What can you do with 2330 Level 2?

[jones.emyr]

Hi all, first post so please be gentle.
I`m currently studying with OLCI construction. I chose the 'become an electrician' course, and they threw on a few extras eg Part P, Pat testing,17th Regs and Solar panels. Marvellous. I`ll have finished my level 2 at the end of November, and have been wondering what can i do once I have this qualification. I`ve tried all the local Electricians, but because I`m 34 and they legally cant pay me apprentice wages, they say they cant take me on. Harsh.
Is it possible to start up your own buisness, with a level 2 qualification, as you study for your level 3? I was thinking along the lines of non-notifiable jobs to begin with, but a family friend, although retired is still NICEIC approved and does a bit of work here and there, so once confidence grows, he could sign off work until I can do it myself. Would I be allowed to do this though is my main question.
I`m not trying to get ahead of myself or anything, but if i am unable to find work when i get my Level 2, I`ll have to do something.
Any advice would be greatfully received. Cheers.

 

[WayneL]

Hi all, first post so please be gentle.
I`m currently studying with OLCI construction. I chose the 'become an electrician' course, and they threw on a few extras eg Part P, Pat testing,17th Regs and Solar panels. Marvellous. I`ll have finished my level 2 at the end of November, and have been wondering what can i do once I have this qualification. I`ve tried all the local Electricians, but because I`m 34 and they legally cant pay me apprentice wages, they say they cant take me on. Harsh.
Is it possible to start up your own buisness, with a level 2 qualification, as you study for your level 3?

It's competence that matters, not paper qualification.
Do you feel you know enough to be working on peoples properties, I & T ing your work and signing to say that it is safe and fit for purpose??

I was thinking along the lines of non-notifiable jobs to begin with, but a family friend, although retired is still NICEIC approved and does a bit of work here and there, so once confidence grows, he could sign off work until I can do it myself. Would I be allowed to do this though is my main question.

If he is prepared to tell lies on an EIC and sign his name to it, more fool him.
This is, of course, illegal.



I`m not trying to get ahead of myself or anything, but if i am unable to find work when i get my Level 2, I`ll have to do something.

There are hundreds of trainee sparks countrywide in the same boat.

The best thing you could do is volunteer yourself to work (for nothing if need be) in order to gain the experience you are going to require.

Any advice would be greatfully received. Cheers.

There are a lot of things that you don't know yet and, granted, you could always ask. - But the real frightening thing is the stuff that you don't know you don't know.........how will you know to ask??


Might be harsh comments - but reality

 

[jones.emyr]

If he is prepared to tell lies on an EIC and sign his name to it, more fool him.
This is, of course, illegal.

I didn`t know this. I just thought if he tested the installation, that was ok. I didn`t know he had to do the work as well. See, I`m learning already.
Whilst your comments are harsh, it`s nothing as harsh as the grim reality of being on the dole. (who incidentally forbid you working for free and claiming).
Cheers though.

 

[WayneL]

Hi mate,

Yeh, when you sign an EIC you are signing to say you are responsible for the Design, Construction and Inspection & Testing of the installation. (On the 'simple' sheet)

FOR DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, INSPECTION & TESTING
[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]I being the person responsible for the Design, Construction, Inspection & Testing of the electrical installation (as indicated by my signature below), particulars of which are described above, having exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the Design, Construction, Inspection & Testing, hereby CERTIFY that the said work for which I have been responsible is to the best of my knowledge and belief in accordance with BS 7671:2008 amended to .......... (date) except for the departures, if any, detailed as follows [/FONT][/FONT]​

They do a 'three part' EIC which has seperate sections for each - but you have to be 'competent' to sign that you are responsible for any of them.

 

[jones.emyr]

Cheers WayneL.
I`m sure all this will become clearer in time. I think I`ll keep on at local Electricians to give me a job. Failing that though I dont know what I`ll do.

 

[sye77]

Hi all, just done my level 2 2330, 17th edition, pat testing and will be starting my work based nvq level 3 next week. Do i need to do my level 3 2330 as well or is it covered in my nvq. If not can they be studdied together when im at college one day a week?
cheers,
sye

 

[jones.emyr]

Hi sye77.
Have you managed to find an employer to take you on? I didnt know you could do pat testing and 17th edition before doing your level 3, so that`s good to know. I`m not sure what`s going on really with lots of talk about the nvq changing. I`ll have to ask my instructor next week.

 

[ringer]

It is not illegal for someone else to sign off your work. They have to take responsibility for the design construction and testing, but it is up to them to satisfy themselves the work is up to scratch. How do you think all these firms manage to sign off work where the supervisor will be authorised to test and inspect, but the actual construction will be done by apprentices/unqualified assistants? If your relative oversees your work to an extent that satisfies himself, he can then sign off your work.

 

[WayneL]

It is not illegal for someone else to sign off your work. They have to take responsibility for the design construction and testing, but it is up to them to satisfy themselves the work is up to scratch. How do you think all these firms manage to sign off work where the supervisor will be authorised to test and inspect, but the actual construction will be done by apprentices/unqualified assistants? If your relative oversees your work to an extent that satisfies himself, he can then sign off your work.

Hi Ringer,

I didn't say it was illegal to sign off someone elses work.

What is illegal, though, is to sign saying that you are responsible for the Design, Construction and I & T of the installation, when you haven't been - and certifying that it complies, when you have no idea whether it does or it doesn't.......this would amount to Fraud.

The ops description of his 'family friend' signing off his work for him seemed to fit this category.

 

[ringer]

I think fraud is too strong a word to use in this situation. You can take responsibility for an installation without doing the work yourself - but you first need to satisfy yourself that the design and construction were carried out correctly. This can be established by asking pertinent questions, asking to see design calculations, and performing inspection and test to satisfy yourself that it has been done correctly before you accept responsibility for the work carried out by A.N.Other.
Of course, it all depends in this particular instance on how much the relative takes the work on trust, and how much inspection and test he does. Even then, I doubt fraud charges would be appropriate. Negligence perhaps, but not fraud.