City and guilds course or jtl apprenticeship? Which one would be more suited for career

Christopher robb · Feb 28, 2017

Hi everyone,

My name is Chris and I'm new to this site and the electrical world. I'm 26 and have started college (a bit late to the party) but after a lot of ups and downs with career paths I believe I'm making the right decision moving to being an electrician.

I'm doing L1 city and guilds electrical installations as I have no prior knowledge. One of the lads mentioned to me about JTL adult apprenticeships, I've been looking into it and not sure whether I should go for it. So many electricians on here state the importance of apprenticeships in comparison to classroom courses. I know I would learn the trade better from an apprenticeship rather than learning from books and mock scenarios.

From what I gather you need to be in full time employment before you're able to start the apprenticeship. That would mean not moving on to city and guilds level 2 or can you carry on the city and guilds quals? Also with no experience I will more than likely find it hard to get that employment.

Does anyone have any experience with jtl? or know what recognised quals you can get during the apprenticeships?

There so much information everywhere I don't know where to turn sometimes

Jay Sparks · Mar 1, 2017

If you did an apprenticeship you would still do the technical units at college but this would be 1 day a week or block release. Then the rest of the week/time you will be working for an employer and gathering site based evidence for your portfolio. Not sure about the adult apprenticeships but the 2357 and 5357 are 3 or 4 years.

Just doing the full time course at college will NOT make you a qualified electrician, however, if you complete the level 2, it may help you find an employer and start the apprenticeship and you could APL some of the units.

But in my view, you need both the technical units and the NVQ to be truly "qualified".

Jay

Christopher robb · Mar 1, 2017

Hi jay thanks for your reply

I understand I need to gain an nvq L3 and AM2 after college to become fully qualified.
With apprenticeships you can get the nvq and am2 saving a lot of time and money. Also by going through apprenticeships I can gain a lot of experience on the way.
College isn't great but it's a way of getting the quals in order to start employment and to move towards the nvq/am2. It's been difficult to find someone who is willing to take me on a couple days a week.
Iv heard a lot of good stuff about jtl and seems like a good way to gain experience whilst getting the 2365, 2357, nvq and am2.
Getting a level2 qualification would be a good idea to set me up for employment then moving on to apprenticeships, thanks for the advice