Which of these 2 would you choose?

[n180]

Hi Guys,

Need some advice from the more experienced people. I am looking to go into training as an electrician. I have narrowed down my options to 2 providers. I would appreciate if you could give me some advice on which of these two training providers you would choose.

I will be starting from scratch as I am changing insudtry and know very little about being an electrican.

Training Provider 1:

• Takes between 1 year and 18 months depending on how fast you want to work to get to NVQ level 3 (it's flexible to fit around your current lifestyle)
• You are given books and online simulation etc to help you learn your theory at home.
• Once you have done theory for the module, you go into thier centre, do some practical training on their equipment (CU, wiring, circuits etc) in their training rooms for a week and then take test for that specific C&G qualification.
• First you achieve your NVQ level 2 (C&G part P, 17th edition etc) to become a domestic installer, but before you achieve level 2, they send you on one of their own construction contracts for atleast a week to give you some real life experience, you then get your NVQ level 2.
• Then you can start work as domestic installer whilst carrying on training with them (flexible) for NVQ level 3 (2357)
• costs about 6k to get to NVQ level 3, paid monthly at about £145/month (obvioulsy I will have fininshed course before even paying full amount).
• I do not think anywhere in this course you do the 2394/2395

Training Provider 2:

• Pay £1700 to do my Part P, 17th edition and electrcial fundamentals training. They also have their training rooms with all the training equipment (CU, wiring, circuits etc). Do all this in about month.
• Pay another £850 to do my 2394/2395.
• They will try their best to find me atleast a weeks work experience with an electrcian to get practical experience.
• Work with my gas safe engineer pal who gets quite a bit of electrical work, which will give me some practical experrience.
• Later on I can do the 2357 for NVQ level 3, even though it will take me a couple of grand more and another year or so (so in thoery the cost will be about the same as option 1 but in this I get the 2394/2395).

Tried to be brief so I hope the options make sense.

Both options are similar, I don't get massive amounts of real life practical experience. Can the Part P, 17th edition and other fundamental theory really be learned in about 3 weeks, or would it be better to spread over a longer period as in provider 1?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Hi all,
Im wondering what the main differences and similarities aswell as pros n cons are between a year plus course (college or training company) and a 4-6 week course?
I want to be a fully qualified electrician and did take a course (originally 2330) but company went bust so am now wanting to start training as a domestic installer and work my way up from there.
If a course can guarantee me work when ib finished that course would that be a good bet? Im more than willing to put years in but domt know how to start?!
Or should I go with a college as they shouldnt go bust?
I cant find anyone that will take me on atm.
I just want to be an electrician (installation) and as my brother was a plumber, maybe work together in the future!
Can anyone please help

http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/electrical-courses-electrical-nvqs/100692-what-would-you-do.html

 

[haynesmyster]

I'd like to do a course for 4weeks, £3500 for 17th and part p. Then I could work as a domestic installer right? From there gain experience and then further training when the time is right.Im looking at a company called options tools T/a options skills ltd in Birmingham, anyone know if there good?
Cananyone please help

 

[n180]

Haynes,

I'm in the same boat as you, about to start retraining as an electrician. That course is not worth it from option tools or any other provider. I was about to make the same mistake as you until, thanks to this fourm, I relaised better. For learning the theory, I've got myself a good couple of books from the library (by Chris Kitcher and trevor linsley) and combine that with online research, youtubte/training videos on various topics, you should be able to pick most of what you need to know in theory. For practical, I have got a friend who has a lot of experience wiring houses who is willing to let me work with him to learn some of the practical side (even though he is not offically a sparky or qualified he does have to do the work according to the standards to get things signed off, it's the best I can find at the moment to learn practical side). After a bit of practical experience working with him, I will do the 17th edition and Part P which will cost less than a grand but that's a grand I will have earned doing Domestic electrcial work - so I'm not really losing out any money.

Then in Sept I'm planning on joining the SCC college in Birmingham to do my NVQ level 2 and 3 over a couple of years whilst carrying on with the domestic work and trying to work up from there.

This way I save a few grand and any false hopes/promises from training providers of how my life will be oh so wonderful after I have completed their fast track courses in an industry with "severe shortages". But most importantly I will have learned the hard way - on the job through dedicated self study - therefore proving to myself that I am willing to put in the hard work it takes to be an electrician, proving to myself that I am willing to cope with the pitfulls, stresses and problems a sparky has to face, and developing the confidence to take on real jobs.

That sure beats putting in 3 grand+ into a fast track course and coming out the other with the title "electrician" but not having the confidence to even go to a customers house with my shiny new tools and stick in a socket in their wall.

 

[n180]

Just came across this post again.

Wow, where have 2 and half years gone, they've flown past.

I really owe you guys for the advice you gave.

Ended up doing 2365 C&G at college, levels 2 and 3, which I completed a few months ago. Done my 17th edition, and EAL inspection and testing, whilst getting part time experience as a mate on domestic and commercial.

Now that I am in the industry and know a lot better what is going on, I cringe at the 2 options I had initially posted. These Electrical Trainee courses would have really done me over. Even with the college course alone, I would have been no where without the experience. Site experience with a time served spark is everything. Slowly do the courses over a couple of years in college, but focus on getting experience is the way for those too old for apprenticeships.

And a certificate for fundamentals of electrics lol, what was I thinking. These training centres really know how to take advantage of people unfamiliar with the industry.

Thanks for saving me from these fast track courses and being scammed £1000's.

 

[Andy78]

Looking back through this thread you got some great advice.
Well done on your achievements. You should be feeling proud and satisfied I should imagine ?

 

[JAWS]

Just came across this post again.

Wow, where have 2 and half years gone, they've flown past.

I really owe you guys for the advice you gave.

Ended up doing 2365 C&G at college, levels 2 and 3, which I completed a few months ago. Done my 17th edition, and EAL inspection and testing, whilst getting part time experience as a mate on domestic and commercial.

Now that I am in the industry and know a lot better what is going on, I cringe at the 2 options I had initially posted. These Electrical Trainee courses would have really done me over. Even with the college course alone, I would have been no where without the experience. Site experience with a time served spark is everything. Slowly do the courses over a couple of years in college, but focus on getting experience is the way for those too old for apprenticeships.

And a certificate for fundamentals of electrics lol, what was I thinking. These training centres really know how to take advantage of people unfamiliar with the industry.

Thanks for saving me from these fast track courses and being scammed £1000's.

Really pleased for you well done mate

 

[JAWS]

I agree working with an electrician helped you gain relevant experience but unfortunately the reality is not everyone is luckily enough to to get this option so sometimes people have to take various other routes hence why I believe these Electrical Trainee courses took off & gained so much popularity.