2365 level 2 & 3 has theory and practice elements (similar to 2330) as mentioned above. It does not have the on site NVQ 3 Element or the AM2 element that the 2357 has.
2357: "Apprentice electricians" tend to be offered the 2357 because they can gain the on site NVQ elements by practical experience on site while at work, they also attend college for theory and do the AM2 near the end of the two year course. Once you have completed the course you can apply for an electricians card and be a recognised electrician by the JIB (subject to satisfactory site experience).
2365: If you are not and apprentice or working in the industry the 2365 is possibly a better qualification to start with as you can complete the qualification at college. Once you have the certificate you are at a good level but to be a recognised electrician there is more to do. The 2365 certificate does not in itself entitle you to recognition as a qualified electrician by the JIB. You will have a good qualification but to become fully qualified as an electrician you will have to ADD/BOLT ON further qualifications from the 2357 such as the NVQ on site element from the 2357 and the AM2. After you have taken the extra elements from the 2357 and had relevant site experience you can apply for recognition as a qualified electrician.
2357: To do a 2357, find an employer and sign up as an apprentice, complete the course (inc AM2) and apply for your Electricians card.
2365: To do a 2365, find a college or training centre sign on and complete the course. Then sign up for the BOLT ON NVQ WORK BASED ELEMENTS, find an employer for work based experience or get enough work based experience to collect the necessary evidence somehow? Collect the evidence and do the assessments (same as 2357 NVQ), next do the AM2. Then apply for your status as an electrician.
Funding is generally available for both courses if taken at your local college, but can have some restrictions, the sooner you start the better because once you are over 24 is can be more difficult to obtain funding. Best to ask the training centre (college) about funding as they are the best placed to know. If you can't get a funded course and still want to do a 2365 Level 2 & 3, prices for (none funded coursed) the complete course is around ÂŁ5,000 to ÂŁ7,000 inc vat.
PS: If while on a 2365 you find an "employer" willing to train you, you can ask to transfer over from a 2365 to a 2357, the employer will have to sign to accept but it's another option to becoming fully qualified.
