How to Get IT Training for Free

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Getting a new IT certification can really help your career and open your options up to include many higher paying jobs. For example, a report earlier this year from the Linux Foundation indicated that eighty percent of IT companies that use Linux are making hiring Linux-certified professionals a priority over the next few years. Not only is the certification in demand, nearly one third of the companies polled were offering above-normal pay to attract employees with Linux training.

 

Depending on the certification you're interested in, there are many ways to get training and be prepared to take the necessary exams. Many technical schools offer training programs, and many companies offer IT-certification training online.

 

If attending an actual course doesn't fit into your schedule, there is always the option of studying on your own by using a training guide book. However you decide to train, the most important thing is to pick an option that works best for you. If you know that you tend to procrastinate and that you have trouble focusing, then an actual course with deadlines might be your best choice. If you learn more rapidly when you can work at your own pace, a training book could be all you need.

 

Another reason that many professionals choose not to further their education is cost. Although many employers have tuition-reimbursement programs, advanced training course can be pretty costly. Even if you opted to study on your own, professional certification books are also expensive - buying the wrong one can be a mistake that sets you back a few hundred dollars.

 

That being said, you can prepare for an exam for free online. Although the courses may be limited or give only the general information, a free IT-certification course is a great way to get started. If you find that you need more intensive training, you can then make a decision that is going to work best for your particular needs. Of course, you'll still need to pay for and take an exam, but these courses can be a big help.

 

Here are just a few of the free IT certification preparation courses that are available for free:

 

ProProfs.com - This site offers several free IT-certification training programs. They have programs for Cisco, Microsoft Certification, Linux and many others. The courses include study guides, practice questions and basic information about where and how you can sit for a test.

 

ProfessorMesser - This site sells certification courses, but most of the courses are available on their website for free. Although they don't provide a portable copy or a book, the video courses available cover a wide variety of entry level IT certifications. For example, they have A+, Network + and Security + as well as Microsoft exams.

 

W3Schools - You may already use this site as it is a great reference if you need a refresher or can't remember a certain HTML tag. It's run by the World Wide Web Consortium and offers training like HTML, CSS, XML, PHP and more.

 

SearchSecurity - This website offers course training for the CISSIP and ISC exams. With the growing demand for experts in the area of data security, these certifications can mean more money and better job options. The training here covers all ten areas of the CISSIP exam.

 

INE - Although this site offers intensive paid training courses, they also have a free section on their website that provides free Cisco Certified Internetwork exams. In addition to course materials, they also offer a forum for connecting with other students and a wide selection of video seminars (vSeminars) focus on specific sections of the test.

 

Your Local Library - If you just want to get a quick review or you prefer to study on your own, look for training books at your local library. Although you might not realize it, most libraries can order books for you from other libraries. This means that virtually any study guide you need can be checked out for free. Although you'll probably want to buy a copy at some point, checking the books out allows you to look through them and see if they are going to work for you before investing your money.

 

Getting the right IT-certification preparation doesn't have to cost a lot of money. Before you decide to invest in a course, do some research and consider all of your options.

 

Have you recently gotten a new certification? Did you attend a technical college or study on your own? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

 

Additional Source: icciev; Photo Source: MorgueFile

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  • Lance Foster
    Lance Foster
    I'm seriously considering attaining employment within the security field.Just about anything from working the door at a fast paced club to undertaking nightshift at a condominium building really appeals to me. I'm merely experiencing difficulty on how to start. Would you like to share ideas?
  • Melissa Kennedy
    Melissa Kennedy
    Thanks so much, David. I'm very glad that the information helped you. Good luck with your search for work in the IT industry.
  • david t r
    david t r
    It's amazing designed for me to have a site, which is good for my know-how. thanks admin
  • Kishor
    Kishor
    Hi ,thank you for the information.Will Try these for .net material.
  • Lurlene B
    Lurlene B
    great article
  • David Carbaugh
    David Carbaugh
    GOOD
  • Melissa Kennedy
    Melissa Kennedy
    Thanks for the great comments. Studying on your own can be an amazing way to learn the thing you need to know without getting stuck with high student loan debt. @Clete, you're right, many companies won't pay for additional certifications. Study on your own and save for the test. You might have to go out of pocket for it, but you can add it to your resume and hopefully get a raise. @richard, having to pay for the tests is really difficult. I wish there were student loans or financial aid for those as well. @Mike, there are tutorials online for almost anything. I learned how to knit, crochet and pick a crab completely clean in less than 5 minutes, all by watching YouTube videos. Never underestimate free education. @Kurt, even if you don't have recent experience, try listing the courses you are taking on your resume. Sure, you might not be getting college credit for them, but they will show that you are brushing up on your skills. Good Luck! @jeffery, Goodwill stores, thrift stores and used book stores are a gold mine for IT textbooks. Since they appeal to such a small demographic, they tend to be marked down the most.
  • Wyatt H
    Wyatt H
    Thank you for sharing
  • Clete Purcell
    Clete Purcell
    Thanks for the article and the links, Melissa, nice job. Various companies and organizations keep telling us they need this or that IT specialty but Heaven forbid they pay for any training and certification for their own people anymore.  We are expected to do all this on our own time and at our own expense now.  And not to whine about it, either.  My other point is that, in my experience, the vast bulk of what you need to know on any given IT job will be taught to you ON that job and AT that site, regardless of what previous training and certification you got.  Also, half the stuff posted for jobs is 'wish list' stuff, that they'd like to have.  And lastly, you probably won't be doing even half of the things in that job posting but WILL be doing a lot of things that were never posted.  Good luck and best wishes to all.
  • Richy perez
    Richy perez
    Very Helpful, now I have more tools to study from.Thank you
  • William Irvin
    William Irvin
    Thank you Melissa Kennedy for the info. Lots of hugs and kisses at ya'!
  • tshediso n
    tshediso n
    Warm greetings everyone. I really would love to have this training. I'm looking forward to get this opportuniny. Thanks a lot.
  • Christine W
    Christine W
    Thanks for the info.
  • Phyllis M
    Phyllis M
    Thanks , gonna try these links.
  • Richard N
    Richard N
    I am an unemployed recent IT graduate with a looming student loan coming due. I've never had trouble locating free training for the exams. My problem is finding free exams.Employers won't even give you a second glance without them and won't assist the pre-employed get them either. I don't know what the solution is, but it's clear this doesn't work.
  • Eduardo A
    Eduardo A
    To whom it may concern:The information provided is very accurate and helpful. Thank you for keeping me informed. Regards,Eduardo.
  • K St.John
    K St.John
    I really appreciate the information for the free resources available for the IT certification programs.  I only wish I had come across this information last spring when I was laid off from my job.  It would have been great to of gotten a head start then.Thank you very much!Ken
  • Mike B.
    Mike B.
    Good tips.  Thank you.  I have had good success by doing searches for "Tutorials" when I need to understand a specific task or technology immediatlely.  I have found that many free on-pline tutorials are several levels deep covering many aspects of a topic.  Thanks again.
  • Debra O
    Debra O
    Thank you for the information...its is awesome and exciting to know that there is help on a budget! Thanks again!
  • Robert H
    Robert H
    Many thanks! Good information. My knowledge is 20 to 50 years old & needs updating.
  • Miles R
    Miles R
    Thank you Melissa; this is sound advice
  • Lawrence L
    Lawrence L
    Very helpful
  • Kurt W
    Kurt W
    I have a bachelors degree in computer science and have over 14 years experience working in computers as a programmer and network systems administrator. I have had some problems and stopped working in 2000. I am over my problems and now I would like to start working again. I am having some difficulty getting job interview because I do not have recent experience or training. I would like to find out how I can get a job that offers training for me.
  • MARIO O
    MARIO O
    THIS IS VERY HELPULL...MORE POWER TO YOU
  • joseph w
    joseph w
    I. Interested. Not sure if it would be something that I could excel in. Do they have test to see what your level.  Maybe there mlght be a teat to show what areas that you are strong in

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