We're often asked why academic qualifications are now falling behind more commercial certificates? With the costs of academic degree's increasing year on year, together with the IT sector's growing opinion that key company training often has more relevance in the commercial field, there's been a big surge in Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA based training paths that educate students at a much reduced cost in terms of money and time. In a nutshell, only that which is required is learned. It's not quite as straightforward as that, but the principle objective is to focus on the exact skills required (including a degree of required background) - without going into too much detail in everything else (as universities often do).

It's a bit like the TV advert: 'It does what it says on the label'. All an employer has to do is know what areas need to be serviced, and then advertise for someone with the specific certification. Then they're assured that a potential employee can do exactly what's required.

To a lot of people today, Microsoft usually means Windows (the Operating System which controls your home PC.) To others, it's synonymous with the main 'Office' software used, either in the home or at work, to accomplish a number of every-day functions. Microsoft 'Word' is the most commonly used application for word-processing worldwide. Whilst 'Excel' is the most widely used spread-sheet and Access offers database abilities to many businesses. For giving presentations, Office has the software program PowerPoint, which rounds off the principle applications in the suite. There is however a lot more to Office in total, for example Microsoft Outlook is used as a calendar, e-mail and messaging-system.

If you're thinking of using a certification company which still provides workshop days as part of their program, then take note of these typical downsides encountered by many IT hopefuls:

- Regular long journeys - quite a distance away usually.

- Mon-Fri access to classes can be usual, and getting two to three days out of work can be difficult for most working students.

- If we've got 4 weeks holiday each year, spending half on training classes leaves us with very few opportunities for days off.

- Classes can fill up very quickly and can be very crammed in.

- You may prefer to move at a somewhat more suitable pace - rather than be dictated to by the rest of the class. Sometimes this causes the tension often found in classrooms.

- Many students tell us of the considerable cost of travelling back and forth to the training centre while covering the cost of accommodation and food can get very expensive.

- Not wanting employers to know about the training will be of paramount importance to most attendees. You don't want to give up any lift up the ladder, income boosts or achievement with your current employer just because you're retraining. If your employer knows you're putting yourself through certification in another sector, what do you think they'll do?

- Every one of us must, at some time, have avoided posing that question we were dying to ask, just because we wanted to maintain the illusion that we did, in fact, understand?

- If your work takes you away from home, you have the added problem that days in-centre can become awkward to keep up - unfortunately however, they've already been paid for.

The ultimate convenience is watching a videoed lesson - having instructor-led teaching on hand any time of the day that suits. Study from home on your desktop computer or use your laptop to enjoy the sun. Any questions that pop up, just make use of the 24x7 support (that we hope you'll insist on with any technical courses.) Simply do the learning modules whenever you need to. And of course, you don't have to scribble any notes because the class is available whenever you want it. While it's impossible to stop any normal learning difficulties, it undoubtedly removes stress and makes things simpler. Plus you've got less hassle, costs and travel.

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