@45140 One of the reasons the more seasoned electrician is disparaging about this entry method into the industry is precisely the problem you have highlighted. The short courses and training centres are generally in the business of misleading and ripping people off. They provide a smattering of add on courses and pretend that this is satisfactory then churn them out into the world thoroughly unprepared and unemployable for the industry.
Many short course electricians have started off with more reputable versions of this route with the understanding that this is a first foot hold into work and that many years of further education and learning are required to get up to an experienced standard. Most in the industry don't have a problem with that.
The reason the OP has garnered short shrift in this case is that they were interested in only doing the bare minimum, clearly not an attitude conducive to progression or competence in this industry.
I fear that a mandatory registration scheme will be bad for the industry as it would have to set a standard for what constitutes "qualified" or competent. I fear the short course industry, fully backed by and in collusion with the likes of the NICEIC, would have too much leverage and say in this matter and that standards would drop below the nearest thing we currently have as an industry standard, the JIB level of qualification, a full NVQ3.