Becoming a qualified electrician

[wolfie]

Hi everyone

I am due to leave the Armed Forces in 4 yrs after 22yrs service. Before joining I worked as a labourer mainly for an electrician and could almost of been classed as a trainee electrician. Since joining I retained the knowledge learnt, improved it through various reading out of interest and helped friends with basic electrical requirements.

When I leave in 2011 I am serioeusly considering trying to set up as a self employed electrician. I have done lots of looking in to this but to date the only place I can really get answers is from companies that offer their own training courses.

Would anybody please give me a few minutes and anwser the following questions:

1. Am I being realistic in thinking I can do this, I don't need to earn a fortune but do need to work?
2. Everybody seems to offer the "Domestic" qualification, but most electrician vans say "domestic, commercial, industrial". How much does the "domestic" qualification limit you? What can't you do?
3. Most qualifications are C and G 2381, 2391 - but what about 2320 and 2330?
4. How would an experienced and qualified electrician like to see people like me enter the industry and could you get alienated by having only done a 4-6 week course? (not that I intend to enter on such little training).

That should do for now, thanks to anybody who takes the time to read this. And thanks to Elecata Course.com for creating this forum. I think it will prove very useful.

Wolfie

[solo3uk]

Hi Wolfie, in answer to your questions.
The main criteria according to the IEE BS 7671 Wiring Regulations, the body that regulates electrical work, is that you should be competent and have relevant experience in electrical work. The Regs don`t say you should have this or that qualification. In fact you don`t need any qualifications as such if you can prove you have experience and are competent in electrical work. Before leaving the Forces you should get references from your bosses stating that you have experience in electrical work for so many years and perhaps attended some courses or seminars, even one day`s course.

However in order to do all sorts of work and certify it you have to belong to a Certification Body, equivalent to Corgi for Plumbers, they are the ones that can authorize you to do all sorts of work and certify it, you can still do all sorts of jobs but you have to ask the Building Control Inspector of the Council to check your work and certify it, which will cost you £50-£100 for every job.

In order to belong to a Certification Body you need to prove you are competent and have experience. Sometimes they accept you without qualifications but normally the way you prove competence is by having some sort of qualification. City & Guild 2391 is a established qualification to prove you are competent in theory but need also prove you have relevant experience that is why you need references from your employers.

2320 and 2330 might not be enough for Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations, you can check by asking any Certification Body like NICEIC, NAPIT, or even CORGI. You can find them in the internet.

As far as how qualified electricians will see you entering the trade........ask them if they can rewire a F16 or a Tank........bet you know more than them!

[Jimbo]

Wolfie,
1) I think this is absolutely realistic, you will struggle at first but if you dont need to earn a fortune the pressure is off.
2) The domestic qualification is what is covered by Part P, you must be competent and be registered with a conforming body ie NICEIC, NAPIT etc. The normal requirements are 2381 (16th Edition) you will be assessed on site and questioned about various things RCDs, Zs, Ze, Insulation Resistance etc and you will be required to demonstrate familiarity with your test equipment. Commercial and Industrial is not covered by Part P therefore strange as it seems if you can get the job off you go although most companies will require you to be a member of a recognized body.
3) I work quite closely with one of the armed forces and they offer various courses etc to prepare you for leaving, if you have a reasonable working relationship with your C/O ask him about you going on the 2381 and then the 2391 courses. The other courses that you mention I personally are not familiar with but from memory are more suited to school leavers with absolutely no experience. To be honest you should as long as you get your head down you should sail through the 2381 you will find the 2391 a different thing altogether.
4)"How would an experienced and qualified electrician like to see people like me enter the industry and could you get alienated by having only done a 4-6 week course? (not that I intend to enter on such little training)." Wolfie , how would you feel if for example you where in bomb disposal and I came along and said in 4-6 weeks I will be doing that? Electricians and most other trades only alienate people if they are incompetent very much like the work your in at present if you can do the job then so be it. Obviously experience is going to be a bit of a stumbling block for a while with you but you never know you may be able to get with a Sparks who is near to retiring and pick his brains for a while.
There are a few more things you have got to ask yourself, what part of electrical work do you want to go into? Installation or testing or maintainence etc. If you want to pm me feel free to do so. Regards Jimbo

[wolfie]

Thanks for replying. Very Interesting. I have been doing lots of reading of self teach material in various C and G electricain qualifications for the fun of it (belive it or not). I am now looking at a couple of franchise options. A lot of money £25 - £30,000 but that is for training, new van, tools, support and back up etc. Also the knowledge that if I run into difficulties the anwser should be at the end of the phone.

Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

Wolfie