Updating my qualifications

[nickjohn]

First please forgive me if this is posted in the wrong section of the forum I am new here.

I qualified as an electrician more years ago than I care to thing of (over 30!!!!!!) over the years I have slipped in and out of general contracting and for the last few years have been involved in the building trade and only done basic wiring for new extensions etc which have been inspected within the building control Part P inspection service.

As the building side is pretty sh*t at the moment I am looking at updating my qualifications (17th edition course, competent person scheme etc) and have had a trawl through the net only to find it is full of rip off merchants offering mickey mouse courses for £1,000's so I was wondering if any on the forum had any details of a suitable place for me to start looking for relevant courses.

Any feedback would be great.

Cheers
Nick

 

[colshaws]

Where are you based or how far do wish to travel.

 

[nickjohn]

Hi, based up in South Cumbria. Don't mind travelling just depends how far..

 

[colshaws]

The place I was going to recomend is in Dartford kent , a bit to far i think.

 

[telectrix]

17th Ed. ( 2382-10 ) is about £250 at most colleges. 12 weeks evenings. then all depends on your existing qualifications. the 17th will allow you to join one of the scam clubs for part p.

 

[cdavies33]

What quals to you have at the moment? You might only need 17th to get a jib card back?

 

[nickjohn]

Hi, I qualified back in the early 80's after the standard 5 year apprenticeship (as opposed to the 6 month ones they seem to do nowadays) so have the C&G - not sure which numbers. I did the 16th edition course when it was needed, other than that not done any others.
The local building control class me as a competent installer due to my age and experience but need to get things updated so that I can do more domestic work..

 

[cdavies33]

Your a qualified spark then! Get searching to do the 17th edition and job done! Most local colleges offer it

 

[nickjohn]

I did talk to the JIB some time ago but they said as I qualified so long ago they had no record of me and I would only be able to register as a labourer!!!!!!

 

[nickjohn]

Hi cdavies33, it was more some form of competent persons course I was after to give me a refresher on current testing etc etc

 

[cdavies33]

If you can find all the certificates from your apprenticeship days the JIB shouldn't argue any more with that matter although you would have to do a health and safety exam as stated on their website. If you want a refresher on testing that won't rip an arm and leg off the City and Guilds 2392 will do it for you. It concentrates on all testing aspect relating to a domestic installation, around the £400 mark I think

 

[nickjohn]

Cheers for the feedback cdavies33, I do still have all my old certs in the loft was going to dig them out - think I even have my old indentured apprenticeship paperwork - I do have a current H&S qualification and will look into the C&G 2392.
Again many thanks for the feedback..

 

[Marvo]

I'm sure the college you went to can dig the info and certificates from their archives. They all keep records for around sixty years or longer in some cases. They'll probably charge you a fee, especially if they haven't gone that far back with entering the data on their computer network but it will be cheap compared to going to school again.

 

[jlohm]

hi im doing the the 3rd year off the 2330 and also completeing my nvq level 3 at college their is a chap on our course that had the same problem he just done a 17th edition update a day of havong your head rammed in bs 7671 all day then an exam i think it was quite expensive that way he is covered as a competent perso to install electrical installations but i would recommend buying a green regs book and having a good look through it because the regulations have changed since the 16th mainly on bonding,testing,surge protection ect....