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Had a conversation today with my bike buddies about how hard it was to find an electrician and it got me wandering if I could do a night/weekend course. Anyone ever done similar?
Interested. Potential alternative career option as my current 'job for life' is going to sht!
Doing a night class does not make you an electrician.
You need experience
4 years of block/day release at college and hands on experience at work - after that, you'll still be learning the trade
If it's sparkly you're doing it all wrong!
I did 2230 level 2 and 17th edition about 10 years ago. Didn't do the 2230 level 3 as I couldn't get anyone take me on. So I could do the nvq part of it. Theory for the level 3 wasn't worth doing (for me as I have other rental background including electronic / electronic) so was a waste if I couldn't get the nvq signed off, it the practical side you need experience with
My point is doing the course is easy, the tough bit is getting the nvq placement.
Now unfortunately I would have to start from scratch and wouldn't be given any credit for previous learning. 🙁
If it’s sparkly you’re doing it all wrong!
Yea - fat fingers/small phone.
I am not going to change career but it would be handy to do some jobs myself and learn a bit of something new.
You’ll prob get some work in the domestic world as most apprentice trained electricians don’t touch domestic it’s seen as a much lower trade because basically it is. You can earn good money though. We are a commercial/industrial company and have had a couple of boil in the bag sparks and whilst they may have the qualifications they lack in actual experience for industrial work. It’s a shame tbh as there is work but I’ve no idea how you get experience without working for several years at a lower level learning. You could try and get a job as an electrical labourer whilst learning but other than that a few night school courses aren’t enough when you consider how long a proper apprenticeship is
Yeah, done evening Regs courses, but as above, doesn't make you a sparky by a long way!
Did a 17th Ed Regs course in the early 2000's, and more recently the 18th Ed course, 36 hours over 12 weeks.
Now my background is an electronics design engineer, and arguing the finer points of the interpretation of electrical safety standards part of the day job, so found the course interesting and relatively easy. But it has to be said, for a non-engingeer, the regs are increasingly complex and heavy going!
Also did a one week course on Inspection and Testing, a lot harder with practical tests as part of the exam. Two other attendees pulled out at the last minute, leaving me one on one with the tutor for the week.
I could go out and do domestic electrician work (plenty of DIY experience), but the design engineering more lucrative at the moment!
I did a city and guilds 236 and ONC about a million years ago and a years industrial training (full time college). I've never worked as a spark, my apprenticeship was in BMS, which was utterly dull. I work on Fire Suppression systems these days, basically by all means get the qualifications, there's far more use for an electrical qualification than traditional sparky alone.
there’s far more use for an electrical qualification than traditional sparky alone.
There is a real wide selection of work out there but it depends what you want. I think if you want to be man with van then its mainly domestic and commercial. Industrial (not familure here myself), automation and other niches tend to be more the employee route.
My domestic sparky s flat out doing eicr work, I know it's a tight legal deadline but he fessed up to my tenant he s doing 5 a day. It's all in the same area so he can park his van at mine and walk to the jobs.
Before anyone has a go I know he has van costs, regs, holidays, training etc