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Gaining a new qualification can be one of the most effective ways of enhancing your career, whether by increasing your chances of promotion or by equipping you to move into an entirely new line of work.

If you are spending good money to continue your education then it’s essential that the end result is worth the time and expense. Below are a few questions to consider that will help you find the right course through a respected training provider and gain the most out of your studies.

Academic or vocational?
One of the first considerations is whether to choose an academic or a vocational course. Broadly speaking, academic qualifications – such as bachelors and postgraduate degrees – focus on theories and concepts, whereas vocational courses teach practical skills relating to a specific profession. As a result, a vocational qualification is likely to have a more immediate effect on your job prospects. In fact, in many industry sectors, such as accounting or IT, there is a clear vocational learning pathway that must be followed in order to secure certain roles.

Will employers value your qualification?
There are often multiple examining bodies within the same industry, all offering slightly different course content and learning objectives. One of the most valuable things you can do is to check which qualifications are most desired by employers in your sector. If you are studying with the end goal of enhancing your job prospects then this should be one of your prime considerations.

Classroom-based or distance learning?
Once you have identified the most appropriate qualification, your next step is to find a suitable learning provider who will deliver the course in a way that complements your preferred learning style, as well as your existing work and social commitments.

It may be that you are unable to commit to attending lessons at the same time each week, or perhaps you don’t feel comfortable with the idea of going back into a classroom. If that’s the case then distance learning could be the ideal solution. This is where you study from home in your own time, with tutorial support provided over the internet and by telephone.

Is the training provider accredited by a reputable professional body?
While there are many excellent learning providers to choose from, covering a vast array of subjects, there are also too many offering qualifications that literally aren’t worth the paper on which they are printed. The issue of ‘fake diplomas’ has become widespread in recent years, with numerous disreputable private organisations trying to cash in on people’s increased interest in further study.

As such, it’s vital to ensure that your chosen learning provider is accredited by a bona fide professional body. Many training institutions claim to be endorsed by a wide variety of institutions but in many cases this is either untrue or the organisation in question has no legal authority or government recognition.

If you’ve opted for distance learning then you should look for membership of the Open & Distance Learning Quality Council (ODL QC) - the independent UK guardian of quality in open and distance learning.

Ensure that the accrediting organisation is credible and also check that your learning provider is included in the published list of members.

Is the course recommended by other students?
One of the best ways to find out whether your study experience would live up to expectations is to research feedback from other students who have completed the same course. The internet is a useful resource in this regard or you could ask your training provider if they have student ambassadors you could talk to directly.

For more information on Home Learning College’s full range of professional accredited courses please visit http://www.homelearningcollege.com.