There are actually 4 different sectors in the full CompTIA A+ syllabus, of which you need to pass two for your A+ qualification. We would advise however that restricting yourself to two of the specialised areas could expose flaws in your knowledge when applying for a job. Try to cover all four - employers will notice the difference.

A+ certification without additional courses will give you the ability to mend and maintain computers and Macs; principally ones that aren't joined to a network - this generally applies to home use and small companies.

You might also choose to think about adding the CompTIA Network+ training as it will give you the knowledge to become a networking engineer, and have a more responsible working role.

Don't listen to the typical salesperson who pushes one particular program without a decent chat so as to understand your abilities plus your level of experience. Always check they have access to a generous stable of training programs so they can solve your training issues.

If you've got a strong background, or sometimes a little live experience (some certifications gained previously perhaps?) then it's likely your starting level will be different from someone with no background whatsoever.

It's wise to consider some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. This can often make the learning curve a bit more manageable.

Adding in the cost of examination fees as an inclusive element of the package price then including an exam guarantee is a popular marketing tool with a number of training colleges. However, let's consider what's really going on:

Clearly it isn't free - you are paying for it - the price has simply been included in the whole thing.

Should you seriously need to pass first time, you must avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, focus on it intently and apply yourself as required.

Isn't it outrageous to have to pay a training course provider in advance for examination fees? Find the best deal you can when you take the exam, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance - and sit exams more locally - rather than possibly hours away from your area.

Big margins are netted by a number of companies who get money for exam fees in advance. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don't get to do their exams and so they pocket the rest. Amazingly, there are companies around that depend on students not taking their exams - as that's how they make a lot of their profit.

Additionally, exam guarantees often have very little value. The majority of organisations won't be prepared to pay for re-takes until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won't fail again.

The cost of exams was 112 pounds or thereabouts twelve months or so ago through UK VUE or Prometric centres. Therefore, why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra for 'an Exam Guarantee', when it's obvious that the responsible approach is a regular, committed, study programme, with an accredited exam preparation system.

Student support is absolutely essential - look for a package that includes 24x7 access, as anything less will not satisfy and will also hold up your pace and restrict your intake.

Try and find training where you can access help at any time you choose (even if it's early hours on Sunday morning!) You want direct-access to qualified mentors and tutors, and not access to a call-in service which takes messages - so you're parked in a queue of others waiting to be called back - probably during office hours.

We recommend that you search for training schools that utilise many support facilities across multiple time-zones. These should be integrated to give a single entry point and round-the-clock access, when you want it, without any problems.

If you opt for less than support round-the-clock, you'll quickly find yourself regretting it. You may not need it late in the night, but what about weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.

Trainees looking at this market are usually quite practically-minded, and won't enjoy sitting at a desk in class, and struggling through thick study-volumes. If this is putting you off studying, go for more modern interactive training, where everything is presented via full motion video.

Many studies have proved that long term memory is improved when we use all our senses, and we put into practice what we've been studying.

Fully interactive motion videos featuring instructor demo's and practice lab's beat books hands-down. And they're far more fun.

It makes sense to see some of the typical study materials provided before you hand over your cheque. You should expect instructor-led video demonstrations and interactive modules with audio-visual elements.

Often, companies will only use training that is purely available online; and although this is okay the majority of the time, consider what happens if you lose your internet access or you only get very a very slow connection sometimes. A safer solution is the provision of CD and DVD ROM materials that removes the issue entirely.