CompTIA A+ consists of 4 training sections; you're thought of as an A+ achiever when you've passed the test for 2 out of 4 subjects. For this reason, most training providers only teach 2 specialised areas. In fact to carry out a job effectively, you'll need the information on each subject as industry will ask for knowledge and skills of the whole A+ program. It's not essential to qualify in them all, although it would seem prudent that you take tutorials in all 4 subjects.

When you embark on the A+ training course you'll become familiar with 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. If you're considering being a man or woman who works in a multi-faceted environment - supporting, fixing and maintaining networks, build on A+ with Network+, or consider the Microsoft networking route (MCSA - MCSE) to give you a wider knowledge of how networks work.

One thing you must always insist on is comprehensive 24x7 direct-access support through dedicated instructors and mentors. So many companies we come across only seem to want to help while they're in the office (9am till 6pm, Monday till Friday usually) and nothing at the weekends. some companies only provide email support (slow), and telephone support is usually to a call-centre that will just take down the issue and email it over to their technical team - who'll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, when it suits them. This is no good if you're lost and confused and can only study at specific times.

If you look properly, you'll find professional training packages which recommend and use online support around the clock - including evenings, nights and weekends. Never settle for a lower level of service. Direct-access 24x7 support is the only kind that ever makes the grade with computer-based courses. Maybe burning the midnight-oil is not your thing; often though, we're at work when traditional support if offered.

How the program is actually delivered to you can often be overlooked. How is the courseware broken down? What is the order and what control do you have at what pace it arrives? Often, you will purchase a course taking 1-3 years and receive one element at a time until graduation. It seems to make sense on one level, but consider these issues: What if you find the order insisted on by the company won't suit you. It may be difficult to get through all the modules inside of their particular timetable?

In a perfect world, you'd ask for every single material to be delivered immediately - meaning you'll have all of them to come back to in the future - whenever it suits you. Variations can then be made to the order that you attack each section as and when something more intuitive seems right for you.

Traditional teaching in classrooms, with books and manuals, can be pretty hard going sometimes. If this describes you, check out study materials which have a majority of interactive, multimedia parts. Where we can utilise all of our senses into our learning, then we normally see dramatically better results.

Find a course where you'll receive a library of CD and DVD ROM's - you'll learn by watching video tutorials and demonstrations, and then have the opportunity to practice your skills in interactive lab's. Each company you're contemplating should willingly take you through some examples of their training materials. You're looking for evidence of tutorial videos and demonstrations and a wide selection of interactive elements.

Seek out actual CD or DVD ROM's whenever you can. Thus avoiding all the issues associated with the variability of broadband quality and service.

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