Electrician > Electrical Engineer

[king_11]

Hello all.

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]As the subject suggests I am currently working as an electrician, however I have been looking into becoming an electrical engineer.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I have located and contacted my local college in regards to the HNC electrical engineering courses and they have told me they do evenings, so that shouldn't be a problem as i still want to work as an electrician whist doing said course...[/FONT]

My questions are

Is this a possible career change ?

I'm 27 and wondering if i've left it to late?

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Will my current electrical background help or hinder me?[/FONT]

Will i struggle to find a job now?

Should I carry on to do HND?

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Has anybody had any experience in doing this?[/FONT]

Tips and pointers are very much welcomed

Thanks

Ash

 

[trev]

Yes
Yes
No
It's different
Times are tough
Yes
Not personally but I know people who have
No bother
Trev

 

[telectrix]

Hello all.

As the subject suggests I am currently working as an electrician, however I have been looking into becoming an electrical engineer.

I have located and contacted my local college in regards to the HNC electrical engineering courses and they have told me they do evenings, so that shouldn't be a problem as i still want to work as an electrician whist doing said course...

My questions are

Is this a possible career change ? definitely

I'm 27 and wondering if i've left it to late? nope

Will my current electrical background help or hinder me? help

Will i struggle to find a job now? depends

Should I carry on to do HND? definitely

Has anybody had any experience in doing this?

Tips and pointers are very much welcomed

Thanks

Ash

my thoughts in red, after after trying to make sense of trev's answers. well, he is a geordie. LOL.

 

[trev]

my thoughts in red, after after trying to make sense of trev's answers. well, he is a geordie. LOL.

Pretty much the same answers as mine but not in proper England like

 

[rapparee]

I'm looking into it and I'm a year older than you, utd's out of the champions league this year so I'm thinking it might be an option, 2 nights a week for 2 years

 

[rapparee]

Pretty much the same answers as mine but not in proper England like

would that be proper English? oliceman:

 

[telectrix]

nearly as bad as utd. wtf is that? only team is LFC.

 

[trev]

would that be proper English? oliceman:

HOW MAN! Aam a Geordie. Aa say worra mean an Aa mean worra say!
Reet! ?

 

[Silly Sausage]

Do a degree mate, you get to cover some interesting ground!!!
You can see where my strengths and weaknesses lie!

 

[king_11]

Do a degree mate, you get to cover some interesting ground!!!
You can see where my strengths and weaknesses lie!

View attachment 25619

View attachment 25620

And not the HNC? not sure if I would even get on a degree course

HNC is one below a degree?

 

[trev]

And not the HNC? not sure if I would even get on a degree course

HNC is one below a degree?

2 or 3 below as I understand it mate.

 

[Adam W]

2 or 3 below as I understand it mate.

From what I can make out:
HNC is equivalent to 1st year of degree
HND is equivalent to 2nd year of degree
then you can do another course to upgrade your HNC and HND to a degree.

... Or you can just do it all together as a degree.

 

[rapparee]

hnc is level 4 and is one below a degree, and a hnd is level 5 and equal to a degree

edit .... i'm wrong I looked it up

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_National_Certificate

 

[jimmymac]

If you do the HNC then you won't immediately be an electrical engineer. To call yourself and electrical engineer you need to either have a degree or HNC/HND and 10+ years experience, or at least that's what I think

 

[jimmymac]

hnc is level 4 and is one below a degree, and a hnd is level 5 and equal to a degree

edit .... i'm wrong I looked it up

Higher National Certificate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It may be different in England/Ireland/Wales but a HND is not an equivalent to a degree in Scotland. A degree would normally take four years to complete; 1st year is HNC, 2nd year is HND then remaining two years are all the extra units which are required to get to the degree

 

[king_11]

If you do the HNC then you won't immediately be an electrical engineer. To call yourself and electrical engineer you need to either have a degree or HNC/HND and 10+ years experience, or at least that's what I think

Well yes, ill be graduate/trainee electrical engineer.

 

[rapparee]

on a side note, has anyone done the c course? it was discontinued the year I started so I missed the boat, was it big miss

 

[Silly Sausage]

And not the HNC? not sure if I would even get on a degree course

HNC is one below a degree?

I don't know, but choose wisely about where and what level of qualification you do.
I read recently about someone interviewed some lass with a 1st Class degree in Computer Studies.
Turned out, she didn't even know how to program!!!
She went to Sheffield Hallam "University", looks like a Blair Mickey Mouse degree.
Point being, I think, a "lesser" qualification, which has quality content will be worth more than the aforementioned. In my opinion anyway!
Seek proper advice from somewhere.

 

[jimmymac]

Well yes, ill be graduate/trainee electrical engineer.

You won't be a graduate engineer unless you get a degree, you may find a job as a trainee engineer but you could be up against others that have the degree. I'm not trying to put you off, just letting you know how things stand. I've just finished my HNC and it's opened a lot of doors for me so I would recommend doing it

 

[king_11]

You won't be a graduate engineer unless you get a degree, you may find a job as a trainee engineer but you could be up against others that have the degree. I'm not trying to put you off, just letting you know how things stand. I've just finished my HNC and it's opened a lot of doors for me so I would recommend doing it

Did you work as an electrician whilst doing the course?

 

[abltech]

Unless you have studied electrical engineering at a lower level such as a Diploma or have good A-Levels I doubt you would be accepted onto a degree course (or even a HND for that matter).

I would do what you suggested in your original post and do a HNC. See how you like it and then you could either go onto a degree or do a extra year and get a HND. Electrical engineering covers a huge field and there is plenty opportunity out there. The problem is starting out, the pay may be not as good as your used to and you may have to go down before you get back up again.

 

[jimmymac]

Did you work as an electrician whilst doing the course?

Yes I did but I did the HNC fulltime so I was just taking on small domestic jobs to keep the money coming in. The college said it was fulltime but really it was only 3.5 days a week so I just worked 1 week day and some weekends

 

[king_11]

Yes I did but I did the HNC fulltime so I was just taking on small domestic jobs to keep the money coming in. The college said it was fulltime but really it was only 3.5 days a week so I just worked 1 week day and some weekends

Yeah thats exactly what i was thinking, however might be a bit different for me if i did the HND i'd probably have to leave my company as im not self employed. But cross the bridge when it comes to it.

 

[jimmymac]

Yeah thats exactly what i was thinking, however might be a bit different for me if i did the HND i'd probably have to leave my company as im not self employed. But cross the bridge when it comes to it.

Just do small jobs for yourself to try and keep the money coming in. If you do the HND full time it will be two years, the first year will be HNC and the second HND. I'm considering doing the HND but i start a new job in a couple of weeks so I'll see how that pans out before I decide

 

[king_11]

Just do small jobs for yourself to try and keep the money coming in. If you do the HND full time it will be two years, the first year will be HNC and the second HND. I'm considering doing the HND but i start a new job in a couple of weeks so I'll see how that pans out before I decide

Easier said than done I think, from my experience. Need to get NIC registered also.

A new job in engineering ?

 

[jimmymac]

Easier said than done I think, from my experience. Need to get NIC registered also.

A new job in engineering ?

Not if your only doing non-notifiable jobs. My new job is an electrically biased engineering/maintenance job. It was the HNC which got me the job, i definitely wouldn't have got it if i didn't have the HNC

 

[king_11]

Not if your only doing non-notifiable jobs. My new job is an electrically biased engineering/maintenance job. It was the HNC which got me the job, i definitely wouldn't have got it if i didn't have the HNC

Cool, sounds good. Get yourself on the ladder as such . How did you find the course ?

 

[jimmymac]

Cool, sounds good. Get yourself on the ladder as such . How did you find the course ?

At first i thought that i wasn't going to able to do it because i'd been out of the education system for so long and the first units we did were heavy on the Maths, which is something I've always struggled with, but when i got over that hurdle the rest of it just seemed to roll by. If i'm honest i found it easier than i thought i would and i got an 'A' in the final graded assesment

 

[king_11]

At first i thought that i wasn't going to able to do it because i'd been out of the education system for so long and the first units we did were heavy on the Maths, which is something I've always struggled with, but when i got over that hurdle the rest of it just seemed to roll by. If i'm honest i found it easier than i thought i would and i got an 'A' in the final graded assesment

That's good then . Did you need separate help with the maths ? Are you a similar age to me?

 

[jimmymac]

That's good then . Did you need separate help with the maths ? Are you a similar age to me?

It's my birthday tomorrow, i'm 34. I didn't get any extra help with the maths, just the same help as all the other students. It wasn't that bad really, it just took a wee while to get back into doing

 

[scammell man]

If you want to go into electrical engineering, go for it, but do so, eyes wide open. It is VERY different world.

If you want to call yourself a professional engineer, you need to be registered with the engineering council. EngTech, IEng or CEng. Normally HNC=EngTech, Degree=IEng, Masters Degree=CEng.
There is a lot more than just a qualification to get the engineering council registration. Your background as a sparks WILL help.

You are never too old

The course maths often is the biggest hurdle for people, but there is help and none of these quals comes without proper hard work.

If you get a proper electrical engineering qual and registration, you should never be without work and it is possible to earn some serious money.

I have mentored and put people through all levels of engineering council registration. If you want a chat, PM me.

Has just been pointed out to me that HNC will get you EngTech. Checking the list of quals they will accept, of which there are many, so is an NVQ level 3 acceptable, the same as required by scams for full scope electrician. EngTech is a legally protected title, ie if you haven't been awarded it it is illegal to call yourself this.

 

[mechelec]

Look into a foundation degree. Designed to be studied whilst working (work based project needed to be completed) and easy to top up to full degree.

 

[king_11]

Look into a foundation degree. Designed to be studied whilst working (work based project needed to be completed) and easy to top up to full degree.

sounds promising, would it be a foundation degree in electrical engineering?

 

[king_11]

If you want to go into electrical engineering, go for it, but do so, eyes wide open. It is VERY different world.

If you want to call yourself a professional engineer, you need to be registered with the engineering council. EngTech, IEng or CEng. Normally HND=EngTech, Degree=IEng, Masters Degree=CEng.
There is a lot more than just a qualification to get the engineering council registration. Your background as a sparks WILL help.

You are never too old

The course maths often is the biggest hurdle for people, but there is help and none of these quals comes without proper hard work.

If you get a proper electrical engineering qual and registration, you should never be without work and it is possible to earn some serious money.

I have mentored and put people through all levels of engineering council registration. If you want a chat, PM me.

Thank you for your post, very informative.

In what way is it such a different world? in terms of less manual and needing to use your brain a lot more?

Thank you, Im sure ill be in contact at some point

 

[Doomed]

so with a degree, a NVQ4 and a HNC what would I be classed as?

 

[jimmymac]

so with a degree, a NVQ4 and a HNC what would I be classed as?

Smug...

 

[king_11]

[emoji23]

 

[jimmymac]

[emoji23]

Thank you...i'm here all week...

 

[Doomed]

Stupid is a better answer - the HNC is the only one remotely connected with electrics - electronics systems or something, also working in my area as a domestic sparks is a chap with a Phd in something to do with chemistry.

 

[jimmymac]

Stupid is a better answer - the HNC is the only one remotely connected with electrics - electronics systems or something, also working in my area as a domestic sparks is a chap with a Phd in something to do with chemistry.

One of the guys on the HNC course I did had and honours degree in graphic design....just goes to show, you never know which path's life will lead you down

 

[Doomed]

Degree in Geology, NVQ4 in management - left it all to go back to being a sparky 'cos I do it for ME and the couple of other good chaps that work with me, not working for some big company and I can live in a part of the world thats nice.

 

[jimmymac]

Degree in Geology, NVQ4 in management - left it all to go back to being a sparky 'cos I do it for ME and the couple of other good chaps that work with me, not working for some big company and I can live in a part of the world thats nice.

If your happy in your work it makes all the difference. I've done jobs which I didn't like and it just gets you down. You try not to let it affect your home life but it does because it's always on your mind and your unhappy. I suppose it's a case of you are what you do or you do what you are.

 

[Guitarist]

I did it the other way round. Took me 4 years as part of my electrical engineering apprenticeship to get an HNC, but got really disillusioned with industry after 20 years of crappy shifts and "personal progress reviews", so now I'm a self-employed domestic sparky.
To be honest, I wish I'd chosen a different career altogether....

 

[jimmymac]

I did it the other way round. Took me 4 years as part of my electrical engineering apprenticeship to get an HNC, but got really disillusioned with industry after 20 years of crappy shifts and "personal progress reviews", so now I'm a self-employed domestic sparky.
To be honest, I wish I'd chosen a different career altogether....

A bit peed off at the moment?

 

[scammell man]

I have corrected my post at the top of page 3, but the corrections do not appear to feed into the quotes other people have replied to.

 

[trev]

I have corrected my post at the top of page 3, but the corrections do not appear to feed into the quotes other people have replied to.

They don't mate, that's why you have to think about what you post and if it's going to make you look daft if someone quotes you before you can correct it.
Happens to me all the time.

 

[scammell man]

i'm quite good a looking daft

The correction is important to anyone thinking of going down the professional electrical engineering route and is woth looking at.

In summary HNC OR NVQ level 3 will be accepted for EngTech registration, which is a legally protected title / qualification

 

[tazz]

just quickly read through this tread, in my day, and I`m sure it hasn`t changed....first step is C& G....then ONC or OND and then HNC or HND....now ONC/HNC was part time 1 fully day and 1 night course 2 year......OND/HND was full time course 1 year...correct me if I`m wrong it was 30 years ago

 

[Knobhead]

Degree in Geology, NVQ4 in management - left it all to go back to being a sparky 'cos I do it for ME and the couple of other good chaps that work with me, not working for some big company and I can live in a part of the world thats nice.

So I'm not the only one then.

 

[mechelec]

sounds promising, would it be a foundation degree in electrical engineering?

Mine was electrical and electronic engineering. It covered a broad range but didn't specialise in any one area. You can use FDeng after your name to if you so wish.