How to Choose a Training Center

If you're like most people, once you get involved with Windows NT, you quickly realize there's always something more to learn about it. So you buy books and magazines and talk to friends or colleagues who are more experienced with NT than you are. However, what you might really need is the opportunity to fiddle with NT in an environment that gives you access to an expert who can answer your questions and point out how you can leverage NT's range and power. What you might need is training.

How do you select the training center that addresses your needs? What separates one training company from another? In the back of this magazine you'll find advertisements for several independent training companies, each of which wants you to believe it's just right for you. In addition, Microsoft certifies training companies as Authorized Technical Education Centers (ATECs). If you live in a midsized or large metropolitan area, several ATECs may be available. How do you choose among them?

I've taught more than a thousand training seminars over the past 7 years. I've contracted to teach for five training companies, worked as an employee for another, and managed yet another training company that has offices worldwide. Through my experiences, I've learned a few things about the training business, its strengths and weaknesses, and the expectations of the people who attend the classes. In this article, I'll outline the most important things to look for when you evaluate a training center and the trainers it employs. I won't tell you what kind of center to choose, because that depends on your preferences, learning style, and goals. However, I will share some of the observations I've made over the years that might help you choose among your options.

ATEC or Independent?
Make your choice between an ATEC or independent organization based on the type of training you want. In general, independent training organizations tend to offer intermediate to advanced topics, whereas the hands-on, methodical approach that ATEC classes take is better suited to building strong basic skills. (For an overview of training costs, see Ryan Maley, "The Dollars and Sense of Certification," page 130.)

The requirements for ATEC certification are strict, and they're designed to help ensure a uniform level of training quality. ATECs must use official Microsoft curricula, have two Microsoft certified trainers on staff, and publish their class schedules. In addition, an ATEC must be a Microsoft Solution Provider (MSP), which means, among other things, that it must maintain at least two MCSEs on its staff. Does this requirement mean that an ATEC will give you the kind of training you're looking for? That depends on what you want from the course. ATEC training tends to emphasize the basics, even in difficult subject areas such as Exchange Server 5.0 Multisite and Internet environments. You won't be a pro when you finish an ATEC course, but you will have a solid foundation for further learning.

Independent training organizations have their strengths and weaknesses, too. At their best, independent training companies can offer a creative approach to teaching, comprehensive course curricula, and in-depth advanced training. However, because independents don't carry an official Microsoft stamp of approval the way ATECs do, you might have trouble determining whether a particular independent will give you a high-quality training experience. I'm not saying that every ATEC offers top-notch training, or that you don't need to evaluate an ATEC before you sign up for one of its courses. Nor am I saying that deciding to enroll with an independent training company is a crapshoot. You need to evaluate any training company you're interested in, ATEC or independent.

Let's look at two sets of factors you can weigh when you evaluate a training facility. The first set pertains to the training company--whether it's an ATEC or an independent. The second set applies to the trainers who deliver the information.

Evaluating a Training Company
A simple way to begin your evaluation of a training company is to look at the treatment you receive when you make contact to gather general information. Do the company's staff members take an interest in you and your plans? Do they make sure the classes you ask about meet your needs and goals, explain the prerequisites for each class, and answer any questions you have about required materials and classroom facilities? If you're impressed with the treatment you receive from the company's staff and want to expand your investigation, ask the following questions.

How much experience does the company have? Experience counts in the training business. Being around a long time doesn't make a training company good, and being new doesn't automatically make it bad. If you're interested in a new company--one that's been in business for less than a year--find out what kind of experience its staff has. If the company is an independent, is it affiliated with another training company that's been around a while? If the company is a new ATEC, how long did it offer training before it received its certification?

How many trainers are on staff? Does the company maintain a training staff, or does it rely on contract trainers to deliver its courses? Using contract trainers isn't necessarily bad: Contractors can bring rich experience to the classroom and superior ability to tackle real-world challenges. But a company that cannot maintain a core of experienced trainers might lack direction and focus--and the chances are good that it won't consistently deliver high-quality training.

   Previous  [1]  2  Next