Four specialist training areas feature in the full CompTIA A+ syllabus, of which you'll need certification in two subjects for competency in A+. We would advise however that restricting yourself to two out of the 4 subjects available could expose flaws in your knowledge when applying for a job. Choose a course with all 4 subjects - employers will notice the difference.

Once you start your A+ training program you will develop an understanding of how to build computers and fix them, and work in antistatic conditions. You'll also cover fault-finding and diagnostic techniques, both remotely and via direct access. Should you be thinking of taking care of computer networks, you'll need to add Network+ to your A+ course. Taking this course as well will mean you can get a higher paid position. You may also want to consider the networking qualifications from Microsoft, i.e. MCP, MCSA MCSE.

A typical blunder that potential students often succumb to is to concentrate on the course itself, and take their eye off the desired end-result. Colleges are brimming over with unaware students that chose an 'interesting' course - in place of something that could gain them an enjoyable career or job. You may train for one year and then end up doing the job for 20 years. Avoid the mistake of taking what may be a program of interest to you and then put 10-20 years into a job you hate!

Make sure you investigate your leanings around earning potential, career development, and if you're ambitious or not. It's vital to know what will be expected of you, which exams are needed and in what way you can develop commercial experience. Seek advice from an experienced advisor, even if you have to pay a small fee - it's much safer and cheaper to find out at the beginning if your choices are appropriate, rather than realise after 2 years that you aren't going to enjoy the job you've chosen and have wasted years of effort.

The old fashioned style of teaching, using textbooks and whiteboards, is usually pretty hard going. If this describes you, dig around for more practical courses that are multimedia based. Many years of research has repeatedly shown that getting into our studies physically, is proven to produce longer-lasting and deeper memory retention.

Programs are now found on CD and DVD discs, so you can study at your own computer. Through video streaming, you can sit back and watch the teachers showing you precisely how it's all done, with some practice time to follow - in an interactive lab. Always insist on a training material demonstration from the training company. The package should contain expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and virtual practice lab's for your new skills.

Select physical media such as CD or DVD ROM's if possible. This then avoids all the potential pitfalls with internet connection failure and issues with signal quality.

At the top of your shopping list for a training program should be full 24x7 support via trained professional instructors and mentors. Too many companies only seem to want to help while they're in the office (9am till 6pm, Monday till Friday usually) and nothing at the weekends. Email support is too slow, and phone support is often to a call-centre who will take the information and email an instructor - who will attempt to call you within 24-48 hrs, at a suitable time to them. This is not a lot of use if you're stuck with a particular problem and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.

It's possible to find professional companies which provide their students online direct access support all the time - at any time of day or night. Unless you insist on online 24x7 support, you'll regret it. You might not want to use the service during the night, but consider weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.

Adding in the cost of examination fees up-front and offering an 'Exam Guarantee' is popular with a number of training colleges. Consider the facts:

You'll pay for it somehow. It certainly isn't free - it's simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole. Qualifying on the first 'go' is what everyone wants to do. Taking your exams progressively when it's appropriate and funding them one at a time sees you much better placed to get through first time - you prepare appropriately and are conscious of what you've spent.

Go for the best offer you can find when you're ready, and avoid college mark-up fees. In addition, it's then your choice where to do the examinations - so you can choose somewhere closer to home. Buying a course that includes payments for examinations (which also includes interest if you've taken out a loan) is insane. Why fill a company's coffers with extra money of yours only to please their Bank Manager! A lot bank on the fact that you will never make it to exams - so they don't need to pay for them. The majority of organisations will require you to sit pre-tests and hold you back from re-takes until you've completely proven that you're likely to pass - making an 'exam guarantee' just about worthless.

The cost of exams was about 112 pounds in the last 12 months via VUE or Pro-metric centres in the UK. Therefore, why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra to have 'an Exam Guarantee', when it's no secret that the best guarantee is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.