» A look at Computer Training and Certification «

Intro

First off - there's a huge number of cowboy outfits out there. Do your research thoroughly before parting with a single penny and if they have salesmen that pressure you to close the deal send them packing, the course is obviously grossly overpriced!

(From 2002) Take for example the ECDL course:

One company, if I recall, wanted something insane like £750 for this course.
Others wanted around in the region of £250 plus.
Naturally, you go for the cheaper one?
Hmm, LearnDirect - often available via your local library only ask around £100
But the local FE College - as reliable as it will get - will do the same course for only £57
Even this small fee can be waived for a score of reasons - for instance if you are on income support IT courses at schools and college are free - paid for by the benefits agencies.
Our college, fortunately one of the largest in the country, even offers Cisco CCNA and are hoping to offer MCSE in the future!
Hmmm, £4,000 via a tiny add in the paper or free at a community college...

I wonder how many of these publish their prices on the net...

Computeach have been trading since 1964. Surely enough time to work out costs to the penny, yet they, I personally feel, ludicrously claim:

It is impossible to provide specific prices until we know which of the various options would best suit an individual. However, to give you some idea, programmes range from £300 for an introductory programme to £4500 for an advanced career course which could lead to a senior role in IT
ECDL's website, 2002

I'd bet that if you phoned up a salesman would be able to whip up an exact quote to take the ECDL (which is at least £300).

NITLC I kinda like, but according to their web site:

NITLC course fees range from £1800 up to £3900 but to obtain a more specific price for your chosen course you would need to discuss this with one of our Course Advisers to ensure you are being quoted for the right course for your needs and job search requirements.
NITLC's website, 2002

Actually, they have cheaper exams, depending what you want, but they prefer to send pushy salesmen round, I reckon.

I looked again today (March 2005) and they still don't publish the course fees. I couldn't be bothered looking further here!


As far as I am concerned…
    anyone that can't won't prominently display hard prices has something to hide, if only the fact the they don't want to scare propects away with the prices. A stupid proposition in my opinion. If they can't afford it, they can't afford it, simple as that. For my way of thinking, you lose more sales because people can't be bothered searching further. Yay for the FUD factor!


Whilst I certainly haven't made my mind up, after researching the courses and vendors available the best candidate so far appears to be the National IT Learning Centre Limited. They are not the cheapest, nor are they the best, but offer a good compromise and have the advantage of being an approved provider for the Employment Service. The salesmen are persistent beggars though (note above comments).

Addenda 2005:
My cousin is actually taking the NITCL course and it quite happy with it indeed. But, as he says in agreement with me, it's not for everyone. This applies to all distance learning, not any one company, but you have to put the effort in to get the results. Basically, you need to be sure in your heart and mind that you have the temperament, support and tenacity to keep at it…


Similarly, I looked over Computeach International and companies like Wavetech who offer intensive one to four week long "boot camps". Wavetech are respected and have a very high success rate for first time passes but the total cost for the exams I require is far in excess of £10,000. They also annoyed me by not following up when I tried to book a session...

Anyway, the final quote from NITLC (2002) was £4,530 inclusive. This comprised:

Internet Solutions Developer comprising:
    Certified Internet Webmaster Associate
    Master Certified Internet Webmaster
    Master Certified Internet Webmaster Administrator
Also:
    CompTia A+
    CCNA
    MCSE

The full ISD course actually includes the MOUS Master course and accreditation. It was mentioned by the salesman throughout his briefing but conveniently left out of the written quote. Given his tenacity, I am cynical enough to suspect this was deliberate to boast his commission. Either way, I believe there is more than enough lea way to have them include the first eight units of the ISD in the final price. We shall see...

In all likelihood though, as my health allows, I will probably just keeps taking courses at the local colleges and universities. £10,000 can buy an awful lot of technical books, hmmm.


Which brings us conveniently to the next point. You want to get these bits of paper why exactly? Me, it's just because I can, it's a Kudos thing. But I'm assuming you will fall into one of three categories...

1. Been there, done that! You know what the certificates mean.
2. You want to learn more, this is a one route.
3. You say saw an advert promising you instant access to an IT post...

If you fall into the first range, just use the links to find a testing centre

If you fall into the last category. Think long and hard before parting with your money...
Ah! Teeny problem with exaggeration, market conditions, etc, commission based sales folk...
    There's countless unfilled IT posts, you can name your price.
Yeees, but these posts are invariably looking for a range of skills way beyond the norm. Then there's the experience thing. To pass the time I'm taking a HNC Computing (in software engineering). A few of the people on the course believe, HNC = IT job. I could equally say MCSE or B.Sc. McDonalds is full of folk with degrees, serving and cleaning up...

Employers will look at these and think, "Well, shows willing, but what real work experience have you got?"   Being perverse, HR staff have this tendency to either say, nice resume, but we need someone with paper qualifications - or just give the job to their cousin on the grounds that they 'know a bit about Windows' and can pick the job up as they go along!'

Seriously though, if you have the will and the aptitude, then go for it, but don't believe the hype.

Which brings us happily to the middle group. You are gaining experience and want to move on to better things. Yep, certification will do that. But... There's always a but, eh.

This will apply to all, but how you read it is a different matter.
*Umms and arrs a while*

Right, I have 'O' levels, lots of 'em. And I worked ruddy hard to get them. So when I see all this nonsense in the news about exam scandals and schools "only" getting 89% pass rate across the board... One of the local colleges was in the news with 100% pass rate across the board. Every student, passed every exam!!! If you are old enough to remember 'O' levels you will know where I am going will this. As far as I am concerned, the current GCSE's aren't worth the paper they are written on. (Grade G is a pass my....)

(Ignores the ranting teenagers). Yes? The point being? The thing is, a lot of these companies promise to get you though the exams. That's where everything gets flawed. "Here's the most likely answers for tomorrows exam." You speed learn the bare minimum to pass the exams, a month later, it's all forgotten. You reckon for a second any respecting consultancy would let you near a clients server if that's how you got your MCSE ?

Sooo, unless you are a cowboy, here's my advice. Learn the options and their value, decide where you want to go, then if you can buy or borrow a spare computer (/ router etc. as appropriate) to play with. If you keep messing up, all the better, only way to learn. Then look at all the training options. Fast learn courses and flash cards have there place, if only to teach you HOW to answer the test papers - as opposed to what the answers are...

It's a fact of life that you can't buy experience. And the most sought after folk are those with experience - and certificates.

Incidentally, Full Cisco training and accreditation costs around £20,000, SAP will set you back some £35,000. No pain, no gain...