Professional Certification and IT Training

[Londoner]

Hi, I'm based in London, UK, I'm a professional graphic designer working in print and I am interested in moving in to web design and development.

I have been looking around at certification courses and it seems to me that the industry standards are the CIW Master Certified Internet Webmaster Designer, maybe also the CIW Master Certified Internet Webmaster Developer, plus maybe the Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer, and Microsoft Certified Applications Developer, as examples of the sorts of courses being suggested to me here in London, UK.

Basically, I have a whole load of graphic design experience and just want to get my foot on the web career ladder which just seems to have far more opportunities than in print design right now.

So, my questions are (in no particular order):

- Does anyone have any thoughts, advice, suggestions for me based on my current situation and aims?

- Can anyone verify that these are the right certifications/courses to be taking or are there others more appropriate/useful?

- Is the area of web design/development still a good place for someone like me to move in to (ie, future prospects, good salary, not oversubscribed!)

- How do I find a good training provider and has anyone any suggestions in this regard? (I have been along to see a few but they all seem expensive, and I cannot tell much between them - and they all tell me a job is practically guaranteed)

- any thoughts, advice, suggestions appreciated, especially from anyone with any experience of this sort of thing in the London, UK area.

Best regards to all who read this.