Hi Everyone! Just thought I would introduce myself! And a Question.

[TheConduitKing]

My name is Tim and I have just turned 23. Started my Electrical Apprenticeship in September doing commercial work and I live in Northern Ireland. However, my company only does work in the Republic of Ireland. Currently working down in Dublin. At my local college, my apprenticeship is EAL rather than City and Guilds. As that is what the college offered. (However, they do not tell you this on the website until you start the course.)

EAL Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation in year one.

Then in years 2, 3 and 4 it is the level 3

EAL Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment (Buildings, Structures, and the environment) (QCF) 501/1605/8

I was just wondering what people’s thoughts are on EAL vs City and Guilds. As I have heard mixed opinions. I asked my tutor and he said that it is just as good.

Currently I'm really enjoying my apprenticeship and the guys I work with are sound. I have gotten to do loads so far. Done some metal conduit, 3 phase cabling, Copex and other fun stuff.

looking forward to being an active member on this forum!

 

[Baddegg]

Welcome in mate, I think it’s just people and a brand recognition thing, so long as what you are doing enables you to do what you want in the future then all is good man ?

 

[Pete999]

welcome along Mate and good luck

 

[MJPD29]

My name is Tim and I have just turned 23. Started my Electrical Apprenticeship in September doing commercial work and I live in Northern Ireland. However, my company only does work in the Republic of Ireland. Currently working down in Dublin. At my local college, my apprenticeship is EAL rather than City and Guilds. As that is what the college offered. (However, they do not tell you this on the website until you start the course.)

EAL Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation in year one.

Then in years 2, 3 and 4 it is the level 3

EAL Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment (Buildings, Structures, and the environment) (QCF) 501/1605/8

I was just wondering what people’s thoughts are on EAL vs City and Guilds. As I have heard mixed opinions. I asked my tutor and he said that it is just as good.

Currently I'm really enjoying my apprenticeship and the guys I work with are sound. I have gotten to do loads so far. Done some metal conduit, 3 phase cabling, Copex and other fun stuff.

looking forward to being an active member on this forum!

I did my apprenticeship mainly in Dublin as well and am from Belfast. Enjoyed working there a lot more than I enjoy working here to be honest. As for the course I thought all the colleges here did city and guilds

 

[littlespark]

wow.... all that since september.

When i first started, it was gophering mainly. but then i was one of three apprentices starting that year. not enough jobs going on at the time.

threading metal conduit by hand, or using a machine nowadays?

 

[nicebutdim]

I did my apprenticeship mainly in Dublin as well and am from Belfast. Enjoyed working there a lot more than I enjoy working here to be honest. As for the course I thought all the colleges here did city and guilds

SERC do EAL courses.

 

[MJPD29]

SERC do EAL courses.

Cant see what difference it would make anyway they all have the same end result

 

[Pete999]

Cant see what difference it would make anyway they all have the same end result

There are some organisations that don't recognise EAL only C and G will satisfy them.

 

[Vortigern]

When I did the 2391 or its equivalent (2394/95), I was told employers prefer C&G as they are closed book which means you have to really know your onions. EAL on the other hand was open book. I think now that has changed and C&G are open book. Some time ago doing that particular exam was notoriously difficult, especially the C&G version and the failure rate was 70%. Apparently that has now been stood on its head and the pass rate especially in local colleges is 70%. Again just what I was told, they have open book exams and split the exam into two parts making it easier.

 

[Baddegg]

When I did it 3/4 years ago now it was closed book and was very hard, a lot of the long time time served sparks on my course failed it, eal was open book back then as I remover the people that failed grumbling and looking for the eal course ?‍

 

[DPG]

When I did my 2394 it was the C&G version, and the exam requirements were more stringent than the EAL one. Although I think the practical test was the same.

 

[dodger421]

When I did 2391-52 in 2019 it was an open book 60 question multi-guess online exam, a short (4 questions?) closed book written exam and a separate practical exam. There was a book of photographs to conduct visual inspections and record your findings as well but I can’t remember if that was done at the same time as the written or the practical exam. It was comwith one of them though.

The provider ran it as a combine C&G/EAL course with their different assignments at the end. One guy out of ten was doing the EAL route and had more exams than those of us doing 2391-52. The consensus of the instructors was 2391-52 is the easier route.

 

[TheConduitKing]

SERC do EAL courses.

Bingo mate, that's where I'm at.

 

[TheConduitKing]

When I did my 2394 it was the C&G version, and the exam requirements were more stringent than the EAL one. Although I think the practical test was the same.

See, I wanted to do C&G I thought at the time serc would be. I didn't even know EAL was a thing. It was a rush job I only got the employer to take me on in the first week of the aecidemic year. And because of Covid class sizes are a lot smaller meaning less places. Originally I wanted to go to SRC as it was closer to me and I knew they did C&G

 

[TheConduitKing]

I did my apprenticeship mainly in Dublin as well and am from Belfast. Enjoyed working there a lot more than I enjoy working here to be honest. As for the course I thought all the colleges here did city and guilds

Aye mate, guys I've been talking to at work say down south is much better apparently.

 

[TheConduitKing]

wow.... all that since september.

When i first started, it was gophering mainly. but then i was one of three apprentices starting that year. not enough jobs going on at the time.

threading metal conduit by hand, or using a machine nowadays?

Yeah mate, loving it. Although I still do loads of gophering lifting bundles of 25mm conduit sucks XD.

Yeah, still threading by hand. ?

 

[TheConduitKing]

welcome along Mate and good luck

Thanks!

 

[TheConduitKing]

There are some organisations that don't recognise EAL only C and G will satisfy them.

I know the JIB accept it for getting your Gold Card. Who doesn't?

 

[Pete999]

Not sure Mate just heard it through the grapevine in the past

 

[Rockingit]

I took my 18th update (finally!) as an EAL a couple of weeks ago - questions were just as obtuse as C&G so I wouldn't worry!

 

[DPG]

I took my 18th update (finally!) as an EAL a couple of weeks ago - questions were just as obtuse as C&G so I wouldn't worry!

Need to get mine done. Who did you do the course/exam through? How much was on line?

 

[Rockingit]

Need to get mine done. Who did you do the course/exam through? How much was on line?

I've a technical training centre only a few mins from home, mostly plumbing and gas stuff but they do some select electrical training so I've used them a few times just to basically sit exams. They charged me £150 for a morning refresher and then the exam which I thought was pretty good value. Sadly, wrong end of the country for you.

 

[DPG]

I've a technical training centre only a few mins from home, mostly plumbing and gas stuff but they do some select electrical training so I've used them a few times just to basically sit exams. They charged me £150 for a morning refresher and then the exam which I thought was pretty good value. Sadly, wrong end of the country for you.

Sounds decent. And is the exam based on the whole of the regs, or is it mainly based on the updates?

 

[Rockingit]

Sounds decent. And is the exam based on the whole of the regs, or is it mainly based on the updates?

It's the full thing, a feast of sixty confusingly written questions that on my paper picked their way from basic principles right through to mesh bonding for PBX's and obscure applicable standards. Really annoyingly only got 98% though and it's been bugging me as to which one of 2 or 3 ambiguous questions I managed to drop!!

 

[MJPD29]

There are some organisations that don't recognise EAL only C and G will satisfy them.

Interesting. Didn't even know about Eal, thought we were all just city and guilds

 

[nicebutdim]

See, I wanted to do C&G I thought at the time serc would be. I didn't even know EAL was a thing. It was a rush job I only got the employer to take me on in the first week of the aecidemic year. And because of Covid class sizes are a lot smaller meaning less places. Originally I wanted to go to SRC as it was closer to me and I knew they did C&G

I've been looking at this for a couple of years, although things are different due to my age. SERC's website makes no mention of EAL as far as I can remember. Last year was defintinitely EAL too, but can't comment about what they offered prior to then.

Funnily enough SRC would be more convenient for me also, but they only run apprenticeship courses and have no option for old gits wanting to pay their own way.

 

[TheConduitKing]

I've been looking at this for a couple of years, although things are different due to my age. SERC's website makes no mention of EAL as far as I can remember. Last year was defintinitely EAL too, but can't comment about what they offered prior to then.

Funnily enough SRC would be more convenient for me also, but they only run apprenticeship courses and have no option for old gits wanting to pay their own way.

My tutor said that they used to do C&G but they found EAL. Easier to work with and he showed me that the EAL meets the same NVQ standard that C&G does. I only got concerned about it since a spark in work said that it was easier. But he said that was years ago and didn't know about the current standard of EAL.

And yeah sucks that they don't offer a path for older people. I'm lucky that I figured it out under the age of 24/5 so I could get the funding. I actually completed a HND in computing and got several IT certs because original I wanted to be a network engineer. ?