Training advice to become an electrician

[Elmsend]

Hi,

I'm looking to retrain as an electrician and want to find out exactly what courses I need to undertake and the best route to go down. Google it and you're hit with course after course that suggest it can all happen in a matter of weeks (not to undermind those courses) however I am a realist and assume that doesn't make sense so what is the best/correct route to take? I've looked at a few local colleges and they offer Electrical Installation Diplomas, is that the starting point? Most of these are from September each year so is there somewhere I can start this sooner, ideally February next year? I plan to continue my day job until qualified, however long that takes, so I want to make sure I go down the right route. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks Rob

 

[telectrix]

all depends what you want to do. if all you want is house bashing, a short course might be enough. if you want to be a qualified "proper" sparks, then the college route, c&g level 2, then level 3, then AM2 and NVQ3 is the way forward.

 

[Squid]

How old are you and what you do currently work wise?

Also be aware of the "become a qualified electrician in 5 weeks" courses and steer away from them.

 

[Elmsend]

Hi, I'm 35 and am a cameraman by trade, I've been in the media industry for almost 15 years. Live TV producer then cameraman/editor, mainly events for the last 3 years. Yes I'm keen to make sure I do the right courses and not a quick short course.

 

[Elmsend]

all depends what you want to do. if all you want is house bashing, a short course might be enough. if you want to be a qualified "proper" sparks, then the college route, c&g level 2, then level 3, then AM2 and NVQ3 is the way forward.

Thanks, The proper route is for me, I'm not interested in any short courses, I'd rather do it right, however long that takes. The C & G level 2/3 are they college based or can they be dne any time of year? The only ones I've found are all September to September.

 

[telectrix]

they are sept. to sept. at college. if you are starting with level2, which is pretty basic, it may be possible to jump in on a course if you have a word with local college. if the course is under subscribed you might be able to wangle it. bear in mind thast a lot of colleges do these courses 2 evenings a week, so you can still earn while training.

 

[Squid]

Hi, I'm 35 and am a cameraman by trade, I've been in the media industry for almost 15 years. Live TV producer then cameraman/editor, mainly events for the last 3 years. Yes I'm keen to make sure I do the right courses and not a quick short course.

Most of the cameramen I know make a lot more then electricians do are you sure you want to change careers if you have the contacts do the courses on the side and then maybe film sparks work if you really want the change.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

There are several ways of doing the C&G 2365 L2/3, as you said you can do them at college typically starting in September and spring.
You may find it more beneficial to do it slightly quicker by doing it at one the electrical training companies and do it in say 2 week blocks over a few months, rather than 1 or 2 days a week for 9 months.
A lot of it comes down to your existing work and whether you have time and money to do this.
I mate went to the tradeskills4u place next to Gatwick and did her 2365 L2 in the block learning method, think ti was 2 weeks on then 2 weeks off, where in between you are studying or ideally working in trade. She never did L3 as she had a kid.
Some of the training companies will let you do it as distance learning and you attend the centre just to do the practical assignments and exams.
I am just down road from you in Bath, your local options are SGS college at Filton, Weston College in w-s-m
If you want to do just domestics then have a word with morris services ltd in bristol, they will offer you more than enough courses to join a scheme to sign of work.

 

[Elmsend]

Most of the cameramen I know make a lot more then electricians do are you sure you want to change careers if you have the contacts do the courses on the side and then maybe film sparks work if you really want the change.

I expect it is the same in any industry but mine has changed a lot since I first got in it, you only have to buy a camera now and you can call yourself a cameraman! Don't get me wrong I do earn a good day rate but the work isn't consistent enough to make that count. I run my own company now but I've ended up more and more sat at a desk either bringing in jobs or editing, and that wasn't what I wanted to do. I'm still going to be working as a freelance cam op whilst I study but long term I want to change, maybe if I was filming Blue Planet I'd think differently but I film conferences/events and most of that is either London, Birmingham or beyond and given I live in North Somerset I'm sick of travelling for every job. I want to get to the point I can work locally, hopefully before the my kiddies grow up!

 

[Elmsend]

There are several ways of doing the C&G 2365 L2/3, as you said you can do them at college typically starting in September and spring.
You may find it more beneficial to do it slightly quicker by doing it at one the electrical training companies and do it in say 2 week blocks over a few months, rather than 1 or 2 days a week for 9 months.
A lot of it comes down to your existing work and whether you have time and money to do this.
I mate went to the tradeskills4u place next to Gatwick and did her 2365 L2 in the block learning method, think ti was 2 weeks on then 2 weeks off, where in between you are studying or ideally working in trade. She never did L3 as she had a kid.
Some of the training companies will let you do it as distance learning and you attend the centre just to do the practical assignments and exams.
I am just down road from you in Bath, your local options are SGS college at Filton, Weston College in w-s-m
If you want to do just domestics then have a word with morris services ltd in bristol, they will offer you more than enough courses to join a scheme to sign of work.

Thanks for the info, I've heard so many mixed views on the electrical training companies like tradeskills4u I was a little reluctant to go down that route but I'll take a look at what they do.

 

[Squid]

I expect it is the same in any industry but mine has changed a lot since I first got in it, you only have to buy a camera now and you can call yourself a cameraman! Don't get me wrong I do earn a good day rate but the work isn't consistent enough to make that count. I run my own company now but I've ended up more and more sat at a desk either bringing in jobs or editing, and that wasn't what I wanted to do. I'm still going to be working as a freelance cam op whilst I study but long term I want to change, maybe if I was filming Blue Planet I'd think differently but I film conferences/events and most of that is either London, Birmingham or beyond and given I live in North Somerset I'm sick of travelling for every job. I want to get to the point I can work locally, hopefully before the my kiddies grow up!

Weird, guy at the end of my road used to be a BBC Cameraman, I wished that I had his pension package lol, and oddly enough Andy is his neighbour, Andrew Booth - IMDb - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1419245/

The reason that I am mentioning this is that I thought I'd get back in to sparking after finishing my apprenticeship then going in to data then IT and it looks like I'd be better off staying in IT but this is in London and it may not count for the rest of the country.

 

[Elmsend]

Weird, guy at the end of my road used to be a BBC Cameraman, I wished that I had his pension package lol, and oddly enough Andy is his neighbour, Andrew Booth - IMDb - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1419245/

Yeah if you're a BBC cameraman it probably is pretty sweet but that's a dying trade, studio news is or has gone auto, and series employ assitant producers to shoot b-roll with specialist guys shooting main content. The news guys I work with are fighting over jobs and then the corporate sector which I work in has seen the bottom drop out thanks to people living with mum and dad undercutting experienced guys, sadly more and more companies go with price over experience. I'm lucky at the moment that I have regular events but long term I'm not willing to rely on this and I don't have the desire to build my business up any more than it is right now, I don't have the passion for what I do anymore so I'd rather start retraining now than wait any longer. I'm not ruling out other trades but I want to see what advice comes back on training here.

 

[Squid]

If you have lost the passion then yep its time to move on same as me I lost interest in IT and thought getting back in to sparking would be a good idea but then I though nah! need a different avenue for myself.

Best of luck in whatever you choose to do.

 

[RDB85]

I’ve looked at some college courses here in Liverpool, seem the only way as none offer an evening course which is a shame really.