Be careful that the exams you're working towards will be commercially viable and are the most recent versions. Training companies own certificates are generally useless. From the perspective of an employer, only the big-boys such as Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco (for example) will open the right doors. Anything less just doesn't cut the mustard.

Many certification companies are still using a now out-dated method of training - classroom lessons. Quite often pushed as a positive point, if you talk to a student who has had to attend a few, don't be surprised to be lectured on several if not all of the following problems:

- All that travelling - multiple journeys and normally over 100 miles a pop.

- Asking for time out of work - typical trainers can only give Mon-Fri class availability and often group days together in a clump. To be honest, this doesn't suit working people, especially if travelling time is added into the mix.

- With only 4 weeks annual leave, using half of that on study workshops means we'll be hard-pushed to get a holiday with our families.

- 'In-Centre' days can 'sell out' fast and often end up larger than is ideal.

- Many students want to study at a pace that is different to the other class members. This creates classic classroom tension.

- And let's not ignore the increased financial outlay of driving or taking public transport or bed and breakfast either. Often, this will cost hundreds and even thousands of pounds extra. Take some time to add it all up - it'll shock and surprise you.

- Keeping your training private from your employer can be high on the list of priorities to most trainees. You don't want to lose any possible promotions, income boosts or accomplishment in your job while you're training. When your boss discovers you're putting yourself through training in another sector, how will they regard you?

- Surely, all of us 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?

- For those of us who need to on occasion live away for part of the week, imagine the trouble involved in travelling to the requisite workshops, as time becomes even more scarce.

It would be better to watch on-screen and be taught by teachers one-to-one in pre-filmed lessons, doing them when it's convenient for you, not someone else. Ponder this... If you've got a notebook PC then you could study wherever you want. And 24x7 support is only a web-click away in case you get challenged. There's no need to take notes - every lesson is laid out for you already. Any time you want to repeat something, it's there. Even though this doesn't avoid all study problems, it undeniably reduces stress and eases things. Plus you've got less costs, hassle and travel.

To gain a particularly well-rounded networking career track, you might look at adding either the MS MCSE or 'MCSA' to your A+, Network+ & 'CCNA' program. In either case, a discussion of your career-path and learning-style, with an experienced industry expert or advisor, really should be at the top of your sheet of priorities, to guarantee that you get off to a really good start & prevent any costly errors.