If you are interested in the development side, then Microsoft deliver the MCITP DB Developer certification. Whilst not completely extending in to database programming, this covers more of the original rationale and set up of Databases. You need to look into the Programming area of this web site if your interest lies in that side of databases. To tell the truth, there tends to be more desire for the Administration aspect from both students and employers. For anyone who is looking at the Developer route, it makes far more sense to add that certification into a Programming training track. Over the coming years, you will also find additional 'MCTS' certification in 'SQL' Server 2008 progressively more applicable.

The area most overlooked by those mulling over a new direction is that of 'training segmentation'. Essentially, this is how the program is broken down into parts to be delivered to you, which vastly changes how you end up. You may think that it makes sense (with training often lasting 2 or 3 years for a full commercial certification,) for many training providers to send out the courseware in stages, as you achieve each exam pass. However: What if there are reasons why you can't finish every single exam? Maybe the prescribed order won't suit you? Because of nothing that's your fault, you may not meet the required timescales and not receive all the modules you've paid for.

To be honest, the best solution is to get an idea of what they recommend as an ideal study order, but to receive all the materials up-front. You then have everything in case you don't finish inside of their required time-scales.

Some trainers are still maintaining a now out-dated method of training - classroom days. Usually touted as a major benefit, if you track down someone who's been through a few, you'll most likely hear about many or all of these:

- Lots of round journeys - sometimes hundreds of miles at a time.

- Weekday only availability for classes is the norm, and with 2-3 days to book off work, this is usually problematic for the majority of students who work.

- And let's not disregard the lost holiday days. We typically get twenty days annual leave. If at least half is sacrificed to learning, then we haven't got much left for ourselves.

- Training classes can fill up very quickly and can sometimes be too big - so they're not personal enough.

- Many students want to study at a slower or quicker pace than the rest of the class. Often this can bring about tension in the class.

- Count the cost of all the petrol, fares, accommodation, food and parking and you could be in for a major shock. Trainees report costs mounting to several hundred and sometimes thousands of pounds. Work it out - and see for yourself.

- Keeping your training private from your employer is often very important to many students. You don't want to sacrifice any job advancement, wage increases or accomplishment at your current job because of your studies. If your boss finds out you're putting yourself through qualification in a different industry, how will they regard you?

- Raising questions around our class-mates often makes any one of us a little awkward. Ever avoided asking a question just because you were worried it might make you look silly?

- For those who have work away from home, you face the added difficulty that events now become awkward to keep up - but unfortunately, the money has already been paid.

An altogether more elegant solution comes from viewing a videoed workshop - enabling you to learn whenever you wish. Study at home on your PC or out in the garden on your laptop. Any questions that pop up, just make use of the 24x7 support (that should come with any technical program.) All the lessons can be repeated as often as you want - doing something over will help you remember it. And there's no need to take notes - it's all provided. What could be simpler: A lot of money is saved and you avoid all the travelling; and of course you've got a much more stress-free study environment.

Authorised exam preparation packages are a must - and absolutely ought to be supplied by your training company. Because a lot of examination boards in IT tend to be American, you must be prepared for the way exams are phrased. You can't practice properly by simply answering any old technical questions - it's essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format. Mock exams will prove very useful for confidence building - so when it comes to taking the real thing, you will be much more relaxed.

Think about the facts below in detail if you've been persuaded that that over-used sales technique about 'guaranteeing' exams sounds like a benefit to the student:

Clearly it's not free - you're still footing the bill for it - it's just been wrapped up in the price of the package. Should you seriously need to qualify first 'go', then the most successful route is to avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, give it the priority it deserves and be ready for the task.

Go for the best offer you can find when you take the exam, and hang on to your cash. You also get more choice of where you sit the exam - which means you can stay local. Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on exams when you didn't need to? A lot of profit is made by companies getting money in early for exam fees - and then cashing in when they're not all taken. In addition to this, 'Exam Guarantees' often aren't worth the paper they're written on. Most companies won't be prepared to pay again for an exam until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won't fail again.

Exams taken at VUE and Prometric centres are in the region of 112 pounds in Britain at the time of writing. Why spend so much more on 'Exam Guarantee' fees (usually wrapped up in the course package price) - when good quality study materials, the proper support and study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really guarantee success.