New member seeking qualification advice.

[Tom0541]

Hello!


I'm Tom! Thanks for any future advice in these forums and I hope my contributions will be of some help or amusement.


For the last 8 months I have been working as an assistant for an electrician in Australia. Up until this job I had no electrical experience whatsoever, only labouring, and carpentry work. The electrician I am working for has bad arthritis and so I started of just doing all the lifting and crawling. He knows I am really eager to learn and always explains procedures and theory as we are working. Being the only electrician in the 40k radius we are always super busy and have a large variety of jobs and problems.


I am now at the stage where he fully trusts me to complete many tasks; fully install new power points and install the breaker and wiring, ceiling fans, lights and switches, wiring large agriculture motors - 3 phase, installing boilers, ovens etc. Lots of our work is fault finding and i'm starting to get clued up on some faults and issues, although still a long way to go! I know that there is a variation in techniques compared to back home so some of the ways I've learned will need tweaking.


I am going to be returning home for half a year before returning to Australia. Whilst i'm home i'm hoping to do some study and begin getting some qualifications. I will be returning to Australia to the same job after the six months but longterm i will probably be back in the uk. With my initial searches i became trapped by the numerous companies offering the short courses. However after reading some reviews and the many threads on here, i'm not so sure that they are a good idea! I would do an apprenticeship in Australia but it's too expensive!

I am a little confused with the types of qualifications that can be attained, eal/city & guilds.

I would be grateful to hear your opinions on which qualifications would be most useful to me and if and how it's possible to get them in around 6 months without getting ripped off and more importantly mis-taught/under informed.

 

[Lou]

You could try contacting XS Training who have been a long time supporter of the forum They do online courses, click on their banner on the right.

and welcome

 

[Pete999]

Hello!


I'm Tom! Thanks for any future advice in these forums and I hope my contributions will be of some help or amusement.


For the last 8 months I have been working as an assistant for an electrician in Australia. Up until this job I had no electrical experience whatsoever, only labouring, and carpentry work. The electrician I am working for has bad arthritis and so I started of just doing all the lifting and crawling. He knows I am really eager to learn and always explains procedures and theory as we are working. Being the only electrician in the 40k radius we are always super busy and have a large variety of jobs and problems.


I am now at the stage where he fully trusts me to complete many tasks; fully install new power points and install the breaker and wiring, ceiling fans, lights and switches, wiring large agriculture motors - 3 phase, installing boilers, ovens etc. Lots of our work is fault finding and i'm starting to get clued up on some faults and issues, although still a long way to go! I know that there is a variation in techniques compared to back home so some of the ways I've learned will need tweaking.


I am going to be returning home for half a year before returning to Australia. Whilst i'm home i'm hoping to do some study and begin getting some qualifications. I will be returning to Australia to the same job after the six months but longterm i will probably be back in the uk. With my initial searches i became trapped by the numerous companies offering the short courses. However after reading some reviews and the many threads on here, i'm not so sure that they are a good idea! I would do an apprenticeship in Australia but it's too expensive!

I am a little confused with the types of qualifications that can be attained, eal/city & guilds.

I would be grateful to hear your opinions on which qualifications would be most useful to me and if and how it's possible to get them in around 6 months without getting ripped off and more importantly mis-taught/under informed.

Hi Tom, you could apply for access to the Trainee area, PM a Staff member they will check you out and could give you access. There are loads of like minded people there most are Trainees but there are Mentors as well. Good luck

 

[Tom0541]

Okey dokey, thanks pete i will take a look.

 

[Des 56]

Tom,
Almost all would be sparks, even after paying for and obtaining short course qualifications,they lack and may likely never get what you hold,practical hands on experience while mentored by a spark

You already tick most of the boxes needed for employment in the electrical trade

 

[Tom0541]

Thanks for your reply Des. I was very fortunate to get the job I currently have. As for a suitable training course... XS looks good for LV 3 in the future, but before this I will require the lvl 2 2065. I have already begun a detailed portfolio and will continue to diversify it.

Any recommendations on any of the shorter course providers? I Would prefer not to be amongst complete beginners, rather complete more self study, with help available if necessary.

 

[Tom0541]

oops...2365*