The long road to becoming a sparky

[azbates]

hello ll,

First up, im a qualified chippie but since i was 16 really wanted to be a sparky. 10 years on and i have decided to chase that dream!!!! And as a added bonus i could repair the wires i nail through myself!

Im a little confused on what course to take and what qualifacations i need to able to be a domestic eletrician. some bloke came round to my house and tried selling me a course for 5 grand which he claimed could make me a qualified sparky in 14 months and all i would need to do is 5 weeks practical and 6 hrs per week home study. This sounded a bit dodgy to me as surely you need more practical than that. Im not really interested in commercial electrics, i just wire up peoples lights and sockets

Just after some advice really, people say i could do a 4 day intensive 17th edition course then a 4 day part p course then register with a recogonised body and then be legally allowed to fit new consumer e units etc!!!! surely not!

I have borrowed every electrical book in the derby central libary to crack on so if any one in derby wanted one..sorry!

I have seen a course at a local collage which is part time for 2 years which upon completion would give c+g level in electrical technology (i think) would this be enough?????

Just looking for some advice and direction...Know any good books??? Good websites??

Many thanks in advance for you help

Aaron

 

[Spudnik]

Aaron,

Welcome,

You could train fast track and have all the qualifications this industry has to offer, but it will NOT prepare you for the myriad of problems that we face EVERY day.

This will only come with experience, as im sure you will appreciate.

The courses are expensive, and on top of that you will have membership fees, test meters, insurances, literature, correct tools etc to purchase.

The building industry as a whole is very quiet at the moment, and unless you intend on making this your main trade then it could be an expensive mistake, although even we are struggling badly at the moment.

However, dont let that put you off, and if you think you can justify the outlay then go for it!!

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

Hi, i was in the same boat, well sort off, im a joiner for the last 8 years, self employed, apart from wanting a change work was slow and i always wanted to do electrical, i enrolled on the 2330 level 2 full time, i was able to do it becuase my missus has a good job so i was able to study 3 days a week and try to pick up work on the other two days, its been a fantastic year, ive really enjoyed it, ive flown the 2330 level 2, 5 exams..5 distinctions, ive also completed my 2377 PAT doing units 100 and 200 and im starting the 4 weeks 2393 regs course tommorow, things have gone so well that the college offered me a job at xmas time as a part time workshop tech in electrical, this is because maybe ive picked it up quickly,i knew the basics and with a 10 year background in the construction industry where ive also, plumbed, slated, laid blocks, tiled ect ect, i can pass on practical techniques to younger students, the money is half what i can earn as a chippy but at 36 its a new beggining for me, and the college are paying for me to do my 2330 level 3, 2392 inspection and testing and 17th edition next year, so even if i dont stay on at college to work, i will still be hopefully qualified within another 2 years...paid for