btec electrical installation

[campo]

Evening all,

Just after some advice please. I've completed a few short courses (eal level 2 domestic installer, 17th ed. and 2391) and been with elecsa for about 6 years.

I saw the btec ad. level 3 electrical installation and thought it might help increase my knowledge and make my cv look better if I wanted to do anything in this area in the future.

The course is though distance learning which would suit me as I have 2 young boys.

Does anyone know if this course is any good or even reconised by any one?

Also if it is worth doing who is it worth doing with?

Thank you, campo.

 

[Plonker 3]

You got a link to this course?

 

[campo]

Hi Dillb,

Electrical Installation & Design (BTEC Advanced Certificate) - A Home Study, Distance Learning BTEC Course [UCULTEE01] - £623.75 : UK Learning College, Over 1000 Accredited Home Study, Distance Learning Courses

This is one of the places that carry out the couse.

 

[Marvo]

Google throws up several results for this course but I'm loathed to post a link because they're all associated with training providers. I'm not familiar with the UK qualifications but at a glance it looks a bit basic for someone that's already been working 5 years in the industry. Not sure what value it would have on your CV I'm afraid.

 

[Plonker 3]

Youmwould be better putting that money towards a level 3 NVQ as that will look better on your CV.

 

[campo]

Unfortunately I only work in domestic which limits where I can go next.

I could do the city and guilds 2397 but its only sending in pictures of what you have already done I think.

 

[Plonker 3]

Having never seen that BTEC course i wouldnt imagine it carries much substance which is why I mentioned the NVQ, here is a link to a forum sponser who you could maybe contact and ask them for futher info about it.

 

[Johnuk]

nvq 3 if you go with a college, i think they now can cover some units in workshop

 

[TJ Anderson]

Unfortunately I only work in domestic which limits where I can go next.

I could do the city and guilds 2397 but its only sending in pictures of what you have already done I think.

I'd go with that mate. C&G 2397 NVQ3 will be recognised everywhere. JIB/ECS also wont recognise BTEC toward your grading as far as I am aware. Make it easier on yourself with the recognised qual.

 

[rapparee]

I was of the understanding that the btec was like a preparation for the hnc

 

[campo]

Thank for the replies, I'm glad I asked.

As usual the easiest way isn't the best way.

Time for a re-think.

 

[D Skelton]

I'd go with that mate. C&G 2397 NVQ3 will be recognised everywhere. JIB/ECS also wont recognise BTEC toward your grading as far as I am aware. Make it easier on yourself with the recognised qual.

Erm, no it won't. The 2397 was created by the scams as a fast track way to give a QS an NVQ3. The fact is though, it is not the industry recognised 2357.

Having a 2397 on your CV just shows up as Electrical Trainee to anyone who knows anything about electrical qualifications.

In response to the OP; campo, you currently don't posses any meaningful or core qualification anyway, so shouldn't be working on your own without supervision. If you want to become a qualified electrician, then the C&G 2357 is the only way forward. That means three years at college (nights or days), whilst you complete a full apprenticeship working under the supervision of those who are skilled enough to teach you.

I would start checking out local state funded colleges as they will be the best place to move forward.

I wouldn't be considering distance learning as this will only add more non-qualifications to your current list of non-qualifications. You'll end up thousands poorer with nothing to show for it other than a piece of A4 sized bog roll with a shiny sticker on it.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Unfortunately I only work in domestic which limits where I can go next.

I could do the city and guilds 2397 but its only sending in pictures of what you have already done I think.

I like the advice Dillb has given you, and a level 3 NVQ is all work based no going to college, an assessor will visit you on site from time to time, it is either paper or electronic portfolio, depends on your training provider, so you can make notes, take pictures and collect your evidence whilst at work, and sit at home writing it up and completing the knowledge questions once the kids are in bed at your leisure.

Don't get hung up on titles Btec this or that C&G blah blah blah, or EAL etc etc. The important thing to know is the level. You want level 3 qualifications, these are the ones that deem you to be skilled.

Apprenticeships are all well and good, but they are made up of a lot of different components, most of which will have no benefit to you, such as Functional skills, (Eng/Maths/ICT), Employment rights and responsibilities, Personal learning and thinking skills etc. You only need the skill specific quals, and the NVQ is it.

Apprenticeships are good if you are 16-19 as they are fully funded by the government, 20-24 they are part funded, and once you reach the grand old age of 25 you are on your own.

The NVQ3 is the biggest part of an Apprenticeship, and the only difference is that your cert will say NVQ level 3 Diploma in whatever, an Apprenticeship one will say NVQ3 Advanced Diploma.

You will be looking at about £300 per unit, and there will be about 6 units depending on the combination. However you will need to cover work outside the normal domestic stuff, what i do is lend my learners out to other contractors so they can get experience on different cables, tray work, trunking etc etc, you wont find many contractors who will refuse a free half day or so to help with tray work.

If you want more info, then PM me and i will sort out some units for you to look at, at least you will have an idea about it if you do take the plunge with a local training provider.

Cheers............Howard

 

[Engineer54]

A level 3 BTEC cert/dip was once a respected qualification to hold, but looking at the link above, it looks to have been butchered, added to which distance self learning to my mind is a complete farce in itself!!
From what i can tell, the module work submitted is assessed remotely and based solely on those student submittals, if successful a diploma is issued. No personal examinations mentioned, so wide open to fraud abuse. Even worse than the open book EAL examinations!!

In my opinion, the same goes for many of the current NVQ 3 picture book and witness signature procedure, it's wide open to abuse, which knowing human nature, normally means it will be!!....

 

[Guest55]

A level 3 BTEC cert/dip was once a respected qualification to hold, but looking at the link above, it looks to have been butchered, added to which distance self learning to my mind is a complete farce in itself!!
From what i can tell, the module work submitted is assessed remotely and based solely on those student submittals, if successful a diploma is issued. No personal examinations mentioned, so wide open to fraud abuse. Even worse than the open book EAL examinations!!

In my opinion, the same goes for many of the current NVQ 3 picture book and witness signature procedure, it's wide open to abuse, which knowing human nature, normally means it will be!!....

the btec quals are still respected and worthwhile , if you do them full time at college as originally intended - any distance learning course is a poor relation in comparison to class based guided learning.

i'm proud of the L2 btec diploma i attained shortly after leaving school , it provided a diverse range of interesting topics and technical theories as a stepping stone to higher quals.

the only downside to btec quals in comparison to C&G quals is that there are fewer practical elements , so for an on the tools spark , C&G are the natural choice , along with the JIB grading recognition given to them.

 

[TJ Anderson]

Erm, no it won't. The 2397 was created by the scams as a fast track way to give a QS an NVQ3. The fact is though, it is not the industry recognised 2357.

Having a 2397 on your CV just shows up as Electrical Trainee to anyone who knows anything about electrical qualifications.

In response to the OP; campo, you currently don't posses any meaningful or core qualification anyway, so shouldn't be working on your own without supervision. If you want to become a qualified electrician, then the C&G 2357 is the only way forward. That means three years at college (nights or days), whilst you complete a full apprenticeship working under the supervision of those who are skilled enough to teach you.

I would start checking out local state funded colleges as they will be the best place to move forward.

I wouldn't be considering distance learning as this will only add more non-qualifications to your current list of non-qualifications. You'll end up thousands poorer with nothing to show for it other than a piece of A4 sized bog roll with a shiny sticker on it.

Sorry OP!! Thank you D Skelton for correcting me. You are dead right there, got my 2397 & 2357 mixed up. So many courses now. I thought he was referring to NVQ3 which is of course 2357 & not 2397. Dud info, sorry bud.

 

[D Skelton]

Sorry OP!! Thank you D Skelton for correcting me. You are dead right there, got my 2397 & 2357 mixed up. So many courses now. I thought he was referring to NVQ3 which is of course 2357 & not 2397. Dud info, sorry bud.

Your confusion could be forgiven, the snides at the scams deliberately made them look and sound similar. They are both technically NVQ3s, the difference being that the 2397 is an NVQ3 certificate and takes weeks to complete and the 2357 is an NVQ3 advanced diploma which takes years. The 2357 is the industry recognised qualification, the 2397 was cooked up as a loophole.

You have to search long and hard to spot the difference, so much so that a panel of a dozen or so politicians were duped into thinking that they were the same thing!

 

[shanky887614]

Your confusion could be forgiven, the snides at the scams deliberately made them look and sound similar. They are both technically NVQ3s, the difference being that the 2397 is an NVQ3 certificate and takes weeks to complete and the 2357 is an NVQ3 advanced diploma which takes years. The 2357 is the industry recognised qualification, the 2397 was cooked up as a loophole.

You have to search long and hard to spot the difference, so much so that a panel of a dozen or so politicians were duped into thinking that they were the same thing!

not really you can do the 2357 in less than a year if you have done say 2330 level 2+3/equivilent first

 

[D Skelton]

not really you can do the 2357 in less than a year if you have done say 2330 level 2+3/equivilent first

The NVQ element of it yes, but not the whole diploma

 

[Engineer54]

not really you can do the 2357 in less than a year if you have done say 2330 level 2+3/equivilent first

If and only if you are working for a company that covers the spectrum of required installations. Working for a company that deals mainly or wholly with domestic installs, you aren't going to be able to complete an NVQ 3. ...Well you could always use buckshee photo's and a willing signatory, i suppose!! lol!!

I can't see how having completed a full level 3 2330 or it's equivalent has any bearing on completing an NVQ 3 in a year, especially those that are doing such courses off their own back and not being employed by an electrical company...

 

[shanky887614]

If and only if you are working for a company that covers the spectrum of required installations. Working for a company that deals mainly or wholly with domestic installs, you aren't going to be able to complete an NVQ 3. ...Well you could always use buckshee photo's and a willing signatory, i suppose!! lol!!

I can't see how having completed a full level 3 2330 or it's equivalent has any bearing on completing an NVQ 3 in a year, especially those that are doing such courses off their own back and not being employed by an electrical company...

you can use the 2330/new tech cert as prior qualifications and then just a quick multiple choice bridging test then onto the logbook.

some people have done the nvq in a year, i doubt it the only way most could do it in that time is fiddling it

 

[Engineer54]

you can use the 2330/new tech cert as prior qualifications and then just a quick multiple choice bridging test then onto the logbook.

some people have done the nvq in a year, i doubt it the only way most could do it in that time is fiddling it

It was the log book section i was thinking of shanky. To be honest i reckon that section is fiddled (as you put it) on a regular basis as many just don't get the opportunity to work on the various types of installations listed within the NVQ requirements...