An area that's often missed by people considering a training program is the issue of 'training segmentation'. Essentially, this is the method used to break up the program for timed release to you, which completely controls the point you end up at. Many companies enrol you into a program spread over 1-3 years, and courier the materials in pieces as you finish each section. On the surface this seems reasonable - until you consider the following: What would their reaction be if you find it difficult to do every module at the proposed pace? Often the staged order doesn't work as well as an alternative path could be.

Ideally, you'd ask for every single material to be delivered immediately - so you'll have them all for the future to come back to - at any time you choose. Variations can then be made to the order that you complete your exams as and when something more intuitive seems right for you.

Always expect the very latest Microsoft (or relevant organisation's) authorised simulation materials and exam preparation packages. Ensure that your practice exams aren't just asking you the right questions from the right areas, but ask them in the way that the actual final exam will ask them. This really messes up people if they're met with completely different formats and phraseologies. It's a good idea to have some simulated exam questions so you'll be able to check your comprehension at any point. Simulations of exams add to your knowledge bank - so the actual exam is much easier.

In amongst the top nominees for the most common difficulty for IT students is a requirement to attend multiple workshop days. Most training schools harp on about the so-called 'benefits' of these classes, however, they quickly become a growing difficulty due to:

- All the travelling required - many trips and quite often 100's of miles each time.

- Getting frequent time off work - typical companies will only provide availability during weekdays and often group days together in a clump. This isn't ideal for most people who work, especially when you add the travel time on.

- Don't forget lost vacation time. Most of us have 4 weeks annual leave. If half of that is used up on workshops, then we haven't got much left for ourselves.

- 'In-Centre' days often reach their maximum intake very quickly, so we end up having to take a less-than-ideal slot.

- Some trainees lean towards a slower or quicker pace than the rest of the class. Sometimes this causes classic classroom tension.

- Don't ignore the increased financial outlay of driving or bed and breakfast either. Don't be surprised to find this become a lot of money - from hundreds to thousands. Take some time to add it all up - you'll get a shock.

- All of us want some privacy. We shouldn't risk giving up any advancement due to us because we're getting trained in a different area.

- It's quite usual for people not to put a question forward that they would like answered - simply because they're in front of other people.

- Typically, workshops are simply undoable, where you work or live away for some part of the year.

It really does make so much more sense to learn when it suits you -- not the training company - and use instructor-led videos with interactive lab's. You can study at home on your PC or why not in the garden on a laptop. If you have any questions, then make use of the 24x7 support (that you should have insisted on for any technical study.) You'll never have to write notes again - every lesson is laid out for you already. If you need to cover something again, it's right there. Though there's no way this can avoid every little difficulty, it certainly reduces stress and eases things. You also have reduced costs, travel and hassle.

Moving on from the CCNA, you will find an array of specialist accreditations to choose from. You could possibly go into wireless technology, or Security, or perhaps actually onto your Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP). The step up from the 'CCNA' to the CCNP is pretty significant, so it's recommended to concentrate on finishing your 'CCNA' first. You should expect to be operating in a 'Cisco' environment for at least one or two years (together with your CCNA certification) prior to getting started to study for your CCNP. However if you have already been in IT for quite a while, & maybe achieved a accreditation of equivalent standing to the 'CCNA' (for example whilst in the military) you may be able to go directly onto CCNP. In reality a recruiter won't look at you for any senior job when you haven't got a decent amount of 'CCNA' level working experience and understanding of industry.