Locals in IT jobs could get a career boost by sitting a new computer course being launched by Bermuda College in the fall.

The just-announced training initiative ? which is to span two terms or nine months ? is being offered by the Bermuda College Centre for Professional and Career Education (PACE) to prepare students to sit exams leading to two pivotal Microsoft designations.

IT professionals with Microsoft credentials are often sought after by employers staffing their technology departments, as most firms use Microsoft operating systems on computers in their operations.

The course, which kicks off in September, mainly targets those already working in the IT field and is expected that students will have a working knowledge of computer systems.

It also counts on the support of participant?s employers, with the courses potentially taking people out of the workplace as the sessions will run three mornings a week but with time off every few weeks to allow for review.

Employers are also being encouraged to invest in their staff by subsidising tuition costs.

In specific, the course will help students work towards achieving the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) designation as well as the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) designation.

The college is offering the training in partnership with Gateway Systems, with manager, learning services, Joseph Strenk, teaching the classes. Exams will also be sat at Microsoft?s office in Hamilton, with the company being recognised by Microsoft as an authorised learning centre.

To achieve the MCDST, students will have to sit and pass two exams testing them on their ability to support users and troubleshoot in a Microsoft Windows environment. The MCSA designation is achieved by passing at least four exams that test one?s ability to implement, manage and maintain a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 network as well as skills to install, configure and maintain a Microsoft operating environment.

PACE director Dr. Eugenie Simmons said Bermuda College and Gateway first started talking about offering the courses a year ago.

In the interim, PACE installed a purpose-built lab with the latest computer equipment for students, with the course being limited to ten participants.

She added that her division was a part of the college that provides mid-career courses for professionals, specifically those working in or looking to break into a career in the Island?s international business sector.

Dr. Simmons said the college sees the nine-month course offering as a way of helping Bermudians expand their career prospects, saying that ?very few Bermudians are certified in this area?.

?We need to ensure that Bermudians have access to these opportunities,? she said.

Although this the first time the college has worked with Gateway, Dr. Simmons said the idea of partnering with outside organisations was not new.

?We don?t always have to reinvent the wheel,? she said, pointing out that a partnership with the National Training Board (NTB) has already proven successful.

Mr. Strenk said that although this was the first time the two organisations had joined forces to offer the courses, it had not been a minor undertaking.

?These are critical designations. They are not easy,? he said, adding that intensive study was required to achieve the designations.

Both said the target audience for the courses would be those tasked with help desk responsibilities as well as IT systems administration.

Those interested should have CompTIA A+ certification or equivalent experience, knowledge of the Microsoft Windows operation system, core understanding of operating system installation and configuration, knowledge of using command line utilities to manage the operating system, basic understanding of TCP/IP settings and use of key Microsoft software applications.

The Microsoft Certified Desktop Support designation (MCDST) was said to target troubleshooting in the desktop environment of computer systems running Windows XP. And the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator designation (MCSA) on Windows Server 2003 was said to be the latest offering that prepares candidates for installation, configuration and support of modern Windows-based networking environments.

Candidates will reportedly gain knowledge in supporting stand-alone, home office, work group and domain environments.

Dr. Simmons said: ?This is being delivered over two semesters. It is a slower pace of delivery, giving a longer period of time for delivery (of the course), and allows time for hands-on practice and review periods are built in.?

Mr. Strenk added that the course had been designed for ?maximum hands on time?, giving students the opportunity to put to practice what they are learning.

The Bermuda College said the course was ?particularly important and relevant for Bermuda? given the high demand for IT support staff with a high level of skill. It said training staff in network administration could also cut out the need to outsource these tasks to IT firms.

Critics of the suite of Microsoft creditations ? with the MCDST and MCSA being only two of a number of designations that can be achieved ? have in past said the exams ultimately tested textbook knowledge but gave little idea of how adept one would be at practical application.

Exam formats were recently changed and are now said to show that students not only understand the material but are able to apply this knowledge in a work setting.