What do I need to legally start working as an electrician?

Carlos Arruda · Jul 23, 2013

Hello everybody.

First of all, I'd like to apologize, as it might seem like I am asking an all to similar questions that has been asked here endlessly. Please rest assured, I have read a big deal of those but, sadly, I am still in the dark.

Secondly, can anybody please let me know what certifications I need to be able to start working (self employed) as an electrician. I need the very basic to get me started and then anything else will follow suit.

I have asked the college tutors and not even them are sure as to the path one must take. I have completed a Commercial and Electrical installations Level 2 C&G which took me a year and have now enrolled on Level 3.

According to my tutors I will be qualified to work as self employed once I have completed my Level 3. They even said I can already work doing some minor jobs as long as I register myself with a body like ECA provided that I meet their criteria which is to be enrolled on a level 3 course and successfully passed it within it's time frame, in this case 2 years.

It seems that this is a bit confusing as to register with ECA they require to have some of my latest works assessed but I can't do those same jobs because I am not yet registered with them???? Confusing and sounds like catch 22 swings and roundabouts.

The course I have done is the one

HTML:

http://www.lowestoft.ac.uk/college-courses/construction-and-trades/electrical-installation-level-2.aspx

.

Please advise as I am utterly confused with all the information out there.

Regards,
Albert

GLENNSPARK · Jul 24, 2013

shagbite said:
i can smell the formaldehyde from here.

[ElectriciansForums.net] What do I need to legally start working as an electrician?

........

Geordie Spark · Jul 24, 2013

shagbite said:
i can smell the formaldehyde from here.

That's my incontinence pants your smelling ...

shagbite · Jul 24, 2013

GLENNSPARK said:
not fair shag mate....
i would happily take on an older person....put em through....

no arsin about.

no textin all day.

a more mature mind that is able to take in info

it just gets better n better.....

you and me both kid.

why the government only gives apprenticeships to kids is beyond me. i know if i'd have come into this trade fresh out of school, i'd have bowed out before my first year was up. i was having too much fun partying.

but as an adult - well, i'd have grasped it with both hands and i would have appreciated every minute of it.

shagbite · Jul 24, 2013

GLENNSPARK said:
View attachment 19938........

which one's geordie?

GLENNSPARK · Jul 24, 2013

Geordie Spark said:
I agree entirely.

The best blokes I had working for me were 40+ years old Ex-shipyard lads.

This job I've been doing for my builder mate that I keep banging on about had his 23 year old Son working on it and he was a complete nightmare - radio on full blast and the mobile phone permanently wedged between his shoulder and ear while he was trying to work only using one hand, and the phone calls were lasting literally more than an hour!

The bloke was a total waste of time and whenever he came to me to ask if I wanted any help I would stick the brush in his hand. It was completely pointless giving him anything else to do because he would never finish it. If he made a mistake, he would never admit it and always try to pass the buck.

I lent him my SDS to drill from the front of the house to the inside, When I went to check on him he had disappeared to make a phone call leaving my drill lying unattended in the front garden in full view of anyone passing who may fancy it for themselves.

When I -------ed him , he tried to spin it back and somehow make it MY fault !!!

i know the feeling.....
when you dont want to turn round and look caus you know the boy is on his phone....
its like a lad that comes out with us..
he`s a lovely lad is Rory.....but if he isn`t on his phone texting for more than 2 mins its a miracle...
i even witnessed the lad trying to pull rods through with one hand....whilst attempting to text with the other this one time....told him to put the phone down and pay attention....which he did bless him....
but for christs sake...

Geordie Spark · Jul 24, 2013

shagbite said:
which one's geordie?

The one floating aboot in Newcastle Broon Ale.

GLENNSPARK · Jul 24, 2013

shagbite said:
which one's geordie?

different stages in development....
its a `freezeframe`

Geordie Spark · Jul 24, 2013

GLENNSPARK said:
i know the feeling.....
when you dont want to turn round and look caus you know the boy is on his phone....
its like a lad that comes out with us..
he`s a lovely lad is Rory.....but if he isn`t on his phone texting for more than 2 mins its a miracle...
i even witnessed the lad trying to pull rods through with one hand....whilst attempting to text with the other this one time....told him to put the phone down and pay attention....which he did bless him....
but for christs sake...

Seriously Glen, had this kid been employed by me he would have got one warning to leave his phone in his pocket and if he didn't comply I would have smashed in with a hammer - even if it was in his ear at the time!!

GLENNSPARK · Jul 24, 2013

shagbite said:
you and me both kid.

why the government only gives apprenticeships to kids is beyond me. i know if i'd have come into this trade fresh out of school, i'd have bowed out before my first year was up. i was having too much fun partying.

but as an adult - well, i'd have grasped it with both hands and i would have appreciated every minute of it.

well it were pubs n clubs with me....and everything that went with it...
i was a rite little shyt....
now, i didn`t start to grow up until about 22-24 ish...as you can tell its still in progress is that one....
its just this last year since i kicked the booze that i have finally settled down and started to get my life back....

GLENNSPARK · Jul 24, 2013

Geordie Spark said:
Seriously Glen, had this kid been employed by me he would have got one warning to leave his phone in his pocket and if he didn't comply I would have smashed in with a hammer - even if it was in his ear at the time!!

hmm...
he`s an amature boxer is Rory......but he`s a really nice lad....
he often asks me questions about this n that.....like (R1 R2) & Ze....as in when to use measured for formfilling and when a nominal is used.....stuff like that....allsorts really...
now, i like this as it shows a bit of gumption.....

shagbite · Jul 24, 2013

that one straight down the middle - the one who's hand's going for a wander - i think she's giving me a bit of a twitch-on.

Geordie Spark · Jul 24, 2013

GLENNSPARK said:
well it were pubs n clubs with me....and everything that went with it...
i was a rite little shyt....
now, i didn`t start to grow up until about 22-24 ish...as you can tell its still in progress is that one....
its just this last year since i kicked the booze that i have finally settled down and started to get my life back....

When I was serving my apprenticeship which was 6 years long in engineering , I somehow managed to play in a band most nights ( average 25 nights per month) and work the Waltzer & Dodgems on the fairground (I remember Tidyboiler's family's rides coming to the Newcastle Town Moor long before I knew her) during the summer and STILL manage to get to work. Maybe that's why I'm so knackered now??

shagbite · Jul 24, 2013

Geordie Spark said:
When I was serving my apprenticeship which was 6 years long in engineering , I somehow managed to play in a band most nights ( average 25 nights per month) and work the Waltzer & Dodgems on the fairground (I remember Tidyboiler's family's rides coming to the Newcastle Town Moor long before I knew her) during the summer and STILL manage to get to work. Maybe that's why I'm so knackered now??

you weren't the one with the ponytail, hanging off the back of the dodgems, trying to cop-off with the schoolies were you?

Geordie Spark · Jul 24, 2013

shagbite said:
you weren't the one with the ponytail, hanging off the back of the dodgems, trying to cop-off with the schoolies were you?

Nope .... I was the one with the greasy quiff, sideburns, black leather jacket T-shirt with the Stars & Stripes on the front, blue drainpipe jeans with skull & crossbones belt buckle and winkle picker boots, and when I wasn't hanging off the back of the dodgem cars, I was spinning the cars on the Waltzer.

I still have the jacket and boots.

GLENNSPARK · Jul 24, 2013

Geordie Spark said:
When I was serving my apprenticeship which was 6 years long in engineering , I somehow managed to play in a band most nights ( average 25 nights per month) and work the Waltzer & Dodgems on the fairground (I remember Tidyboiler's family's rides coming to the Newcastle Town Moor long before I knew her) during the summer and STILL manage to get to work. Maybe that's why I'm so knackered now??

lol...
funnily enough i used to live in a small village about 20 miles outside shrewsbury.....that was from 1990-1993 ish...there were some showmen that used to set up....it was more of a hilliday for David as he didn`t get any real money out of it...
David ran a dodgem track, some juveniles, various sideshows/amusements and a waltzer.....i used to work the waltzer....putting up and taking down, spinning cars and taking fares.....
it was all a good laugh.....