Inspection and Testing - EAL or City & Guilds? - Professional Development

[joshlobb43]

Good Afternoon Sparks,

I am currently a maintenance electrician however I have experience in domestic, commercial and industrial installs. I am looking at completing the inspection and testing 2394 + 2395 in the next month or so as my partners job is taking us to London. So in an effort to help me find work I am paying for my self to do 17th edition, inspection and testing and will be applying for my ECS card.

I have NVQ level 3 in electrical maintenance and BTEC level 3 in electrical/electronic engineering.

My queries to all you helpful chaps is this:

- Will I be restricted to finding work since my ECS card will say electrical maintenance on the front?

- I have a choice to do the EAL inspection and testing or the C&G version. I am told the C&G version is harder. Once completed I understand that you then send off your certification to prove that you have completed 2394 + 2395.

Has anybody done the EAL version?
Does it state EAL on your ECS card?
Is the EAL version looked upon as less favourable?

I am not looking to take short-cuts I would just like to know what is best in the long run before I invest time and money.

Any advice from people who have been through the transition I am currently going through would be helpful.

It is much appreciated if you have taken the time to read this and any advice I can be given I will be extremely grateful for.

I had a look through the threads and couldn't see a topic on this. Sorry if it is duplicated.

Josh!

 

[Andy78]

EAL - on line multi choice open book exams only
C&G - on line multi choice and full written exams, all closed book.
Both courses include practical assessments.

Which do you think an employer would be looking for and view as the more worthy qualification ?

I think the EAL is recognised by the ECS scheme but you should ring them to check this.

 

[joshlobb43]

Thanks for your response.

If it doesn't show on the ECS card then how would they know? All I am thinking is if there is less pressure on the written exam this would leave more time for practical and classroom theory.

Maybe I am just over thinking.

Do you know if the ECS card shows the awarding body?

Josh

 

[Blademan_98]

I have taken the EAL qualification and it is probably easier than C&G
As I don't have an ECS card I can't answer that part.
However easy people say it is, a lot of the questions don't have answers in GN3.
Cheers
B

 

[joshlobb43]

Thanks for your response. So am I correct in saying GN3 is the literature you are allowed in the open book exam for EAL?

Josh

 

[Blademan_98]

Thanks for your response. So am I correct in saying GN3 is the literature you are allowed in the open book exam for EAL?

Josh

Indeed, and you get 90 minutes to answer 55 questions.
That is for each part. Also there are practical exams too.
B

 

[polo1]

C&G every time for me.....just my opinion

 

[Blademan_98]

C&G every time for me.....just my opinion

Absolutely
My company just wanted me to have the bit of paper.
B

 

[joshlobb43]

I think C&G is the way to go. So will I be revising from GN3 to help me pass the the C&G 2394 + 2395?

 

[Blademan_98]

Yes, and BS7671 and the on site guide.
I purchased the companion guide too.
Good luck
B

 

[joshlobb43]

Thank you. If you decide to go for the ECS let me know how you get on with it being an EAL course.

 

[Deleted member 72666]

I think C&G is the way to go. So will I be revising from GN3 to help me pass the the C&G 2394 + 2395?

You wont regret it once you have the qualification. If I was an employer I know which I'd be looking for!

 

[polo1]

I think C&G is the way to go. So will I be revising from GN3 to help me pass the the C&G 2394 + 2395?

As has been said, but I repeat just to emphasise, the BS, On Site Guide (watch though, it's riddled with errors) and GN3. Re GN3, read, read and read again, till you are dreaming it! Oh, small but important point with C&G exams, make sure you use word perfect terminology e.g. Insulation resistance tester, not Megger.

 

[Sintra]

Our crowd won't even interview applicants with the EAL quals.

 

[ian.settle1]

City & Guilds all the time

City & Guilds is known around the world

EAL new kid on the block

 

[markc123]

I can confirm (comparing my gold card to a friends) that the EAL and C+G 2394 and 2395 are marked exactly the same on the JIB/ECS card so you can't tell which spark has which.

 

[Farmelectrics]

Why not stay in the maintenance world josh Building services fm world better conditions than construction sites and plenty of buildings down the smoke josh

 

[Farmelectrics]

Eal or city and guilds it's still the same qualification whether you do the 17th edition with earl or city and guilds it's the same exam can't see the difference all my qualms are city and guilds but I done my 17th edition with eal. Same exam

 

[DPG]

I did the C&G 2394. I was the only one in the class doing this - everyone else was doing the EAL route. They finished on the Friday, took the multi-choice exam, then did the assessment. Because mine was C&G I also had to go back to do the closed-book 2 hour written exam. So from my point of view, I feel better knowing I did the 'harder' C&G route, but in reality will anyone ever ask or even care? - No, probably not. Daz

 

[Deleted member 72666]

I did the C&G 2394. I was the only one in the class doing this - everyone else was doing the EAL route. They finished on the Friday, took the multi-choice exam, then did the assessment. Because mine was C&G I also had to go back to do the closed-book 2 hour written exam. So from my point of view, I feel better knowing I did the 'harder' C&G route, but in reality will anyone ever ask or even care? - No, probably not. Daz

Lets hope they do!

 

[Farmelectrics]

but its still the same qualification a goal is a goal

 

[Deleted member 72666]

but its still the same qualification a goal is a goal

..........A car is a car, yes?....No!

 

[Leesparkykent]

I think JTL even go down the EAL route now.

 

[jimmyfield3877]

Good Afternoon Sparks,

I am currently a maintenance electrician however I have experience in domestic, commercial and industrial installs. I am looking at completing the inspection and testing 2394 + 2395 in the next month or so as my partners job is taking us to London. So in an effort to help me find work I am paying for my self to do 17th edition, inspection and testing and will be applying for my ECS card.

I have NVQ level 3 in electrical maintenance and BTEC level 3 in electrical/electronic engineering.

My queries to all you helpful chaps is this:

- Will I be restricted to finding work since my ECS card will say electrical maintenance on the front?

- I have a choice to do the EAL inspection and testing or the C&G version. I am told the C&G version is harder. Once completed I understand that you then send off your certification to prove that you have completed 2394 + 2395.

Has anybody done the EAL version?
Does it state EAL on your ECS card?
Is the EAL version looked upon as less favourable?

I am not looking to take short-cuts I would just like to know what is best in the long run before I invest time and money.

Any advice from people who have been through the transition I am currently going through would be helpful.

It is much appreciated if you have taken the time to read this and any advice I can be given I will be extremely grateful for.

I had a look through the threads and couldn't see a topic on this. Sorry if it is duplicated.

Josh!

Personally If i were looking for someone, as long as the have the cert and can do it i would care if C&G or EAL. After all, the course is exactly the same, only difference is the exam. Doing a closed book exam doesn't prove you to be better at the test and inspect. I see loads of guys who went the C&G route that have to check there books. Both as equal as each other and if an employer said otherwise your better of going elsewhere and working for someone or some company that are not sausages.

 

[Deleted account]

This thread is six years old, but agree not bothered if it’s city and guilds or EAL. But if I had to I would chose EAL every time. The city and guilds seeem to be stick in a time warp and hasn’t moved on over time.