PICK YOUR BRAINS becoming a electrician,at the tender age of 30.

[10joe123]

Hi guys,
Im 30 years old,work full time within the tool hire industry and would like to learn to become a qualified electricain.
I am aware it might cost me a few grand to get qualified but im ok with that, i work full time and have kids and a mortgage so will be unable to quit work to learn, i will have to do it at nights or weekends.

What im asking is : what tickets i need
: where i can learn
: what is part p
: can i teach myself

: if theres anyone who doesnt mind me emailing them loads of Questions about it

I would really appreciate it , if anyone can give me any advice.

Thank-you.

 

[GT1]

Learning the theory is very very important. If not THE most important aspect.
Far too many guys out there doing the work without a clue as to WHY they are doing what they are doing.
And they fall over at the first real hurdle at something even slightly out the ordinary.
You will have to decide how best to achieve that from the many options there are.
On top of that though is the practical hands-on aspect.
If you have a general engineering background, come from industry, from another trade ? Then you have a good chance to be able to achieve the competence needed.
Don't let the age thing stop you. I came into it aged 40.
However 3 years later and many thousands of pounds spent, I'm just able to say I'm confident with the everyday stuff, and every job involves pulling the books out making sure my calcs are correct.
I'm nowhere near broke even yet and won't be for some time.
Good luck. Stick with it if your determined to. But dig in for the long haul.
Remember the course providers only want your money. Be wary of extravagant claims.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Learning the theory is very very important. If not THE most important aspect.
Far too many guys out there doing the work without a clue as to WHY they are doing what they are doing.
And they fall over at the first real hurdle at something even slightly out the ordinary.
You will have to decide how best to achieve that from the many options there are.
On top of that though is the practical hands-on aspect.
If you have a general engineering background, come from industry, from another trade ? Then you have a good chance to be able to achieve the competence needed.
Don't let the age thing stop you. I came into it aged 40.
However 3 years later and many thousands of pounds spent, I'm just able to say I'm confident with the everyday stuff, and every job involves pulling the books out making sure my calcs are correct.
I'm nowhere near broke even yet and won't be for some time.
Good luck. Stick with it if your determined to. But dig in for the long haul.
Remember the course providers only want your money. Be wary of extravagant claims.

got handed this PIR a few weeks ago by a chap who had employed a "sparky" to do said PIR on his home.....took a look at it then gave the property a look round.....couldn`t accept half of what was on that PIR.....now,..maybe this guy was just trying to generate some work for himself needlessly,
.....not on in my eyes.....or maybe he was undertaking PIRs without the theory/background knowledge and thus simply didn`t know what he was looking at...but still undertaking PIRs.....not on in my eyes.......

 

[fuzzydunlop]

Glenns right in doing some certain courses first I did my 17th between 2330 lvl 2/3 and it made a huge difference in the way I think, also made the written exams a piece of ****

As for what course doing the 2357 seems a no brainer to me, I can't for the life of me see why people do a "Part P" course for a similar amount of money

 

[rugbynick]

Go for it! As said by many other replies,the best way willbe via local colleges. I have just trained two adult trainees and their course fees were about £800/year for 3 years on day release followed by the NVQ 3 and the AM2. They were paid based on the JIB labourer/adult trainee rate. Look at it as an investment in your own future. Deskilling or not- there will always be a need for good electricians.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I see the sensible have decided to attend this thread.....good to see.....

 

[yamar1]

agree with the 2330....soon to become the 2357 being the underpinning knowledge n all that....but hold on here mate...you say that this has to be the FIRST thing you undertake....what a load of rubbish that one is!!.....I didn`t do it that way and it hasn`t done me any harm at all at college i can tell you......

thats the way i would recommend doing it , of cource its up to him at the end of the day but at some point the 2357 will be a must, sureley, (dont think you can get on the 2330 as year 1 now) so in my oppinion should be started as soon as, then if you want do the addons alongside it.

 

[BlueToBits]

Some good, sound advice here. But, qualifications alone won't cut it. A 4 year AMA is around 700 days in 'on the tools' experience. At one saturday a week it will take 16 years to gain the same level. With luck and a few good contacts, it may be possible to do it quicker.
Tutors are often very competent and dedicated. Many I have the utmost respect for, but their job is to get, students through examinations with at least a pass grade. This is not the same thing as being a competent electrician who's skills are leaned and honed in the work-place, the college course merely gives them the theory to under-pin these skills.
Don't worry about the qualifications - that's the easy part, get the experience first.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

thats the way i would recommend doing it , of cource its up to him at the end of the day but at some point the 2357 will be a must, sureley, (dont think you can get on the 2330 as year 1 now) so in my oppinion should be started as soon as, then if you want do the addons alongside it.

nope...I am currently on the last year for the 2330 intake (year 2 level 2) which means that when i started at college in 2010 that was the last year that you could do the level 2 and 3 2330........all this together with the 2356 NVQ3 will be replaced with the 2357...which incorparates the 2330 and the NVQ all under one qual number.....it also means that candidates/students will not be able to complete the cert without being emploued within the industry...........

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Some good, sound advice here. But, qualifications alone won't cut it. A 4 year AMA is around 700 days in 'on the tools' experience. At one saturday a week it will take 16 years to gain the same level. With luck and a few good contacts, it may be possible to do it quicker.
Tutors are often very competent and dedicated. Many I have the utmost respect for, but their job is to get, students through examinations with at least a pass grade. This is not the same thing as being a competent electrician who's skills are leaned and honed in the work-place, the college course merely gives them the theory to under-pin these skills.
Don't worry about the qualifications - that's the easy part, get the experience first.

quals and experience can be gained together though.....like in harmony with each other...but as you rightly say......all very well having reg numbers coming out of your ears like steam....but if you aint no good on the tools......

 

[Engineer54]

quals and experience can be gained together though.....like in harmony with each other...but as you rightly say......all very well having reg numbers coming out of your ears like steam....but if you aint no good on the tools......

That is how it's always been done, as far as apprenticeships have been concerned, and how it should be done now.

Why?? Because it WORKS and has done so since time immemorial!!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

That is how it's always been done, as far as apprenticeships have been concerned, and how it should be done now.

Why?? Because it WORKS and has done so since time immemorial!!

Yep i agree eng.....you will of course though always get jobsworths tucked away in some office someware thinking they "know whats best" that would rock the boat.....but i`m a strong believer of "if it aint broke ...dont try to fix it".....

 

[pmac10]

not seeing a lot about for electricians at the moment and the installation side is heavily regulated (as it should be), your local colleges will do courses in electrical engineering, which will open more doors for you, albeit, possibly less well paid, but infinitely more interesting, worth a look pal, and your age isn't frowned upon in this industry

 

[GLENNSPARK]

well i can see how age can be a bonus here......the amount of arsing about that goes on at college......wouldn`t let most of em anyware near a dis board at the mo`....and i have said this before in here...........

 

[yamar1]

nope...I am currently on the last year for the 2330 intake (year 2 level 2) which means that when i started at college in 2010 that was the last year that you could do the level 2 and 3 2330........all this together with the 2356 NVQ3 will be replaced with the 2357...which incorparates the 2330 and the NVQ all under one qual number.....it also means that candidates/students will not be able to complete the cert without being emploued within the industry...........

quite correct thats what i ment, im on the 3rd year 2330 and hopefully should be finished in july, also have completed the nvq lvl3 2356 so just need to finish this year now then i may go for the 2391 while its still fresh.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

quite correct thats what i ment, im on the 3rd year 2330 and hopefully should be finished in july, also have completed the nvq lvl3 2356 so just need to finish this year now then i may go for the 2391 while its still fresh.

yep...the 2391 is worth having...got mine june ish i think it was.....