Many technicians interested in improving their overall skill level have opted for IT training boot camps. They offer intensive training, and give plenty of hands on training, and most important they award the all important certificates that have become necessary for the advancement of the technicians career in the IT field.
So, what are the pros and cons of the IT training boot camp as compared with other more conventional certification programs? What are the factors that can help guide your decision?
The number one factor in favor of the boot camp approach is speed. The technological field is moving so rapidly and new developments are being introduced so quickly that it has created problems for online certification programs. Too often, the course has outdated elements before it is even completed. Students in courses where they are allowed to proceed at their own pace will tend to take their time. Boot camps move you to your certification test extremely fast.
The MCSE boot camp which leads to the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer certificate or the CCNA boot camp that leads to the Cisco Certified Network Associate certificate can get you ready for the all important test without delay. If you are going to need to take time off from your job, or if you are encouraging your employer to subsidize the training, time will be a critical factor.
The other major advantage of the boot camp is the opportunity to engage in hands on training. The software and the hardware that you need are there and you are able to work with it under the guidance of instructors. This personal attention and the actual equipment are not available in online training courses.
On the negative side, the boot camps are not inexpensive, and do require a commitment to a definite schedule. Busy IT techs must find the means to attend the camp, and without job support this often creates a hardship. Many students do not react well to the high pressure of the boot camp, and their own learning abilities function better in a more slow paced and individual type of study course. In the same manner that some recruits wilt under the high pressure of a military boot camp, some will need flourish in the high paced environment of the IT boot camp. Students need to examine their own needs measured against the practical considerations of time and money in order to make the best decision.