Becoming an Electrician without going down Apprentice route?

[cliff02]

I am 24 years old and looking at becoming an electrician.

How would i go about doing this without going down the apprentice route?

My local college offer these courses City and Guilds level 2 and 3 in electrotechnology

if i did these two courses were would i go next after that?

 

[Stu Litchfield]

Hi diditran,

I'm 20 and have just got my Level 2 2330, i start Level 3 in new year. I'm currently working for a fire/access control/data installation company.. so when I come to do the NVQ which obviously requires photos of me doing installations will that be accepted? Because I am not in an electrical contracting firm and therefore I'm not carrying out any 230/400 related work.

 

[markc123]

....Surely your college tutor would be the best person to ask this question too buddy?

The amount of college courses / qualifications there is about nowadays it really wouldn't suprise me if theres an NVQ that fits what you do. Its best to ask your tutor buddy.

As far as im aware the NVQ3 in electrotechnology ( the one that you're talking about? ) probably wont allow for what you're doing, but im sure they'll be another NVQ or equivalent that you'll be able to do. Im not speaking from experience though, just educated guessing

 

[shagbite]

you won't finish all the required units for the 2356 or 2357 unless you're working with micc/fp200, pvc swa, pvc singles or pvc twin. you also need to be doing lighting AND control, power, multi-phase, ELV and, LV single-phase. there are several performance objectives that you must complete and given the type of work you're doing, you won't meet them.

also, you need to provide evidence that you can inspect, test and commission an installation. this would require you to complete 6 tests: (1) cpc continuity (2) ring final continuity (3) insulation resistance (4) earth fault loop impedance (5) polarity (6) rcd testing.

you also need to diagnose and rectify 3 faults. these would need to be: overload, earth leakage, open circuit, short circuit, sensitive rcd's, high resistance joints, or, incomplete ring. (3 faults from the 7 listed).

sorry to be the bearer of bad news mate, but at least you now have a better idea of what's required. good luck.

 

[markc123]

what he said.

:biggrin:

 

[diditrain]

Second what shagbite says, when i was at college, some of the students were not working in the electrical industry and they were informed that they could not complete the course unless they were in employment. They had a way of fudging it to get them through though. You really need to discuss it with you tutors.

 

[markc123]

..........typical of the electrical industry that - i hope they were all under21's who didn't have to pay for the course, but probably not, colleges love taking the money for the course and then saying you wont be able to qualify properly once you've paid.

Im sure, without having to go into the loft to get my old dustridden college work out, that the faults on my NVQ i was told i could make up as you didn't need photographic evidence of the fault finding procedure - times have probably changed now though.

Yes there's the skeleton out of my closet haha - honestly did that through the on-site tutor's advice at the time though to speed the process up. Memory's vague, but the stories somewhat along them lines.

 

[diditrain]

They were under 21`s, otherwise known as the window lickers.

 

[markc123]

Haha, im actually not going to comment on that saying, but it is familiar, and ive had guilt on my conscience for years aiming that phrase at people when i was a student, an immature teenager shall i say

I will say though, guarantee they end up on the plumbing course :biggrin:

 

[shagbite]

..........typical of the electrical industry that - i hope they were all under21's who didn't have to pay for the course, but probably not, colleges love taking the money for the course and then saying you wont be able to qualify properly once you've paid.

Im sure, without having to go into the loft to get my old dustridden college work out, that the faults on my NVQ i was told i could make up as

you didn't need photographic evidence of the fault finding procedure

- times have probably changed now though.

Yes there's the skeleton out of my closet haha - honestly did that through the on-site tutor's advice at the time though to speed the process up. Memory's vague, but the stories somewhat along them lines.

you could take some photo's of you testing - trying to locate a fault. but in all honesty, this isn't the hardest thing in the world to fake. i think you can use witness testimonies from supervisors and the like, but these can probably be faked too.

i know a lad who lifted a floorboard, took a length of twin and earth - say 4' long (long enough to fit in a photo without showing the ends) and whacked a nail through it. put a couple of scorch marks on it and used this as evidence of a fault he'd found.

faults can be a difficult part of the nvq to complete. you can go a long time without getting any. i guess sometimes you need to get a little creative.

 

[markc123]

Ahh maybe i did take photos then i can't remember really, i know some of it was forged because the tutor wanted me passed so the college could collect the funding on me (whistle corruption) .......and considering ive had my cert years now, i don't think ill be holding my hands up and saying please can i do it again ha.

Haha, i like that, yeah it is abit stupid how they expect you to find faults just like that - i mean when you're works perfection like mine is, faults just don't exist :biggrin:

I like that lad's creative thinking, looking back now i suppose you could of had some fun making up some faults.......Stu Litchfield if you're still reading this at any point, and you've got some outside work please go find some road kill, and smother it across something

 

[shagbite]

i'm not saying you definitely need photo's - witness testimonies might be enough. i can't really remember myself.

anyone watching training day? denzel's outstanding in this film.

 

[markc123]

Nah - it's one of the few dvds i own though - big denzel fan myself, was bought a new denzel dvd today for christmas funnily enough. Safe House? you seen it, if so any good?

 

[shagbite]

Nah - it's one of the few dvds i own though - big denzel fan myself, was bought a new denzel dvd today for christmas funnily enough. Safe House? you seen it, if so any good?

no mate. i'm at least a year behind everyone else - when it's on sky movies premiere, that's when i get to see it.

i'm watching training day on itv4+1......can't wait for eva mendes in the niff.

 

[cliff02]

Safe House must see film, very good got to admit.