Re: [OT] - Becoming a qualified electrician?

["Neil Fuller" <neil@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dean is quite right about experience counting for more than qualifications
if you want to be employed.

However, my understanding is that many are looking to be self employed and
do what is known in  the trade as "House Bashing".

My own route in to the business was a 5 year apprenticeship but these days,
apprenticeships are few and far between. Couple that with the lack of
"qualified" sparks and I know that there are a number of
fast-trak courses
available so it could be worth retraining.

Lets face it, "Electrician" is not a protected title so anyone
can call
themeselves an electrician (builders, plumbers and the like often do!)

The main things you need to do are to put a job in safely and neatly but
quick enough to earn money.

So what's to stop anyone being an "Electrician"? Nothing really
but if you
do manage to burn someones house down or electrocute granny in the bath,
you
had better make sure your insurances are up to date.

So, I'd suggest your route in to the trade is

1) Check with an insurance company for what they consider to be the minimum
acceptable "qualification" for an electrician.
2) Find a fast-trak course (the ones I have seen are 6 months full time +
night school)
3) Find a local sparks who will be willing to take on an improver for a
year
or so so that you can gain the necessary experience before going solo.

The salary will take a knock for a while but sparks in my area (Guildford)
are currently earning around £280/day.

Oh! one other thing, I definitely agree with Dean about getting someone
else
to do the dirty work and you doing the commissioning - It's what I do now
(on BMS control systems) and the day rate is better than sparking. Only
problem may be getting the volume of work commissioning Cbus.

HTH

Cheers

Neil
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dean Barrett" <dean@xxxxxxx>
To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 12:21 PM
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] [OT] - Becoming a qualified electrician?


> If you want to be a 'qualified' electrician - put aside 5 years for
part
> time college courses.
>
> Look for C&G 236, 2381, 2390 - all lead to qualified status.
>
> Without practical experience, qualified doesnt really mean anything.
We
> employ electricians based on skills and experience rather than
> qualification.
>
> Within the housing/new domestic side of the industry, being able to
thread
> the end of a conduit because you learnt it at college is no use to us.
>
> Alternative approach is to train up on CBus and use someone else to do
> install and you commission.
>
> We have a couple of jobs on the go at present where we have been
contracted
> to install CBus and commission to wiring all done by someone else -
Works
> good for me.. :)
>
>
>
>
> Dean.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>       Try our amazing lighting demonstration online now, and watch in
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>       dean@xxxxxxx
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>   -----Original Message-----
>   From: alanmiddleton74 [mailto:yahoo@xxxxxxx]
>   Sent: 10 May 2004 11:54
>   To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
>   Subject: [ukha_d] [OT] - Becoming a qualified electrician?
>
>
>   Sorry for the off topic post here, but I know there a electricians
>   and 'home' electricians on the list. I'm concidering a career change
>   in case the IT slow down continues so looking at becoming a self
>   employed electrician. If IT picks up, then at least I'll know how to
>   wire my house :)
>
>   I've seen lots of references to qualified electricians but don't
>   understand what exactly the qualification is. Is it membership to a
>   professional organisation which provides insurance and guaranteed
>   minimum knowledge from it's members or are there professional
>   certifications that you can take and training that provides this? Is
>   there an hnd or equivilant to help build basic knowledge on the
>   subject and does that make you qualified or at least less
>   dangerous ;) ?
>
>   I'm thinking of specialising in home automation work (keeping it
>   vaguely on topic) as I see it as a potential growth industry so what
>   additional certification would be required? I'm aware of the cbus
>   training course, but want to step back a little and concider all the
>   options.
>
>   Links or suggestions as to who to talk to greatly appreciated as I'm
>   not really sure how to kick off my own research.
>
>   Answers offlist as I don't think it's directly ha related, although
>   it might be useful for others to know about if they are hiring
>   someone.
>
>   Thanks in advance,
>
>   Alan.
>
>
>
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