EAL - Scared to type that, but need advice!

[madmodz]

Hi all,

My qualifications are as follows,

• JIB electrician
• 2356 NVQ
• 2382 17th regs
• 2392 lvl2 inspect&test (initial)
• 2393 lvl3 building regs - dwellings
• 2330 lvl3
• 2330 lv2

Basically, i am looking at getting my 2391 qualification, which i understand has now changed to 2394/5 (city and guilds), and the EAL 2337/4228.

The predicament i have, is i have little experience of anything other than verifying my own work on a 230v domestic basis. I am looking for some way of getting this qualification but at the same time learning everything required to be competent (rather than just passing an exam). From what ive read, both the city and guilds qualification, and the EAL, are recognised with JIB and the NICEIC, however the city and guilds is a closed book, and the EAL is an open book course.

Reading between the two, the EAL is advised that it may be suited more towards people with little or no experience in testing, inspection of installations.

Obviously if i was an employer, looking at the two courses, i would prefer to employ someone that has undertook the harder version of the two courses (the C&G closed book), however im stuck due to my experience.

Does the city and guilds qualification 'teach you' everything you need to pass it like the EAL, or is it more of a qualification to test your knowledge?

Is there a stigma attached to the EAL, like there is for the 5 day electrician courses haha? (and no i haven't done any of them, its took me years to get where i am)

Any help would be grand!

 

[GMES]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

[Andy78]

You've done your 2330 which should have given you all the basic knowledge regarding testing and you should be finevto go on and study your C&G 2394/5, which is the course I would recommend.
Go for a course which is on a one session a week basis instead of one that is squeezed into 4 days if you actually want to learn and give the learning time to sink in.

 

[Blademan_98]

I am on the EAL course and from what I understand from this forum it is 'easier' to pass.
I have little experience in the field as I am a design engineer.
The first set of practical and multiple choice were OK and I have passed them.
I agree with Andy78 that for someone as qualified as you the C&G option is best.

 

[Farmelectrics]

Eal. V. City and guilds. Niceic. V. Napit stroma. Blar blare blar. There the same People just relate to the guilds and the niceic as the more reconised

 

[Farmelectrics]

For the record all my cents are city and guilds bar my 17th that's eal no easier than the guilds exam because it was the same exam done on line at a certain time of all test centers through the country

 

[newtothis]

Being an adult; I see how it would be a sickener when you perceive someone has had an easier ride, to level 3 testing qual(s)
ratified by the JIB

That's just an observation, I have nothing to back it up.

As someone keen to gain the right mix of experience and quals to become gainfully employed this industry
Is it gospel that someone who actually had a choice, and picked what they felt was a harder option will make a better employee, therefore more likely to get an interview ? That's what I think I hear people saying, is it right ?

 

[madmodz]

Thanks all for the reply!

I have done my 2330, but i passed that back when it was the 16th edition, as soon as that was completed, i undertook the update to the 17th worked for a bit and then the workload dried up, so started doing other non-electrical work.

I've only recently got back into it all, and finished my NVQ which was started back in 2012. I still don't feel 100% that i would have all the complete wide spread knowledge for a written exam as ive only really been working on LV single ph, however would know where to find info needed for things ive not tackled in the big books (if that makes sense). All my testing as such working on single phase is fine, however ive not really had any experience on the 3ph stuff, other than installing or ripping out.

Im guessing the 'general' feeling is that the city and guilds seems to be the more recognised route to take as its similar to the NICEIC when comparing to another brand of competent persons scheme (with everyone who calls me asking if im NIC registered, then comes the explaining that im using another provider but its the same, blah blah blah haha).

However as said above, i guess its more about the person taking the exam when it comes to an interview?

Im not really a qualifications snob as such, i just want to do the best qualification to give me the best knowledge possible, which is why im leaning towards the EAL, as im lead to believe this is more of a learning course than the C&G?

Im researching the pair, but cant really come up with anything other than 'the C&G is better haha'