Becoming a Electrician

Kane1993x · Feb 10, 2010

Hello,
So i have decided i want to become a electrician when a leave school in a few months but i have a few questions i would like to ask before i fully commit myself.

1) What type of training course should i go on in college to become a fully qualified electrician?
2) How long will it before i could get a apprenticeship and whats the normal wage for a apprentice?
3) Is there alot of jobs for electricians in essex?
4) Heres the big one, what is the average pay for a fully qualified electrician and how much could i make as a self employed electrician
5) How many GCSE's are needed to take a course to train as a electrician? I am predicted to leave school with atleast 5+ GCSE's between A-C

Thanks, I look forward to reading your responces

Kane1993x · Feb 12, 2010

bump.........

Davey101 · Feb 12, 2010

Come on lads, surely someone can answer this lads question?

Kane1993x said:
Hello,
So i have decided i want to become a electrician when a leave school in a few months but i have a few questions i would like to ask before i fully commit myself.

1) What type of training course should i go on in college to become a fully qualified electrician?
Try and get a proper apprenticeship with a decent size firm that undertakes a good variety of work.
2) How long will it before i could get a apprenticeship and whats the normal wage for a apprentice?
Not sure, but all our apprentices seem to be on a good whack
3) Is there alot of jobs for electricians in essex?
Dunno, same as anyhwere I'd presume?
4) Heres the big one, what is the average pay for a fully qualified electrician and how much could i make as a self employed electrician
Employed, on a basic, flat week, you'd be taking home £400-£430 when you are approved. You shouldnt be on a flat week though (apart from in a recession), so this wil rise to anywhere between £500and £800, depending on hours, travelling, etc. Several sparks on my firm are on approx £70k right now, but that isnt the usual
5) How many GCSE's are needed to take a course to train as a electrician? I am predicted to leave school with atleast 5+ GCSE's between A-C
No idea what the requirements are. When I started 5 years ago (give or take 15 years), they asked that you have maths, science and english, but they didnt even ask to see my qualifications

Thanks, I look forward to reading your responces

Now, I'm going to be shot for saying this, but I'd have thought that if you are intelligent, and prepared to work at your studies (I presume you are because of your predicted grades), you could do better for yourself than become a sparky. I'm sure that there are plenty of electricians, including some on here who have made decent money by starting out on their own, but you definatley dont want to be a jobing spark for the rest of your life, building sites arent for everyone
Cheers, Dave.

DoBBY · Feb 12, 2010

Hi Kane.

I left school without an apprentiship and went straight into Electrical education completing the City & Guilds 2330 level 2 (Part 1). I found employment the next year whilst doing level 3 (part 2) and gained around 12 months experience working on domestic installations. I then completed the 17th Edition. I took the fast track route and it took me only 2 & 1/2 years to complete the qualifications. If you have an apprentiship it will take you at least 1 year longer to gain the qualifications I did. The reason for this is because the Level 2 certificate is split into 2 years, whereas mine was only 1 year due to unemployment. I'm now due to sit the 2391 examination and them the Part P course afterwards, which will set me up to become my own boss.

I've found it hard to get into the the industry. If you do find employment don't take it for granted. There is alot of lads out there who are unemployed and desperate to get into the industry. Try and gain as much experience as you can, it will benefit you alot more in the long run.

The qualifications you are looking for to be a "Domestic Electrician" is the following:

City and Guilds 2330 level 2&3 (Parts 1 & 2)- NVQ3 is a bonus to gain approved status with the J.I.B
17th Edition Wiring Regs
2391 Inspection and Testing
Part P Building Regs - for people wanting to start their own business.

An apprentiship wage varies. A big company is most likely to pay you at least minimum wage. But smaller firms can legally pay you around 80 pound. I'm not saying that will be the case but always remember 80 pound plus experience is well worth it.

A "fully" qualified domestic installer is likely to pick up around 450 pound before tax. Working for yourself you are likely to earn alot more.

DoBBY

Kane1993x · Feb 13, 2010

Well my dad encouraged me to become a electrician, he always told me its good to have a trade and also becuase of the good pay rate and even if i can work my way up to earn even half of £70k i would be very happy indeed

Johno · Feb 13, 2010

i have to be honest, i was always told it was a great trade to get into, but if i was your age again, i would go to university. getting ******, and getting a secure job that pays good at the end of it. dont get me wrong, i do ok but i have to graft my --- off 6 days a week!

pmac10 · Feb 13, 2010

you could also consider maintenance electrician, working in factories on machinery as well as installations, i know a lot of building site sparkies struggling because of the recession but no mainteneance electricians ( though im sure they exist). you can also move into areas like PLC programming, and if specialising in this you can name your price. youd also learn mechanical maintenance techniques (fitting, welding) and become a well rounded engineering technician. maintenance electricians in essex could expect £30000+ on shift.

Davey101 · Feb 13, 2010

pmac10 said:
you could also consider maintenance electrician, working in factories on machinery as well as installations, i know a lot of building site sparkies struggling because of the recession but no mainteneance electricians ( though im sure they exist). you can also move into areas like PLC programming, and if specialising in this you can name your price. youd also learn mechanical maintenance techniques (fitting, welding) and become a well rounded engineering technician. maintenance electricians in essex could expect £30000+ on shift.

Just my opinion, but I would be carefull about recommending that. AFAIK, maintenance sparks, generally, get paid less than site sparks, until you factor in shift work, which isnt a fair comparison unless you dont mind (or actually like) shift work. Dont know anything about PLC, so cant comment.
Saying that, I guess if you found the right job, with the right firm, you may have good career prospects. I guess it depends what you want to do. Personnaly, I think I might struggle with working in some of the places I have seen, due to boredom (I like to move from job to job).

We did a large job at the Swindon Royal Mail sorting centre last year, and their maintenance team seemed to be on a good screw. They earnt decent money, had good working conditions, and er, didnt exactly have to work too hard.

A better option may be to do a 'proper' apprenticship, if you can find one, then look for maintenance work when you are qualified, you will still be young enough to retrain. You then get the best of both worlds. I cant imagine many maintenance sparks being able to jump straight into site work.

It would be good to get some input from maintenance sparks

I hope I havent confused you too much

Kane1993x said:
Well my dad encouraged me to become a electrician, he always told me its good to have a trade and also becuase of the good pay rate and even if i can work my way up to earn even half of £70k i would be very happy indeed

Your dads right mate, and it was exactly the same advice that I got.

How about going to sixth form, it will give you another year or two to decide, and you may have a better idea when you are a little older.

Not meaning to put you off being a spark, it can be a good job, its just when I see friends getting jobs in the civil service, or local council, or at Argos, or Tesco's, and working up to be a manager of some sort, earning more than me, and not having to be on site for 7.15, makes me wonder if I made the right choice.

astropete · Feb 13, 2010

hi all peter here just joined, and if i may i have some questions to ask.

i have been an electrician now for the past thirty odd years, but have no formal qualifacations, i have c/g 2391, 7671, and pat testing. now to the questions

q1, could i get a jib card on the length of time i have been employed as an electrician
q2, through my employer i have just passed my ecs test, but since i have no formal qualifacations will the jib still grade me
q3, i am thinking of taking an online c & g 2330 course, do i have to pass level 2 oe can i go straight to level 3 and still gain (if i pass) my c & g qualifacation.

thanks for your help.

peter.

DoBBY · Feb 13, 2010

astropete said:
hi all peter here just joined, and if i may i have some questions to ask.

i have been an electrician now for the past thirty odd years, but have no formal qualifacations, i have c/g 2391, 7671, and pat testing. now to the questions

q1, could i get a jib card on the length of time i have been employed as an electrician
q2, through my employer i have just passed my ecs test, but since i have no formal qualifacations will the jib still grade me
q3, i am thinking of taking an online c & g 2330 course, do i have to pass level 2 oe can i go straight to level 3 and still gain (if i pass) my c & g qualifacation.

thanks for your help.

peter.

1. From my experience of getting the J.I.B card, I think you may only be able to get an "Electrical Improver" card. To be APPROVED (gold card) you must have NVQ3. I am not 100% sure but from what I remember if you get a previous employer to confirm you have had over 2 years experience and are competant in your work, you may get the gold card that way. I do know for sure that NVQ3 WILL DEFINATELY GET YOU THE GOLD CARD.
2.Yes you will still get one. But from what you have said I think you will only be graded as an Electrical Improver. You will only get that grade if your employer confirms your competance. If you do not get a previous employers signature to say you are competant you are looking at TRAINEE cards, Such as; "Senior Graded Electrical Trainee" or "labourer".
3. Yes you can jump straight onto Level 3, I think the colleges ask you to do maths and english exams before they let you jump ship but it is possible!

steve0 · Jan 22, 2011

hey fellers

i have some questions i hope you wouldnt mind answering.

1. After i complete these courses will i become a fully qualified electrician
City & Guilds 2330 Level 2 in Electrical Installation
City & Guilds 2330 Level 3 in Electrical Installation
2. what is electro technical
3.whats a j.i.b card.
4. could you give me some advice on anything else i may need too know.

thanks

yamar1 · Jan 22, 2011

steve0 said:
hey fellers

i have some questions i hope you wouldnt mind answering.

1. After i complete these courses will i become a fully qualified electrician
City & Guilds 2330 Level 2 in Electrical Installation
City & Guilds 2330 Level 3 in Electrical Installation
2. what is electro technical
3.whats a j.i.b card.
4. could you give me some advice on anything else i may need too know.

thanks

yes and no, to get a JIB card you will also need the NVQ 3.

A JIB card is a gold grading card, which if you are working on site or for most companys you will need one to prove you are a qualified sparky.