Help/Info on getting qualified..

[mearles]

Hi, Im new here and basically I'm looking for some information on what courses are the right and recognised courses to become a qualified electrician.

At the minute, the only way I know how I could become qualified, is by an apprenticeship. But heres my situation,
I've been working as an electrician for nearly two years now, and I have gained my 2330 level 2. My current employer has been promising to send me to college since I started working for him (almost 2 years ago), but basically he wont allow me to have a day off each week. So Im looking to get advice on what the best alternatives are, because I need to get qualified. In my current employment, I'm treated as qualified (except I'm paid the same as any apprentice), I work on site on my own, I've Completed rewires on my own and I can Test. I know I've still got a lot to learn, but I want to go about it the right way and make sure I don't waste a lot of money on gaining qualifications that are somewhat meaningless.

Any advice would be much appreciated

Thanks, Mike

 

[Paul.M]

If you've got your level 2 go for the level 3, 2391 and the 17th ed. Most if not all could be done on an evening class, ask your local college.

 

[Paul.M]

Just remembered. If your in employment go for the nvq3 before it changes in September.

 

[mearles]

Thank you, Yeah ive been looking at my local colleges and the only night courses they offer are the 2391 and 17th edition wiring regs, which im guessing would be pretty much useless without having the 2330 level 3 ?

 

[brman]

what are you trying to achieve with your qualifications and what do you mean by "qualified electrician"?

The requirements are very different for a JIB Approved Electrician than for a Part P electrician

 

[mearles]

Well ideally I would like to go to college on day release, but that doesn't seem like it will materialise. So I'm trying to find out what my next best option is, because Im competent enough to do the job and Im good enough. So obviously I don't want to be stuck in the position I'm in now, and not being qualified but doing qualified work and getting paid peanuts in comparison to what I should be earning. If that makes sense.

 

[jeff@ptt]

In City & Guilds terms, the 2382 certificate (17th Edition) can be obtained by attending a 3 day course culminating in an online test on the 3rd day. Just google 2382 training for a selection of providers. This can be supplimented by a 4 day C&G 2392 (soon to become 2394) Inspection & Testing certificate which enables you to certify your own work only; or the C&G 2391 (soon to become 2395) Inspection & Testing certificate which enables you to certify your own and other peoples work (the old Periodic Certificate now the EICR - Electrical Instalation Condition Report). Again, just google 2394 training or 2395 training for providers. The 2391/2395 has a written test that takes 8-12 weeks to know the result but this is taken in the evening. The practical and online test happen in the 4-5 day course. This could be a quicker way to get qualified if time is an issue for you.