Route to becoming certified electrification.

[Jay123]

HI All,

I am planning a career change and wanted some advice.

I want to work my way to become a fully certified domestic and commercial installer.

My practical experience is minimal as in I have helped electricians on jobs, this was ad hoc and not regular. I am confident at general DIY and power tools usage and manual labour.

My plan is, and this is on the assumption I am still to hold down my current full-time job, is to do a domestic installer course (trade skills4u) to help with the theoretical knowledge and also some practical.

Whilst completing the course I would assist a certified domestic electrician to up my practical knowledge until I’m able to go it alone and get myself certified by the governing body. I would at first do a couple of days a week until I am able to earn to substitute me going part time from my current job.

Then from becoming a certified domestic installer to continue into the commercial realm.

Does this sound feasible and what sort of time scales should I keep in mind to become certified at domestic level.

Thanks for all your advice.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Best route is a proper apprenticeship

There is no easy way to become an electrician

I have dipped in and out for 20+ years and am still learning

My dad was a sparks for over 45 years and was still learning before he retired

 

[Charlie_]

10 years at that level of commitment

 

[Baddegg]

This country is awash with “domestic installers” mate give it a lot of thought before spending ya money don’t listen to the salesman .....that aside if you are determined then good luck

 

[casperLennon]

Sounds idyllic. As for level of commitment then it’s very low.

 

[Squid]

How old are you and what do you do now?

 

[Dorspark]

JAY123.
You will find a lot if nimby sparks here.
If you work hard and put the study in you will be fine.
12 months you’ll be able to fully rewire a house competently, oddly enough the apprentice all singing time served sparks would end up with the same result as you as defined in the regs. So 1 year 20 years we are pretty much doing the same things.

 

[Jay123]

Best route is a proper apprenticeship

There is no easy way to become an electrician

I have dipped in and out for 20+ years and am still learning

My dad was a sparks for over 45 years and was still learning before he retired

Totally agree apprentice route would be great, but at my age 38 not so easy. Also i need to maintain my financial commitments so couldn't just leave current jobs. But i dont want this to be a barrier to entry.

 

[Jay123]

This country is awash with “domestic installers” mate give it a lot of thought before spending ya money don’t listen to the salesman .....that aside if you are determined then good luck

Thanks very valid point, need to consider longevity/demand employ-ability.

 

[Jay123]

How old are you and what do you do now?

38 and in bookkeeping.

 

[Jay123]

JAY123.
You will find a lot if nimby sparks here.
If you work hard and put the study in you will be fine.
12 months you’ll be able to fully rewire a house competently, oddly enough the apprentice all singing time served sparks would end up with the same result as you as defined in the regs. So 1 year 20 years we are pretty much doing the same things.

thanks for the encouragement and reply.

 

[Pete999]

JAY123.
You will find a lot if nimby sparks here.
If you work hard and put the study in you will be fine.
12 months you’ll be able to fully rewire a house competently, oddly enough the apprentice all singing time served sparks would end up with the same result as you as defined in the regs. So 1 year 20 years we are pretty much doing the same things.

Before you ask Dorspark as to why I disagreed with your post, it wasn't personal, but I take issue with your statement "So 1 year 20 years" is dismissive it takes more that getting the circuitry correct, experience give you clues on how to approach a rewire, or any job come to that, clues like how a building is built, how to get over differing construction methods, so think again Mate. I have seen many a house rewire done by people who think they are competent, and to be honest most of the work is not up to best practice.

 

[Dustydazzler]

JAY123.
You will find a lot if nimby sparks here.
If you work hard and put the study in you will be fine.
12 months you’ll be able to fully rewire a house competently, oddly enough the apprentice all singing time served sparks would end up with the same result as you as defined in the regs. So 1 year 20 years we are pretty much doing the same things.

I don't anyone is saying you can't become a domesticated installer in under 12months.
A very old friend of mine was a leisure centre manager for over 20 years and at the age of 40 decided he had enough quit and went on one of those tradeskills electrician courses and became a qualified Niceic DI in under 6 weeks.
Cost him about £5000 but he now runs his own DI business and has been quite successful.
He had a mortgage and 2 young kids at the time.
If you have the balls to do it then fair enough....

 

[Dustydazzler]

if you worked along side a good sparks for around 6 months doing re-wires etc you could probably learn just enough to go it alone after that.
but there will always be something that throws you , like micc you might not have dealt with before or a complex heating system you have not seen before. only time can learn you

 

[Dorspark]

Before you ask Dorspark as to why I disagreed with your post, it wasn't personal, but I take issue with your statement "So 1 year 20 years" is dismissive it takes more that getting the circuitry correct, experience give you clues on how to approach a rewire, or any job come to that, clues like how a building is built, how to get over differing construction methods, so think again Mate. I have seen many a house rewire done by people who think they are competent, and to be honest most of the work is not up to best practice.

I Concur. I didn’t quite mean a full knowlegible spark but one that will do exactly as per the regs the same as everyone else, has an electrician to work with, which is a plus. Hours of practical driving for a 20 minute test, then you learn how to drive. Same principle.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

I have been in the trade for 15 years and only have half the knowledge some of these old boys have.

Its progressive learning, 3 year apprentiship with another 2 years on site experiance as a minimum for me, these domestic installer courses set you up to fight for basement jobs at basement prices with other electricians with little experiance.

There are exceptions, but 99 percent are just dragging our trade down.

 

[Squid]

At 38 its a tough call but I can understand that you are bored in your current role tied to a desk that you hate. Hopefully others on here can advise you on what route to take, I moved in a different direction a good few years back as I saw other opportunities.

 

[Squid]

JAY123.
You will find a lot if nimby sparks here.
If you work hard and put the study in you will be fine.
12 months you’ll be able to fully rewire a house competently, oddly enough the apprentice all singing time served sparks would end up with the same result as you as defined in the regs. So 1 year 20 years we are pretty much doing the same things.

Gave you a neg as well as some of the all singing time served sparks really had to work, hit the industrial side of things then you really do learn your skills.

To be honest I think I could train someone how to rewire a house within a week ;o))))

 

[Squid]

Oh, just to add, follow your dreams change is good change is challenging.

 

[TJ Anderson]

if you worked along side a good sparks for around 6 months doing re-wires etc you could probably learn just enough to go it alone after that.
but there will always be something that throws you , like micc you might not have dealt with before or a complex heating system you have not seen before. only time can learn you

I agree with you. To be honest there a very few sparks now that can do pyro and it would never be used in a domestic scenario. T&E and a bit of SWA sometimes is generally all a domestic spark will have to deal with. I also know apprenticed sparks who can't do S & Y plans and non electrically qualified plumbers who can.

 

[Squid]

I agree with you. To be honest there a very few sparks now that can do pyro and it would never be used in a domestic scenario. T&E and a bit of SWA sometimes is generally all a domestic spark will have to deal with. I also know apprenticed sparks who can't do S & Y plans and non electrically qualified plumbers who can.

Ahhh Pyro, my calling I was a master with Pyro I miss it the same as with conduit, trunking, tray work and risers as well as heavy duty switchgear, I shed a tear.

 

[Squid]

At the end of the day no one should hold you back in whatever you want to do and this goes out to everyone as you can be whoever you want to be, being gorgeous and a sex God though is limited to me so don't go for that one guys ---

 

[Pete999]

if you worked along side a good sparks for around 6 months doing re-wires etc you could probably learn just enough to go it alone after that.
but there will always be something that throws you , like micc you might not have dealt with before or a complex heating system you have not seen before. only time can learn teach you

Corrected that for you, hope you don't mind?

 

[Jay123]

hi all, thanks for the input. From all the advice given and the fact that I’m in need to change career as desk job is no longer for me and I have a genuine interest in this.

My plan is to go for the private course but with the understating this will in majority give me theoretical knowledge and I will will need to bolster this with much practical experience working alongside a competent Electrition.

Once in a position where I can go it alone or with someone and able to generate sufficient income to cover my current liabilities I am make the switch to having this as my main job and continually build experience.

Fully understand I will come across scenarios where I need help from more experienced Electrition’s but guess that’s where your support structures such as other Electrition’s and forums like this will be able to assist?

 

[DPG]

I would learn how to spell electrician before becoming one! Sorry, but had to point it out.

 

[Charlie_]

How about offering your bookkeeping services in exchange for some work placement..
Great time of year for it

 

[Owain Thomas]

Just go for it if that’s what you want to do. Many people say it’s to hard/it takes years and years/it shouldn’t be allowed to do the course inside 12 months etc (how they are more qualified than the regulators to determine the training required is beyond me).
Dedication and willingness to learn is what is key to learning ANY task or skill. I’ve worked with some people who will not listen to advice and think they are right every time, these are the people that learn through their own experience. If you can learn through other people’s experience then you are learning at a much faster pace.
It really gets me when people say that you won’t learn everything in that short space of time etc, if you stick to what you know and you carry that out correctly and competently then you’ll do great.
Lastly, people who say the trades ----ed/there’s no money/work is going to unqualified people . . . Who cares!! If we based on our lives on what other people are doing then we’re doomed! If you can’t make money on jobs or are losing out to other sparks then look at what YOU are doing as a tradesman rather than what others are doing. You create the opportunities for yourself . Good luck!

 

[Dustydazzler]

Still loads of money to be made in the electrical bizz

Ok , it’s not all roses and sunshine and it can be a grubby job

But if you work hard as a sparks you can make a reasonable living for sure

 

[Firetrekker]

Hi Jay, I’ve been in the building game for 20 years with the past 10 mainly on electrics, I decided I wanted to go over to electrics full time. I went to able skills as they offer C&G some of the accreditation schemes only recognize C&G to join them so speak to them first. I got 6 C&G over 8 weeks full time to turn the knowledge I had into recognized industry qualifications.
No body knows everything’s at the start or finish of there career, and before qualified I was putting right shocking work carried out by time served AC.
I took additional testing and inspecting qualifications because I wanted to know everything I could about it. The course total was £3k with 8 weeks off to do it. I’m now an NICEIC domestic installer and in 2 years I will be an approved contractor. £180 is the bench mark in the southeast as that what I used to pay and what I’m being paid now.
If you have a conscience and do the job properly, ask when you don’t know, you won’t find it hard to get work.

 

[Jay123]

Hi Jay, I’ve been in the building game for 20 years with the past 10 mainly on electrics, I decided I wanted to go over to electrics full time. I went to able skills as they offer C&G some of the accreditation schemes only recognize C&G to join them so speak to them first. I got 6 C&G over 8 weeks full time to turn the knowledge I had into recognized industry qualifications.
No body knows everything’s at the start or finish of there career, and before qualified I was putting right shocking work carried out by time served AC.
I took additional testing and inspecting qualifications because I wanted to know everything I could about it. The course total was £3k with 8 weeks off to do it. I’m now an NICEIC domestic installer and in 2 years I will be an approved contractor. £180 is the bench mark in the southeast as that what I used to pay and what I’m being paid now.
If you have a conscience and do the job properly, ask when you don’t know, you won’t find it hard to get work.

Thanks for you advise

 

[Jay123]

Just go for it if that’s what you want to do. Many people say it’s to hard/it takes years and years/it shouldn’t be allowed to do the course inside 12 months etc (how they are more qualified than the regulators to determine the training required is beyond me).
Dedication and willingness to learn is what is key to learning ANY task or skill. I’ve worked with some people who will not listen to advice and think they are right every time, these are the people that learn through their own experience. If you can learn through other people’s experience then you are learning at a much faster pace.
It really gets me when people say that you won’t learn everything in that short space of time etc, if you stick to what you know and you carry that out correctly and competently then you’ll do great.
Lastly, people who say the trades ****ed/there’s no money/work is going to unqualified people . . . Who cares!! If we based on our lives on what other people are doing then we’re doomed! If you can’t make money on jobs or are losing out to other sparks then look at what YOU are doing as a tradesman rather than what others are doing. You create the opportunities for yourself . Good luck!

Thanks for the advise

 

[Jay123]

Just go for it if that’s what you want to do. Many people say it’s to hard/it takes years and years/it shouldn’t be allowed to do the course inside 12 months etc (how they are more qualified than the regulators to determine the training required is beyond me).
Dedication and willingness to learn is what is key to learning ANY task or skill. I’ve worked with some people who will not listen to advice and think they are right every time, these are the people that learn through their own experience. If you can learn through other people’s experience then you are learning at a much faster pace.
It really gets me when people say that you won’t learn everything in that short space of time etc, if you stick to what you know and you carry that out correctly and competently then you’ll do great.
Lastly, people who say the trades ****ed/there’s no money/work is going to unqualified people . . . Who cares!! If we based on our lives on what other people are doing then we’re doomed! If you can’t make money on jobs or are losing out to other sparks then look at what YOU are doing as a tradesman rather than what others are doing. You create the opportunities for yourself . Good luck!

Thanks for the advise