Minimum qualifications to be an electrician?

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Minimum qualifications to be an electrician?
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OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 12 3:42 pm Post subject:

marigold wrote:

If you are claiming JSA you may get financial support for retraining after a period of time (6 months?). Signing on is an unpleasant business, but it means you get your NI paid even if you don't get any other income from it. And you add to the unemployment statistics.

You'll have to endure all applying for non-existent jobs and going to workshops run by people with half your intelligence on how to write your CV crap, but if it gives you access to free training all that is a means to an end. Might be worth investigating anyway.

I had thought of 'signing on' but I must admit I chickened out - for all the reasons you has said

marigold

Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 12 3:50 pm Post subject:

OtleyLad wrote:

marigold wrote:

I had thought of 'signing on' but I must admit I chickened out - for all the reasons you has said

Think of it as an interesting life experience - don't take any of it too personally, just keep focused on your personal goals. If you don't have to sign on you have a huge advantage over people who have no option, because you can walk away from it if you feel it's too stressful/demeaning/time consuming. But if it gets you what you want it's not much worse than earning £4k scrubbing bogs or stacking shelves

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45746
Location: yes

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 12 4:13 pm Post subject:
ps not easy to plan for but sparking is quite physical in terms of getting into odd positions in the back of a tiny space ,working hands below feet or overhead ,ladders ,kneeling etc

yummersetter

Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Posts: 3241
Location: Somerset

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 12 10:25 pm Post subject:
What are the insurance implications? Seeing as how you just could cause some shocking deaths and house fires. I know in our business its about £60 a month as cover against much less serious risks.

12Bore

Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Posts: 9089
Location: Paddling in the Mersey

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 12 10:45 pm Post subject:

marigold wrote:

All true!

except the bit about access training, according to today's DWP muppet.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45746
Location: yes

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 12 7:45 am Post subject:

yummersetter wrote:

What are the insurance implications? Seeing as how you just could cause some shocking deaths and house fires. I know in our business its about £60 a month as cover against much less serious risks.

public liability for £5 million should be about £1500 a year judging by the last time my pals were self employed ,there is still the risk of manslaughter charges if faulty work (or installed equipment fails )and causes a tragedy

college is a very good way to avoid such risks

arvo

Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 3321
Location: Somerset

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 12 7:57 pm Post subject:

Were where we?

So: I think that the funding that Nick is talking about is geared for doing this kind of retraining. I found an interesting thread here. That discusses OLCI. That sounds a lot of money to me. Shop around.

You will need:
a) the latest C&G certificate - (Used to be 236 parts 1 and 2 - has now changed).
b) Part P.
c) A friendly local electrician that you can go and work for. (You'll need to do the last part of your sparks quals 'on the tools'. Its usually an NVQ and its collecting evidence of stuff you have done. You're looking to be a 'journeyman electrician' for someone. Maybe waged or unwaged.

(I wouldn't worry about all the other stuff for now, you can bolt those on as the need arises after.)

You have the massive advantages of being:
Not an 16 yo just out of college. Clever and practical. Having a work ethic. Being responsible and trustworthy. Having some experience in life, people and wiring. Getting to be someone's journeyman sparks requires quite a lot of leg-work, but you ain't afraid of that!

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 12 8:04 am Post subject:

Thanks for all your advice and info.

I finally signed up for the OLCI Domestic Electrician Course. Its a lot of money but after looking at all the angles it seems the right thing to do (before I get too old). I went to look at their workshops - it was well organised and full of up to date equipment (as well as a bunch of happy students).

I phoned around and spoke to local electricians, who complained about the paperwork but they were all busy - so that was reassuring.

The course workshops start 7th Nov and I will have done by the end of January! So I can get to work (to start paying back the loan) first weeks in February.

I'm really excited - its been a long time since I went out from my shed - my only concern is that I'm not as flexible/fit as I once once - like dpack said, there might be a lot of crawling and contorting in tight places. I get my books sent soon - back to school!

So if your fuse blows or your lights go out (or you want solar panels on your roof) - you know who to call

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 12 8:31 am Post subject:

OtleyLad wrote:

or you want solar panels on your roof

You will need some more tickets first.

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 12 9:16 am Post subject:

RichardW wrote:

OtleyLad wrote:

or you want solar panels on your roof

You will need some more tickets first.

Actually the course includes the relevant training/qualifications to do solar installations.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 12 9:17 am Post subject:
Sounds like an ideal way forward. Good luck!

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45746
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 12 11:24 am Post subject:
good news

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 12 1:14 pm Post subject:

OtleyLad wrote:

RichardW wrote:

OtleyLad wrote:

or you want solar panels on your roof

You will need some more tickets first.

Actually the course includes the relevant training/qualifications to do solar installations.

Whilst it might cover how to do it, does it include registration with REAL & MCS?

No?

Then I stand by my statement. You will need more tickets.

Oh & you will need to be VAT registered too or you will be well over priced compared to everyone else as all the install & parts are charged at 5%. Yet you will be paying 20% when you buy the kit. Which also means that you will be out of pocket on each install till VAT return day.

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 12 1:15 pm Post subject:
PS, I would not be looking at getting into the PV install market now. Your far to late. Most companies are laying installers off.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 12 1:30 pm Post subject:

RichardW wrote:

PS,

I would not be looking at getting into the PV install market now. Your far to late. Most companies are laying installers off.

Very true.

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