What qualifications are required to work on domestic buildings?

[allthequestions]

Hi Everyone,

I would like to first start off with a little about myself, I am 19, live in Scotland, 3.5 Years through my apprenticeship as an electrical technician in the oil and gas industry. I currently have my HNC in electrical engineering and am about to complete my SVQ level 3 in electrical engineering.

I have always worked in the industry and never done any domestic work. I did a little bit on inspection and testing and the regulations while at college but nothing too detailed. I work with both 3 phase and single phase systems here. Also do plenty of work on other industrial stuff such as protection relays, high voltage equipment, generators, motors etc. I was wondering what courses/tests/qualifiactions would be required for me to work on domestic properties at the end of my apprenticeship in a few months? Feel free to tell me how you got into the industry and what qualifications etc you had when you started as all information would be helpful.

 

[baldsparkies]

The Egotistical fools, don`t hump other peoples furniture around, or lift carpets for a living....They tend to work on problematic design projects, at the design stage, and throughout the project. They find it interesting, rewarding and gain alot of respect. But then, it took alot of years, cost and studying to get there.

In total agreement.
Well said sir.:icon12:

 

[LankyWill]

The Egotistical fools, don`t hump other peoples furniture around, or lift carpets for a living....They tend to work on problematic design projects, at the design stage, and throughout the project. They find it interesting, rewarding and gain alot of respect. But then, it took alot of years, cost and studying to get there.

I'm not a carpet fitter. I work on new builds only so i don't need to move anything. Even if I did it doesn't make me any less of electrician it's work either way. It's seems you think you being an electrician has an hierarchy it doesn't we all excel in different areas doesn't make any of us less of electrician.

 

[tazz]

Hence the different...Electrical Engineer or Electrician, Hopefully this young man will continue his hard work, resulting in his achievement as an industrial designer...You never know, you may one day install one of his designs.

 

[ImpededLoop]

What's your reason for wanting to go into domestic work?

As others have said, there's more variety and money in industrial and I would personally stay in that sector.

It's easy to think that the grass is greener on the other side, but in reality it's not.

 

[Engineer54]

I'm not a carpet fitter. I work on new builds only so i don't need to move anything. Even if I did it doesn't make me any less of electrician it's work either way. It's seems you think you being an electrician has an hierarchy it doesn't we all excel in different areas doesn't make any of us less of electrician.

Of course their is a '' hierarchy'' in place, there is in all trades and professions, it's what higher education is all about, it's called progression!! What we have here, is a young lad that has had extensive time, effort and money training him to work at a much higher level within the industrial sector only to throw that training and achievement away, to enter a sector of the industry that in the real world hierarchy of things, is on the bottom runs of the ladder...

Out of the 5 examples you give above, only two can be remotely classed as being ''interesting'', unfortunately those two examples will not count for even one percent of typical domestic sector work.

Let me ask you a question, ...if this was you're young son would you be honestly be advising him to give up his present line of occupation with an oil company, to enter the domestic sector as a house basher??

 

[LankyWill]

You say "house basher" he still classes as electrician with the majority of quals you have. End of the day who are we to question his decision. He's a man he can make up his own career choice.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Could be working for BP and be in line for the chop.BP are planning on spending 640 million on redundancy.

 

[Andy78]

You say "house basher" he still classes as electrician with the majority of quals you have. End of the day who are we to question his decision. He's a man he can make up his own career choice.

Electricians who have many many combined years of experience in the industry in all different sectors. Who remember what it was like to be young and want to chase as much money and do as little work as possible. Guys that have an insight into and a knowledge of the industry as a whole this lad can't possibly have at his age. Fellas that know which way the wind is blowing these days, and want to advise a lad to capitalize on the hard work that he has put in, and that has been put into him, to make the best start of his career that he can.

If he has any sense, he will take heed of the consensus in this thread.

 

[Bobster]

At 19, thats very quick to get through an ONC (3 years) and an HNC (4 years), or are these NVQ certs...?

ONC can be completed in 2 years now, then the HNC can be done in a further 2 years. Then a further 2 years for HND, then a further 2 for Beng Hons. That's if you follow it in that progression, or at least what a couple of colleges near me offer.

It's still 8years of education with 6 being at a higher level. Complete that alongside a decent apprenticeship, an excellent grounding for future life.

 

[Engineer54]

You say "house basher" he still classes as electrician with the majority of quals you have. End of the day who are we to question his decision. He's a man he can make up his own career choice.

Well i've been around in this industry an awful long time now, and the term ''House Basher'' has always been applied to those that exclusively work in the domestic sector. Yes i suppose it was used as a derogatory term to some extent, but that's the way it was and maybe still is!!

We have no real influence over this young lads decision, we can only try to help him NOT to make a BAD decision that he could well regret both in the short term and in later life.

The question still remains, would you advise your son to give up a promising career in the oil/gas industry to enter the domestic sector or would you be calling him all the silly buggers under the sun even contemplating such a move??

 

[pennychew]

What happened to Rob2?

 

[Maddison]

your probably earning more now as an apprentice than you will as an electrician in the domestic sector.. only you can decide what you want to do but the knowledge and experience you already have.sits you in good stead for your future in that industry regardless of todays oil climate. the experience you have gained will not be worth a penny in the domestic environment... might be an idea of doing a few days with a local sparky before you make any decisions that you cant turn back on...

 

[Bobster]

What happened to Rob2?

My name was changed to just Rob

 

[pennychew]

My name was changed to just Rob

Silly question really!

 

[LankyWill]

If I had a son which I don't. I would let him lead his own life and not take the advice of some people from a forum. Just take in to account what they say and go from there. End of the day it's his career and domestic electricians earn good money. I've done industrial work before and didn't struggle to much. It's the person not the job role their in.