If you're looking for Cisco training but you have no experience with routers, the right certification is the CCNA. This course is designed to instruct men and women who want a working knowledge of routers. Large companies who have several locations need routers to connect computer networks in different rooms to keep in contact with each other. The Internet also is made up of hundreds of thousands of routers.

It's vital that you already know a good deal about computer networks and how they operate and function, because networks are linked to routers. Without this you may encounter problems. Why not find training that also includes basic networking skills (maybe the CompTIA Network+, possibly with A+ as well) before you start a CCNA course. Some providers offer this as a career track.

The CCNA qualification is what you should be aiming for - don't be cajoled into attempting your CCNP yet. Once you've got a few years experience behind you, you can decide if this next level is for you. If so, you'll be in a better position to pass then - because you'll have so much more experience.

Many trainers provide piles of reference manuals and workbooks. It's not a very interesting way to learn and not really conducive to remembering. Many years of research has repeatedly confirmed that connecting physically with our study, is much more conducive to long-term memory.

Modern training can now be done at home via self-contained CD or DVD materials. Real-world classes from the instructors will mean you'll learn your subject via their teaching and demonstrations. You can then test yourself by interacting with the software and practicing yourself. Always insist on a study material demo' from the school that you're considering. You should ask for instructor videos, demonstrations, slide-shows and lab's for you to practice your skills in.

You'll find that many companies will only provide just online versions of their training packages; and although this is okay the majority of the time, consider what happens if you lose your internet access or you get slow speeds and down-time etc. It's much safer to rely on physical CD or DVD discs which will not have these problems.

Incorporating examinations up-front then including an exam guarantee is common for a good many training companies. Consider the facts:

Patently it isn't free - you're still being charged for it - it's just been included in your package price. For those who want to pass first time, you must avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, give it the priority it deserves and be ready for the task.

Isn't it in your interests to not pay up-front, but at the appropriate time, instead of paying a premium to the training company, and also to sit exams more locally - rather than possibly hours away from your area? Including money in your training package for examination fees (which also includes interest if you've taken out a loan) is a false economy. Don't line companies bank accounts with your hard-earned cash just to give them more interest! There are those who hope that you don't even take them all - so they get to keep the extra funds. It's worth noting, with 'Exam Guarantees' from most places - the company decides when you are allowed to have another go. They'll only allow a re-take once completely satisfied.

VUE and Prometric examinations are in the region of 112 pounds in Britain at the time of writing. Why spend so much more on 'Exam Guarantee' fees (often hidden in the cost) - when good quality study materials, the proper support and commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

One of the most important things to insist on has to be full 24x7 support through dedicated instructors and mentors. Too many companies only provide support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later (but not weekends usually). Beware of institutions which use 'out-of-hours' call-centres - with the call-back coming in during the next 'working' day. It's no use when you're stuck on a problem and want support there and then.

Be on the lookout for providers that have multiple support offices active in different time-zones. Each one should be integrated to enable simple one-stop access as well as round-the-clock access, when it's convenient for you, with the minimum of hassle. Don't ever make the mistake of taking second best when you're looking for the right support service. The vast majority of would-be IT professionals that drop-out or fail, are in that situation because of a lack of support.

Watch out that all exams you're considering doing are commercially relevant and are bang up to date. 'In-house' certificates are generally useless. All the major commercial players such as Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco all have widely acknowledged proficiency programmes. Huge conglomerates such as these can make sure you stand out at interview.