Microsoft Access is one of the most powerful applications in the Microsoft Office suite. Using Access it is possible to build complex relational databases with relatively little effort. It's a very versatile program, and can be used to do anything from linking simple lists of data to creating fully functional accounting and invoice systems.

However, all this power comes at a price. Access is possibly the most difficult Office application to get to grips with. As a result many users are intimidated by Access and may resort to using other applications, such as Excel, even when Access would be the best solution.

Microsoft Access training courses can go a long way to overcoming peoples fear of using Access. Courses taught by experienced certified instructors can help a student learn how to use Access whilst also tackling lack of understanding of general database theory and terminology.

Whether you need to learn more about Access just to get your job done or whether you are an IT specialist, a good Access training course should allow you to learn in an easily digestible fashion. A good Access tutor can make it possible for a class full of students to all learn at a pace that they are comfortable with.

A typical Access database course would aim to familiarise the student with basic database concepts and the features of the application. A course is likely to focus on the teaching of database theory before it progresses onto how to manipulate an Access database. A student would expect to learn how databases relate to tables, how tables are in turn composed of fields and that each field has a data-type and how these concept work in Access.

Once the basics have been covered a tutor would usually then progress onto how to improve the organisation and usability of reports and forms through various means including using the auto-format wizard. It is usually at this point that students will learn how to perform data calculations through queries, reports and forms.

Most basic to intermediate Access training courses will typically not progress beyond this level as other concepts and uses are generally the only covered in a more advanced Access course.

As with all things in life it is important to note that no matter how good the course, if a student doesn't put what they have learned into practice they will eventually forget. Familiarity only comes with regular practice and students who are prepared to invest the time will find that Access becomes progressively easier to use and that their databases become more powerful.

However, the grounding provided by an Access training course makes the first steps to learning Access so much easier. Having a tutor to answer your questions and to help you grasp the basics provides a firm foundation on which you can develop your Access skills.