Electrical Courses

Apprentice · Feb 15, 2011

Hi all,

Having recently been made redundant, I am looking for a new career and have settled on becoming an electrician. I would really appreciate some advice!

I have been informed that obtaining a "Part P" is necessary before being able to work on residential electrical work, and have found a college offering this course along with various others as a "package". This includes:

Domestic Installation Workshop (5 days @ £459)
City and Guilds 2392-10 Inspection and Testing Course (4 days @ £536)
Part P Domestic Electrical Installers Course (5 days @£801)
City and Guilds 2832-10 17th Edition Course (3 days @ £458)

As the college also offers each course seperatly, my question to anyone able to offer advice is are all these courses necessary or should I just get my Part P, begin working as
an electricians mate and complete other courses later down the line. I have limited funds and if I am able to make savings at this stage, so much the better!

Your advice/thoughts would be much appreciated!!

Penance · Feb 15, 2011

Ignore the part P course, part P is not a qualification it is part of the building regs.

Have a look at the stickies there is one covering that.

Apprentice · Feb 15, 2011

Thanks Penance. I have also just read a post by Durham Sparky which was really helpful. I guess the City and Guilds courses are good one for me as a beginner.....

B6 7BU · Feb 15, 2011

You might get some FREE training

Sparky Ninja · Feb 15, 2011

What are the particulars of the courses at this centre?

What does the domestic electrical installers course contain?

SKY · Feb 15, 2011

To become an electrician takes years, not by doing the courses above over the space of a few months.

The installation course and the part P course (which don't exist) is a waste of money.

I see that you have also put down the testing and inspecting C&G course which is a good cause but you will not be able to complete the full scope of tests competently after 4 days, this take lots of time and experience.

These courses teach you how to pass an exam. To be a competent and safe electrician takes lots of training and time on job. Courses like the above are causing a drop in standards in our trade which in turn will effect the safety of users.

Sparky Ninja · Feb 15, 2011

Can we maybe offer more proactive advice here chaps. Instead of just slating all these courses.

SKY · Feb 15, 2011

I tried to be proactive in the respect of the OP saying that he has limited funds, other posters have directed the OP to the stickys I just want to explain the general attitude of these "pile them high" training providers.

If the OP things he will be an electrician after these course's then I cannot fool him - to be an electrician on most site work where I live in London you need at least an NVQ.

ExArmy · Feb 15, 2011

Penance said:
Ignore the part P course, part P is not a qualification it is part of the building regs.

I did a domestic installers course (which incorporated part p), and it wasn't a waste of time at all it was very good. although it was 2 weeks long for about the same money. on the course there were scottish people, and people who intended on emigrating and as part p would be worthless to them they just saved their £264 and didn't do the building regs exam. but a domestic installers course is quite a decent course to do if you ask me.

Apprentice · Feb 15, 2011

Widdler, the course provider says that the Domestic Elec. Installers course...."gives you the knowledge, skills and qualifications to enable you to competently install your domestic electrical work, compliant with Part P of the Building Regulations, this course concludes with an online exam to gain your City & Guilds certificate." I guess that does not give lots of info, but it sounds usefull to me....??

Sky, I know that to become a competent Electrician is going to take alot of hard work and dedication, I do not want to give the impression that I'm going for "zero to hero" as quickly as possible just that I would like to be certified to begin in the trade at entry level. I see your point about the drop in standards and assure you I do not want to be a part of that...

ExArmy....cheers, good to hear that someone has found a similar course useful....

All these comments are useful guys....thanks for the time

Richard · Feb 15, 2011

SKY said:
To become an electrician takes years, not by doing the courses above over the space of a few months.

The installation course and the part P course (which don't exist) is a waste of money.

I see that you have also put down the testing and inspecting C&G course which is a good cause but you will not be able to complete the full scope of tests competently after 4 days, this take lots of time and experience.

These courses teach you how to pass an exam. To be a competent and safe electrician takes lots of training and time on job. Courses like the above are causing a drop in standards in our trade which in turn will effect the safety of users.

I couldn't have put it better my self.

Sparky Ninja · Feb 15, 2011

The problem you have Apprentice is that you are seeking advice from the wrong people. It has been accepted by governing bodies, the IET and Awarding bodies that the scope of domestic work can be carried out by an individual who has undergone training and gained the necessary qualifications demanded.
Unfortunately for obvious reasons you will only, on the majority, get the opinions of time served 3 years+ guys here who have nothing but bad news for you and will tell you to give up and not waste your money.

I myself am a 4 year guy, however I have been teaching electrical installation for a few years now and feel I am probably in a good position to post judgement on student developments. I teach both 2330 to chaps on their 3rd year, and EAL Domestic installer courses along with 2382-10, 2382-20, 2392, 2391-10, 2391-20 & 2377 to newcomers and experienced electricians.

I deliver the intensive domestic stuff on an 45hour week for 5 weeks (225 hours) which is the equivalent of just over a year for the 3 year chaps (216 hours).

Clearly this will make electricians say 'that's just one year out of three' but in retrospect that is enough time to deliver the essential knowledge and training for domestic work. One of the main excuses the quick courses get knocked is that there isn't enough time to gain practical skills and experience to work safely, and for some candidates this most definitely can be true.

My observations of my guys is that they really do apply themselves. They have to be reminded about lunchtime and hometime as they are so engrossed in their work and delivering material to them is much easier than my 2330 evening lads. We have the odd laugh about how ridiculously complicated some of the stuff gets but I'm always quizzing them and assessing them which keeps them sharp and focussed.

I'm honest to these guys and tell them that finding employment will be difficult, and they should progress further with seeking an NVQ. Furthermore I remind them constantly that they should consider themselves domestic installers/electricians and not electricians upon completion.

I was dubious at first, but having seen the development and work carried out by some of these guy/gals I decided that I shouldn't judge someone by their training and should by their productivity and ability.

There is still a lot of progress required in this young era of training, but it all lays in the hands of the training centres to create proper assessment strategies and ensure that their staff deliver effectively, and to stop being a selling machine.

My suggestion to you would be to seek out some members here who are attending similar training centres and ask them for their opinion to the training they have received.

SKY · Feb 16, 2011

Good post there widdler.

j0nno · Feb 16, 2011

city and guilds 2330 is your core electrical qualification / skill, in which you achieve nvq level 2 and level 3, can take upto 4 yrs to get. the other courses, are only meant to be obtainable after you have gotten the 2330.
most companys are asking for jib approved electricians, and jib will not recognise you as an electrician until you have completed the level 3 nvq, you will only be a trainee, or adult trainee with a white ecs card. the hardest part of 2330 is getting your logbook signed off for the nvq, mine took another 2 yrs almost after i finished college.