Re train as an Electrician

[mb007inc]

Can anyone help ?
I want to retrain as an electrician but I have a full time job and bills to pay. The problem I have is that I cannot attend a college on a full time basis or one day a week as my shift patterns would not allow this.
The only way that I can see that I could do this is by doing a course online and then use my annual leave to do practical work. I have looked at courses online but they want fees of £5000+, which I simply cannot afford. Does anyone know of any other alternatives ?

 

[J@mes]

My advice would be - don't.

Sorry, but experienced sparks are struggling for work, all you'll do is lose your £5K for some bits of paper you cant put to use.

 

[Phil]

tbh the on line courses may suit some but a vast many which would be me included if we are honest and starting from scratch would not complete.
trouble is if you study online or from books at home with email support if your lucky from a tutor, commitments change, distrcations are around and what if you don`t understand a section? say in college you could stick your hand up or stay back after the lesson and ask the tutor where as at home your mainly on your own with little help.
if you can answer the following with a yes then go for it if not have a serious think before you part with your cash.
will you have the time to study?
will you be able to do so with no distractions?
are you 100% committed for all the hard work that goes with it?
do you definitely 100% to do this for a career if yes have you tried it? if not how do you know?

 

[Phil]

thats not my way of putting you off just making sure you know what you are getting into before you spend your money.
also what practicle experience will you be able to get with an electrician? because what you get in college will take you no where near what you need.
good luck with it if you still want to do it and stick around the forums. tons and tons of great people with more knowledge than you can get out of a book on here

 

[Adam W]

If the company you work for have or want 'Investors in People' status they should give you a day off a week.
If not you could do what I did and quit your job, supporting yourself by doing part time jobs until you find work in the trade.

As J@mes said there aren't many jobs around atm even for experienced sparks and of course you'll have to make cutbacks, but for me it was worth it because it's what I wanted to do.