In defence of the short course trainee

[imago]

To be honest, that's more the fault of the training provider and C&G than the person. Surely the guy should have been taught how to look up things in the 7671 green book himself and shouldn't have been awarded the 2382 until he was competent (regardless of whether that took 5 weeks, or 5 years).

I think it's more of an attitude issue to be honest. If someone has already gained a trade/qualifications/experince then they should be able to recognise gaps in their knowledge/experience for the trade they are retraining into and take steps to fill them. Most tradesmen will come across that situation on a fairly regular basis, and act accordingly. Most tradesmen will also have learnt to use the base knowledge to adapt to the new or unexpected. I wonder, for example, when a newly trained electrician is fitting an MCB or a cable of a particular size, if he could explain why. The number of actions taken and materials used which are explained as "That's what the Reg's say" is quite worrying to me.

Blind obedience is no substitute for a soild understanding of the principles.

 

[mechelec]

I'm a guilty one I'm afraid (although I have the sense not to touch the £8k training centres!)

BUT...

- I've been reading and learning the regs for MONTHS (even though I've not even booked the course yet)
- I've got just about every tool known to man and years of experience using them
- I've got years of experience with building work, plumbing, general house-bashing etc
- I've got a background of mathematics and engineering, so the calculations are second nature to me
- I accept that once I've got the qualifications I will still have a lot to learn
- I am not expecting a part P registration to be the be all and end all. I plan to get the 2391, 2330 etc, as soon as circumstances allow.

The point is, please please please don't tar us all with the same brush.

There is a HUGE difference between someone like myself (and many others on here) and someone who turns up at a training centre never having seen an insulated screwdriver or the inside of a junction box.

Good luck. It sounds as though you have the right attitude and aptitude and will no doubt make a good electrician in time. What really grates on me is people who are sold the idea of 50K per year and that is their only motivation.

 

[DNS1]

Blind obedience is no substitute for a soild understanding of the principles.

That's a good point.

I made the assumption that the person we're talking about knew the principles and theory behind the use of MCBs... Not necessarily the case of course.

 

[Specialist]

DNS1, I've got to ask: If your not on the course yet & have'nt done Part P who's going to Test, Inspect & Sign off the Electrical work your doing ?

 

[DNS1]

DNS1, I've got to ask: If your not on the course yet & have'nt done Part P who's going to Test, Inspect & Sign off the Electrical work your doing ?

I'm not currently working as an electrician.

 

[Specialist]

But your re-wiring your Girlfriends kitchen.

 

[telectrix]

ssshhhh.

 

[DNS1]

ah, ok.

The electrical work I'm doing is limited to our own properties. Without registration we're having to go down the rip-off route unfortunately and having building control signing it off.

 

[Specialist]

Thank you DNS1, see Tel: Simple question & simple answer.

 

[Big n Daft]

"Simple question & simple answer."

looks like we're heading into new territory folks:lol: