The principle Microsoft accreditation paths were up-dated some years ago, when they moved from the old MCAD/MCSD ('Microsoft Certified Application/Solutions Developer') to the more recent MCTS ('Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist') & 'MCPD' ('Microsoft Certified Professional Developer') examinations. Expect to study for 2 pre requisite MCTS certifications before starting the 'MCPD'. If you're a new comer to the IT industry & have not programmed before, (although the first unit from Microsoft is branded a foundation unit,) it would be a good idea to study a programming introduction-course first. It is also commonly sensible to gain a 'support' certification prior to either of these, so that a reliable understanding of software environments & software support can be gained. Doing this will in addition assist in obtaining your very first job in the IT industry. You should typically calculate for your studies to take a year to a year and a half if you're starting a full career-track and doing it part time. The exact measure of training time is six to seven hundred hours given average circumstances.

Many people question why qualifications from colleges and universities are being replaced by more commercial certificates? Corporate based study (in industry terminology) is far more effective and specialised. The IT sector is aware that a specialist skill-set is essential to service the demands of an increasingly more technical world. Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA are the key players in this arena. In essence, only required knowledge is taught. It's not quite as straightforward as that, but the principle remains that students need to concentrate on the fundamentally important skill-sets (including a degree of required background) - without overdoing the detail in all sorts of other things (as academia often does).

If an employer knows what areas they need covered, then they just need to look for the exact skill-set required to meet that need. Vendor-based syllabuses are all based on the same criteria and aren't allowed to deviate (as academic syllabuses often do).

Finding your first job in the industry is often made easier with the help of a Job Placement Assistance program. Often, this feature is bigged up too much, as it is actually not that hard for any motivated and trained individual to find a job in the IT industry - as employers are keen to find appropriately well trained people.

One important thing though, avoid waiting until you've finished your training before bringing your CV up to date. As soon as you start studying, enter details of your study programme and get it out there! You'll often find that you'll land your first position whilst still on the course (occasionally right at the beginning). If you haven't updated your CV to say what you're studying (and it isn't in the hands of someone with jobs to offer) then you aren't even in the running! You'll normally experience better results from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than you will through a training provider's national service, as they will understand the local industry and employment needs.

Just be sure that you don't conscientiously work through your course materials, just to give up and leave it in the hands of the gods to sort out your employment. Stop procrastinating and make your own enquiries. Invest as much focus into securing your new role as you did to get trained.

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