with. Look out for the 'green tick' showing that the company has been through a rigorous process ensuring any personally funded training can be invested in with confidence.

Is the Training Provider Transparent About Their Facilities?
Make sure the company is open and honest about their training facilities. Find out if you can speak to a tutor or a senior person, some will even contact you before you enrol. Do they have certified tutors and provide you with access to them even at weekends? Do the
tutors actually work in the company or are they sub contracted or abroad?

# # #

A pioneer of IT training for almost two decades NITLC were the first to offer Microsoft IT training via blended & distance learning and are now the first to offer the new generation of MCTS, MCITP and MCPD certifications