Perl programming education, as in all education, is an individualized process these days. No longer do you simply register at the local technical institute or college and start classes. The choices and options for training and education can be almost overwhelming and confusing. There are online courses, online certifications and degree programs. There are traditional colleges and universities.

The student today needs to look at the equation at a deeper level and ask questions: “Is it the diploma that is important and necessary for their career path?” or “Do they simply need a rigorous program that will get them in the workforce quickly?” You can find a good non-accredited Perl programming class. You need to research schools and training programs the same way parents and high school students look for the right college or university to attend. There are plenty of con artists out there, on the web especially, offering less than sterling courses too. Buyer beware. Consider the following when looking for training programs:

1. Get onsite training in Perl programming.

2. Take Perl programming online courses.

3. Find tutorials, books and other helpful Perl programming resources.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Go to an established training center for on-site Perl programming classes

Go to a training center for hands-on experience for a degree or certification that will hold up under scrutiny.

I recommend: Find onsite and online Perl programming training at Hewlett PackardPerl. They will cover control structures, basic variable types, file I/O, and CGI and other modules. Onsite training courses at Accelebrate will teach you the fundamentals and more of Perl as well.

Use a consultancy or CD Perl tutorials for your training

You can find good Perl programming courses and training tools online. Look for testimonials and professional looking websites. There are as many or more low-standard program and even scams online, as well. Find great programs and trainers by researching, asking questions and scrutinizing.

I recommend: Tom Christiansen at TCPC in Boulder, Colorado, offers customized training programs in PERL at his business site, your site or a designated location. Look at the CDs and training tutorials for Perl that lead to certification at Netwind.

Find books, tutorials and other tools for Perl programming language training

Do your research. Just like the high school senior looking for his or her college or university to attend, you too need to define your needs and goals and find the right school. Look at these resources for ideas and help.

I recommend: Go to Oreilly for books on PERL Programming with content covering parsing, templates, databases, applications, natural language tools and more. Maybe you want to offer PERL training courses. Find instructors, teaching tools, and advertising space to get started at OneCourseSource.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Perl programming education and training programs and schools have popped up all over the Internet. It's a great opportunity for convenient education. However, watch the fine print. Look at the testimonials. Check Better Business Bureaus. Compare prices. Make sure the school is not too expensive compared to other schools, and that it offers a good solid program.