Another should i, shouldnt i do the course thread!?

[MikeThePrinter]

I'm new to this site, been reading the threads for last couple of hours about electrical quals and course etc, i'm basically asking the same questions as in most threads but hopefully all in one, and opefully not too much of a mixed response as i've read!? its got me so confused with all the conflicting answers etc!

I'm currently a printer (hence the username!), i earn decent enough money, but am looking to make a change in my career and i've always wanted to be an electrician.
I have limited experiance, i've done a couple of re-wires with an electrician, and worked between shifts on site doing the domestic related wiring on new build apartment blocks under supervision, then on my own i've added spurs, added into main rings, changed sockets and just some general domestic stuff.

I've been looking at doing a "professional Electrical Course" with Access Training, in Cardiff, i've been down there, been shown around whilst courses were happening, all looked pretty decent and the courses are always 2 or 3 waiting list if booking on etc, the walkaround and information has led me to believe this is my best option as i can do the course between my shifts as i have 14 or 19 days off every 7.5 weeks, i asked the owner about employment after the course and he said i'd still have to start as an electricians mate, as experiance is required and a part of completing the course requires on site inspection, and also said even after that i'd still be a mate until the employer was happy, which could be upto the 2yrs many need, but some even in the first 6 months if they are good and the fact the quals are there, that makes me see him as realistic?????

The course states that i would have 2 years to complete the course, but from talking to him he said i could do it in 6-12 months with my time off blocks and commitment

the below is stated as the qualifications from the course

• Part P EAL Domestic Electrical Installer - Full Scope.
• The 17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations - City & Guilds 2382.
• Certificate in Fundamental Inspection and Testing - City & Guilds 2392-10.

**the guy did say to me he wouldnt wanna put me onto next qual until i got my head around the above for a while????

• Inspection, Testing & Certification of Electrical Installations - City & Guilds 2391-10.

the course is about £4500 all in, based on modular training with a total of 4 weeks to complete the practical training, assessments and exams at the centre


At the moment this is my only option as i cant afford to do an apprenticeship and it fits in with work, i'm caught in the monaey trap as some may say, and next yr i will be in a far better position to take the drop to mates rates, i just want to get an idea of if the course is what i need to be an electrician, and if i will be on mates rates for at least 2yrs, also if i can do the course, get a mates job and be legally allowed to do my own electrical work to help with the drop in money???????

sorry for the length of this, im just trying to think of the other threads and get everything in

thanks in advance
Mike

 

[montybaber]

With three months experience under your belt, you will know weither or not its for you.
Also, If I take on a young fella and he doesn't know how to wire a house in three months he is gone.

You must get through some apprentices!

i'd ike to add i do like the sound of doing the 2330 1 day a week whilst on mates rates-obviously better than the 40 quid apprentice rate per week! but again, affording might not be an option for me
but still, i'd like it as i'd be doing it "properly"

There is always evenings and to be honest if your anything like me you will enjoy the theory, you will have a hell of a lot more options open to you but its all dependant on your circumstances

 

[bazza2541]

Nope.
I don't tolerate wasters, house bashing is easy, there are very few things to learn. Three months is more than adequate.

 

[montybaber]

lol...doesnt that go against most of what you have written tonight?

 

[MikeThePrinter]

cool, i could defo do in 3 months, take me on then! (as a mate though not apprentice!)
whats the score with taking people on then, do u have apprentices or just mates and some do the 1 day college thing?
worst thing is i like my job, sometimes its easy, sometimes its so hard u wanna cry or quit on the spot, but its the nature of the beast with machines i run, but shifts are really the only thing ruining it for me now, i really want that change, like i said i get 14 or 19 days off every 7.5 weeks, but i work 2 shifts one week, 5 shifts the next, being mon, tues, fri, sat and sun on the 5 day week, and wed, thurs on the 2 day week, alternating days then nights all the time, so fair time off, but weekends kill me so often, espec the nights now, and the thought of maybe working self employed one day is appealing obviously

 

[bazza2541]

lol...doesnt that go against most of what you have written tonight?

If you think house bashing makes you an electrician, you have a loooooong way to go.

cool, i could defo do in 3 months, take me on then! (as a mate though not apprentice!)
whats the score with taking people on then, do u have apprentices or just mates and some do the 1 day college thing?
worst thing is i like my job, sometimes its easy, sometimes its so hard u wanna cry or quit on the spot, but its the nature of the beast with machines i run, but shifts are really the only thing ruining it for me now, i really want that change, like i said i get 14 or 19 days off every 7.5 weeks, but i work 2 shifts one week, 5 shifts the next, being mon, tues, fri, sat and sun on the 5 day week, and wed, thurs on the 2 day week, alternating days then nights all the time, so fair time off, but weekends kill me so often, espec the nights now, and the thought of maybe working self employed one day is appealing obviously

Can you be in Letterkenny for monday at 8am?

 

[montybaber]

With all due respect you have no idea how far I have to go

So in your eyes Fast track domestic installers forefill all requirements to their job

 

[bazza2541]

With all due respect you have no idea how far I have to go

So in your eyes Fast track domestic installers forefill all requirements to their job

Hey you wanted the start!
As for house bashers, besides the power wiring there is faultfinding, testing and inspection, television networking, telephone networking and home networks. Most aren't taught in school and the most important of the lot, faultfinding can only be taught on site.
I hate fast tracking, its no good for the industry, the employer or the tradesmen.

 

[MikeThePrinter]

am i right in saying thats ireland.....if so, lol, thanx, but no, i finish work 6am monday!!!
pretty sure that traveling on any wage would see me single and being hit with a repossesion!!!

on another note, thanx for the replies about my actual questions, i didnt wanna just go through the (LANGUAGE PLEASE) with ur quick fix course stuff, believe it or not ive had that off 1 of the other 11 printers in my firm as i run a type of machine after 3yrs training that all the time served take 10-15 yrs to get on and run and earn the money, but all the rest see me being there as a credit to me in how i put my head into the job, the compnay owner took a punt on me as he needed a position filled that day and didnt want a time served progressor, he wanted a person who knew the large type of machinery, and with the help of 2 of the time served guys i kept my head down got through the trial period and now get respect as a printer from al;l but 1 including the owner who was also time served etc, obviously wrioting this as its my best eselling point-i try to explain it to get a position as being very commited and very able and adapt

and i've had very positive feedback from my uncle and the time served sparky's who ive mated for on site doing stuff, hence him offering me a position!

 

[montybaber]

Hey you wanted the start!
As for house bashers, besides the power wiring there is faultfinding, testing and inspection, television networking, telephone networking and home networks. Most aren't taught in school and the most important of the lot, faultfinding can only be taught on site.
I hate fast tracking, its no good for the industry, the employer or the tradesmen

A start in what?

How long do you give your apprentice to learn that then

500 posts !

 

[MikeThePrinter]

certainly not trying to have ego, just saying!

 

[bazza2541]

A start in what?

How long do you give your apprentice to learn that then

500 posts !

A start in the job.

4 Years, although they also have to learn, SWA, MICC, Steel conduit, tray, basket, trunking, and all the associated house keeping, stock management, record keeping and how to make tea.

And congratulations on the post thing.

 

[MikeThePrinter]

lol, now i get the 500 post thing!

 

[montybaber]

A start in the job.

4 Years, although they also have to learn, SWA, MICC, Steel conduit, tray, basket, trunking, and all the associated house keeping, stock management, record keeping and how to make tea.

And congratulations on the post thing.

Thanks but I started in 1996 and no offence but domestic does not interest me think you may have got me mixed up with the OP lol, interested you still teach MICC though looks like the colleges dont anymore!

501 posts and no sense in any of them!

 

[bazza2541]

1996? Bloody newbie. Still use MICC for fire alarms and in filling stations.
And I refuse to buy in pre-manufactured bends although I will allow the use of a 4inch grinder, I am not a total tyrant.
My bestest punishment is to hand over two lenghts of 20mm light guage and make the offender thread them into nipples, which are checked atdays end before being ----ed into the bin, now thats harsh.

 

[MikeThePrinter]

i just worked it out, as a mate, i'd get about 285 a week and thats working 5 days, so would have to do evening courses for the 2330, thats less than half what i earn a week now which is accepted, but still even about 165 quid less than what i think i could drop to, is the extra 165 achievable after gaining experiance and qualifying??? how much would a sparky earn!?