Career Advice For Electrician to Designer

[Krispy_88]

Hi All

I'm new to electrician forum and looking for some advice. I'm 28 and have been working as an electrician for about 12 years (including apprenticeship). I have gained the standard qualifications in that time (2330 Level 2 & 3, 2382, 2392-1 and 2391.

I decided to give Level 4 Design & Verification a go a few years. After passing this course I enjoyed it so much that I knew I'd like to end up designing as a full time job one day. I've come to the point now where I feel I'd like to start to progress from my current job as an Electrician/ Qualified Supervisor to an Electrical Designer.

Needless to say I have no idea where to begin as it just seems firms are after Experianced Engineers for these kinds of roles. Does anyone have any advice on the sort of qualifications I should consider moving onto next or the type of job roles/ companies I should be aiming for?

Thanks for your time.

 

[Stspark]

In a similar situation to yourself. I'm currently considering a distance learning engineering HNC/HND.
Looking at electrical, control/automation or maybe in building services.

 

[Krispy_88]

Yes I did read about HNC/HND and that this may be the next step but at the kind of prices these were I wanted to be 100% sure and get some other opinions.

 

[Stspark]

Yep, not cheap at about £4k. I'm not sure how uni's can charge so much for a distance learning course. However the alternative is taking a day off every week.

 

[Spunkywads26]

From my brief experience over 10 years ago, Electrical Designers have to be HND level and usually in Building Services. If you progressed further and gained a degree (BEng) you can apply to CIBSE.

I did a BTEC Building services in Leeds (College) then a BEng (Hons) Building services in Newcastle (Northumbria Uni).

Hope any of this info may help