Help! What training, what career?

**rocker** · 26th September 2009, 02:19 PM

Hi guys, I'm after some advice on courses etc. First a bit of background:
At the ripe old age of 27, I realise I have wasted my entire working life thus far in offices and 'retail'. I should have taken an apprenticeship when I was a lad but for whatever reason, I decided not to. My old man was an electrician, now retired and not in much of a position to help with this question, but he has taught me wiring practice and I have helped him on 'domestic installations' (first, second fixes) etc, and I am confident around the home moving, replacing and putting in new points, putting in new lights and switches etc, running cables from fusebox etc, basic stuff but maybe more than most.

Anyway, I am now in a position where my company could pay me a few months worth of redundancy pay, and I feel I may have been given that most elusive of things - a second chance. I would really love to get into the industry and make something of myself, but I dont know where to start....

I am not really in a position to take up a traditional apprenticeship at my age or in my position, and I have been looking at the countless courses offered by several companies. There are so many of these courses, and the companies offering them are all pretty ambiguous regarding how far in the industry they will take you, so I thought I would ask the people who actually know.

1. What courses do I need to attend, and what qualifications do I need to
a) get a job as an electrician (domestic installer)
b) start my own business as a domestic installer?

2. If I am 'qualified' as a domestic installer, would obtaining a CSCS card mean I could work on 'building sites', or is there much more to it than that?

3. What exactly do completion of these courses allow me to do, (legally), do I have to take some kind of apprenticeship as part of them or after they have finished, and can I just do the courses or do I need to complete other courses before doing them?
a) NIC EIC Domestic Installer Scheme Qualification (DISQ)
b) C&G 2382-10 (17th ed full course)
c) C&G 2392-10
d) EAL VRQ Level 2 for Domestic Electrical Installers

Can any of you guys recommend any other courses instead of/in addition to these?

And for the sake of argument, lets assume that I have been working with domestic installation for some time, but dont have anything to show for it, but that to an extent I know how to do the job, and I am not a complete moron!

I know it sounds awful, but basically I am looking at the BARE MINIMUM I can do at this time to get into the industry - that's not to say I will not continue to train, but just that this opportunity unfortunately comes with a time limit and a lack of hundreds-of-thousands-of-pounds! I am not looking for a quick buck and believe in improving myself, but i need to start somewhere, and I need to do it as quickly as possible.

Any help would be massively appreciated. Thanks in advance!

**TESTIT TESTIT 123** · 26th September 2009, 04:57 PM

Well for the bare minimum and to be able to join one of the happy clubs i would say you will need at the very least.

The DISQ .

17TH Edition BS7671

2392 inspect and test ,initial verification

and idealy the 2391 inspect and test and certification.

Have a word with central scrutinizer

he teaches this stuff you know

**rocker** · 26th September 2009, 05:09 PM

Hi thanks for the reply! What do you mean by 'happy club'? Also, is 17th ed bs7671 the same as or included in the C&G 2382-10 17th ed full course? Sorry if I'm being thick but I really want to get this all sorted out before committing to anything!
I have seen a few of scrutinisers posts and was hoping to attract him to this post! Is he really an instructor or are you taking the mickey?

Oh and also having read several older posts I thought I'd add that I'm not particularly interested in the philosophy behind what does or doesnt make you an electician, I'm only interested in working safely, legally and with insurance, so facts only please. Nice one.

**TESTIT TESTIT 123** · 27th September 2009, 12:28 PM

Sorry,the term Happy Club is one that some sparks use to refer to a Competant person scheme,ie,NIC,NAPPIT OR ELECSA.

You dont have to join one,you could just notify your local building control for any notifiable work but this is a restricted way of opperating if you are going to do a lot of work in domestics that requires notification,rewires ,cu changes etc etc.

Yes the 17th bs7671 is the the full course.

And no i wasnt taking the mick,central is a course tutor at a training center in Wales,cardiff i think.

Good luck with it and any further questions just ask away

**Central Scrutinizer** · 27th September 2009, 12:35 PM

haha guess i have been dragged in now, and i havent 'announced' myself on this forum as a tutor, i wanted to remain 'anonymous' - doesnt always work like that though

Yes i am a tutor, i am the manager of these training companies you have no doubt looked at, I teach the follwing courses

EAL Domestic Installer VRQ
C&G 2382-10 and -20
C&G 2392-10
C&G 2391-10
C&G 2377-11 and -12

The minimum you need to to enrol on a Doomestic Installer scheme is the EAL DEI and C&G2382-10

These qualify you to design, install, test, inspect and certify, your OWN work in a domestic premises

The 2391-10 (whilst not a formal requirement) then 'allows' you sign off existing work (periodic inspections)

The NICEIC DISQ is not a formal qual, and would probaly only allow you to join NICEIC, -ELECSA etc probably wouldnt accept it

**rocker** · 27th September 2009, 03:45 PM

Thanks both, I think I'm getting it now!
Central, would the EAL VRQ give me memberships to one of these 'happy clubs'? I dont really like the sound of having to notify on every job. If not, is there any other way, once I have done these courses, to get onto NIC or elecsa etc without taking the expensive course?
Also, Testit mentioned you might be in Cardiff. I am in Newport so a Cardiff based course would be nearly ideal for me. If you are (or even if youre not - some of the courses I have looked at would require travel and I'm OK with that), would it be okay to send you a private message or email to discuss when/where/how much your courses are, if there are any available?
Let me know, and thanks again both of you.

**Central Scrutinizer** · 28th September 2009, 10:10 AM

yeah PM me and i will give you the details no problems

I wont do it on the open forum, because I my company are not forum sponsors, and I dont want to use it for advertising