EAL Course in Inspection and Testing

[rmc86uk]

Hi Everyone

Has anyone on here done the EAL Inspection and Testing course? It is set in two parts also like the C&G 2394 and 2395. It is also open book unlike the C&G. I'm thinking of taking the course next year and just wondered what other peoples thoughts are and that the candidate pass rate must be a lot higher than the 40% for 2391.

Just to add I've seen a few posts on here from the Electrical Trainee's who have gained the 2391 qualification with no experience at all! I know a few time served Electricians who have failed the 2391 at least three times!

Surely the scam training centres must be churning the 2391 passes out so that more Electrical Trainee's enrol and spend their Five grand!

 

[Skimpy Wan]

I'm about to complete (hopefully) my 1st year of 3yrs at college to become a fully qualified Electical Installer. All colleges that I contacted prior to starting advised me that they no longer use C&G, and use EAL, as the standards had dropped etc. As EAL standards are NVQ level 3 throughout, rather than being level 2 and progressing to level 3, the end result of the qualification seems to be the same (hence why JIB accept it). Well I bloody well hope so after the 3 years and £1,000's I'll be spending on gaining the qualifications.

 

[D Skelton]

Your college are talking nonsense. The old C&G 2330 was two years at level 2 and one year at level 3. The new C&G 2365 (the knowledge unit part of the C&G 2375) is at level 3 throughout. The only reason they are using EAL is because they are cheaper than C&G and being supposedly industry recognised (which they aren't in all honesty) allows further education providers to run them as the full ticket.

 

[markc123]

WHY oh WHY can't their just beat one industry recognised qualification body, one industry scheme, one way to become an electrician...

It's not rocket science.

Take other lines of life .... wonder what the goverment would say if someone tried to set-up and challenge, say, the DVLA. Wouldn't happen would it!

 

[UNG]

Exactly which part of the industry decided these EAL qualifications should be recognised by all of the industry

 

[Skimpy Wan]

I don't see why employers would (and do) discriminate against the EAL qualifications if the JIB doesn't? It is bloody worrying if it then hinders me later down the line when I'm looking for work etc, have spent 3 years at college and am thousands in debt to the qualification.

 

[markc123]

I don't see why employers would (and do) discriminate against the EAL qualifications if the JIB doesn't? It is bloody worrying if it then hinders me later down the line when I'm looking for work etc, have spent 3 years at college and am thousands in debt to the qualification.

The EAL Inspection and Testing qualification is open-book, meaning you have all the answers in front of you.

The C+G Inspection and Testing qualification is closed-book, meaning if you don't know it you aint passing ...

Put that to your tutor, im sure when you realise that you can see why people discriminate against the EAL...

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Although having said that, from what was said earlier about the C+G it unforunatley looks like they're soon to be discrimiated against aswell!

The whole system is a farce!

 

[Skimpy Wan]

The flip side to an open book exam is they can ask you anything and it has to be 100% correct as the information is there at your fingertips, rather than being a slightly more open question / answer.

 

[markc123]

The flip side to an open book exam is they can ask you anything and it has to be 100% correct as the information is there at your fingertips, rather than being a slightly more open question / answer.

You still have to use the exact correct terminology in the closed book exam's aswell.

Personally, i can't see any benefit to an open book exam, or these multiple-choice nonsense's. I mean multiple-choice ... if ure extremley lucky, you can pass it without knowing the foggiest about electrics... if i ever win the lottery i'll pay for one of my non-electrician mates too sit the 17th multiple-choice joke exam, be interesting too see the result.

 

[D Skelton]

I've always thought the 17th edition exam should be closed book! Open book exams have no value to them whatsoever!

 

[Badged01]

The trouble with "open book" or "closed book" exams, whichever one you take, I think you can guarantee a few good years down the line you wont still be able to remember everything you knew for the exam and will need to consult the "book" -- so your real life problem will become an open book solution (exam)!

But if you still can remember everything from so many years ago (and I can't) you have one hell of a mind and are in the wrong profession ...... you should be making big bucks using that brain! Unless of course you are just in the game for the love of it and money is pretty meaningless to you!!

 

[pitkin2020]

I'm on the EAL level 2 course and I agree with some of the arguments for and against.

Open book, well I see this as a non issue. It's a heavily regulated industry and just because you think you know doesn't mean you shouldn't refer to the regs to confirm. Whilst doing the exams it's open book for ONE of the exams and yes the answers are in it but you have to understand what it actually means and how to interpret it. If your on site and never refer to the books when doing a job you haven't done before or a Long while your either a genius or your ego is far too big. It's about making sure people continually refer to the regs.

Exams online multiple choice, personally for some topics like fixings etc this is fine. More technical stuff I do think they should be written so you can actually show an understanding rather than just a best guess. I believe level 3 is more written than multiple choice.

It is an industry recognised qualification but it doesn't have the history c&g does, but it will in the as c&g aren't what they used to be. Unfortunately it's more about the pass mark for ALL courses now rather than the actual quality of the student at the end.

Pass is a pass and that's all they care about. From a student who is actually doing ok on the course I can't distinguish myself from the guy who is literally scraping through. If we both pass on paper we are equal and in that respect c&g is no different.

If your an employer and you are employing a c&g qualified guy over EAL that's your choice but it doesn't actually mean your getting a better trained person. In my college it was c&g until a while back the lecturers are teaching the same information just a different qualification at the end.

 

[D Skelton]

If your an employer and you are employing a c&g qualified guy over EAL that's your choice but it doesn't actually mean your getting a better trained person.

With regards to the testing and inspection qualification, yes it does! End of!

 

[pitkin2020]

With regards to the testing and inspection qualification, yes it does! End of!

Really both approved courses so just because you say it's so doesn't mean it's so lol

 

[D Skelton]

Really both approved courses so just because you say it's so doesn't mean it's so lol

No, you're quite right, just because I say so doesn't make it so, but evidently, open book exams have always been easier than closed book exams. The C&G exam tests your fundamental knowledge of testing and inspection procedures, the EAL exam tests your knowledge of how to read and interpret a book.

The latter is clearly the easier option! How can this be arguable?!

I feel sorry for you mate because whoever sold you EAL for your T&I qual sold you a lie! Despite what they tell you, EAL is not industry recognised and is widely viewed as a joke. The only people who accept EAL are the scam schemes who frankly, would accept any old crap as an excuse to sign you up and take your money.

 

[pitkin2020]

See like you that was what I thought so I did my homework. I spoke with several large companies in the area to seek their opinion. At the end of the day I'm likely to be working for them and they were all happy with either EAL or c&g.

The main issue is no provider in this area within an hours travel
Is doing c&g. I would have had to do it as a distance learning course which is a joke.

Of course an open book exam will be easier but the exam isn't based on your memory it's about doing it correctly and to the regulations. If your attitude is you don't need the book the your a genius. You'd never learn all the regulations in the time scale but you will learn a lot fair do.

Just because you have the on site guide there in front of you not everything in the exam is found in the on site guide the only book you can take in. Even then when it's there you still need to know how to calculate and use the information correctly.

Also if it was so much easier the pass rate would be 100% for everyone that takes the exam surely?? Which isn't the case, if you don't know what to look for in the book or how I interpret it then it's useless