Review the educational benefits offered by your company. This information is commonly included in the employee benefits handbook. Educational benefits include partial or full payment for completed educational programs and certifications related to your job or career path. Courses to earn or maintain IT certifications meet this criteria. According to "Money Girl's Smart Moves to Grow Rich" by Laura D. Adams, "Workplace educational assistance programs allow you to exclude up to $5,250 from your taxable income for those benefits received each year."
Create a list of software used in the IT department. Then look up the software or hardware vendor's contact information. Contact the vendors who create or sell the software products your company uses. Vendors may offer educational courses in the use or maintenance of their products. These courses may be free or offered at low prices for their current customers.
Get a group discount. If a large group attends the same course, the per-person cost of the class is lower.
Research the interest level in the IT educational courses you want to take. If several people are interested, discuss the possibility of management arranging a course offered at work. This reduces travel costs and time lost to go to and from the IT course.
Partner with colleges and universities to set up teleconferencing courses on IT educational topics. This can allow employees to take IT courses without having to travel to the college.
Take IT educational courses online to reduce travel costs and time away from work. For example, the Microsoft Certified System Engineer certification courses can be taken online.