So, when are we 'sparks?'

[Floody]

Basically, at which point throughout my training do I start calling myself a spark? The way I see it, id say after 2330 level 2&3 and then the NVQ? I also plan on doing the things like 2391 etc.

I'd also like to know when I am able to go out on my own. At what stage am I allowed to slap an electricians logo on a van and start work?

Cheers.

p.s I personally think I know the answers to these, but I would like to see what qualified sparks would say

 

[Baker1988]

i dont know the exact answer to this but i know self employed sparks who have only got there 2330 level2 and 3 no nvq so i would say once you have all your technical certs your basically a spark but then you need to get a nvq 3 as that is only proof of what you have done on site

 

[Floody]

But how do they do work in houses and sign it off?

 

[Baker1988]

Well niceic only require 17th edition and no other quals to register with them and once you are registered you have to do a small example that you know what you are doing like let them watch you do a consumer unit change and test it then you can go and do domestic work and sign it off and every thing thats why there are so many people running around not knowing what they are doing but still doing houses and signing them off

 

[Baker1988]

You dont have to be a fully qualified electrician to register with one of the schemes and sign work off

 

[Floody]

Ahhhhh right. So 17th and part P allows people with half a clue to call themselves sparks. Sad isn't it really that I work my --- off in the day to keep a house and kid , 2 evenings a week in college to try and get qualified and experienced in atleast something, but there's no formal educational rule that these cowboys HAVE to study

 

[D Skelton]

Personally, I'd say you become a spark after you finish college (NVQ or not) and on the day you realise that college taught you nothing in comparison to what there is to know. IMHO, you become a spark when you realise that you will spend the rest of your working life learning how to become a spark

 

[Floody]

So once I've passed 2330 level 2 and 3, and my 17th, it's acceptable to start looking for Electrician titled jobs?

there'd be no way I'd look for one before, not till I've got the quals to back it up. But I know what you mean with college Skelton, you don't learn half as much as you do when your on the job!!! Same with any type of college subject really.