Trade Qualified LTD

[StevieG]

Looking into a course with these guys, does anyone have any info on them costs etc.

Cheers Steve.

 

[garyinderby]

Did my training with TQ and to be honest i had a great time at ATL in featherstone. that one of the centres they use for your practical weeks. top rate. though can be a bit long winded with marking assignments. overall value for money. though for the life of me i cant remember how much.

 

[5-Week-Wonder]

They're one of the cheapest, and the throw in some extra training and the 2391 exam on top. Like Gary said though - they use ATL for the actual training and don't actually do anything!

 

[StevieG]

Who are ATL?, Does anyone know the cost of this course, I have loads of electrical experience , no quals.

Just need to know if this course will give me the qualifications I need to go out and work for myself?.

 

[5-Week-Wonder]

Who are ATL?, Does anyone know the cost of this course, I have loads of electrical experience , no quals.

Just need to know if this course will give me the qualifications I need to go out and work for myself?.

ATL are Apprentice Training Ltd. Trade Qualified charge between 5 and 6k for the course (depending on whether you pay it all up front, or in installments).

The course will give you your C&G 2382 (17th edition of the wiring regs) which seems to be the only thing that some Domestic Installer/Part P schemes ask for (hence the term '5 day wonder').

It will also give you some building regs qualifications (not City & Guilds) which may be required by some Part P scheme operators.

If you want to do commercial/industrial electrics, you're going to need the C&G 2391 (as well as the relevant experience) and become an NIC Approved Contractor (for example - there are other schemes).

 

[StevieG]

So does anyone know of some better cheaper course?

Did yo do one of these courses 5Week, if so how did you get on and what did it involve?.

 

[Jag]

If you do this course are you qualified as an electrician or no?

Thanks

Also how is there teaching in the practical area?

 

[StevieG]

Just need a reliable course at a decent price, can anyone help?

 

[5-Week-Wonder]

I did the Trade Qualified/ATL course, same as garyinderby, except I did mine at Hedge End, Southampton.

In theory you do hours of home study, complete an end of module 'quiz' (at home) post it off to get marked and then book a week at ATL. There are 4 modules.

In reality, neither ATL nor TQ are bothered about the module 'quiz'. You can book the weeks in the centre without having done the home study, and if you've got experience then that's the best option as the pace can be quite slow.

Week 1 - wire up a few sockets, lights. Bit of classroom theory... ohms law mainly
Week 2 - part P 'defined scope' - all classroom work, with lecturers hand-holding you through filling in the paperwork
Week 3 - part P 'full scope' - same as above, but increased focus on installation design
Week 4 - cramming (mostly highlighting and putting tabs in your book) for 17th edition exam, which is multiple choice on computer under exam conditions. Open book. Easy.

Over the course you'll also pick up a first aid certificate, CSC card site safety thing (which end of a broom do you hold?) and a PAT testing certificate.

If you want, you can then have 4 days (1 day a week) preparing you for the C&G 2391 which is a 2 and a half hour written exam, no books (hard!) followed by a half day practical assessment. Importantly, this isn't necessary to join a part P scheme.

I have to say, the ATL lecturers are excellent and I learnt a lot, but there are probably plenty of people who found the course to be expensive, lengthy, and they didn't get much out of it.

In theory, you could find a college/training centre that would allow you to sit the 2382 and save yourself a big load of cash.... question is, if you cram for the regs exam and join a part P scheme, are you really ready to start out on your own?

Personally, I've found there's no substitute for working with an experienced electrician who can take one glance at an installation and spot all the pitfalls.

If you do this course are you qualified as an electrician or no?

No.

If you do the course, you will be eligible to join a Domestic Installer/Part P scheme. To Joe public you are an "electrician". You can even market yourself as a "domestic electrician". However you won't have as much experience as somebody who has done a 3+ year apprenticeship/C&G 2330, so you can't really compare yourself to those people until you yourself have the experience - you gotta know your limits.

Also how is there teaching in the practical area?

Very little - a few lights and sockets, maybe a consumer unit change if you're lucky. See my earlier post.

My advice (from personal experience) is to only do this course if you intend to follow up with the C&G 2391 (very hard exam) and then get a job working for somebody more experienced, or if you know somebody you can work with, who can fill the gaps between theory and reality.

You won't get a job without the 2391 in the current tough environment.