Becoming an electrician

[R1-Jay]

Guys,

I currently install commercial fire alarms and gas suppression systems and i'm looking at increase my scope and knowledge and becoming a qualified electrician.

I know there are lots of courses if i want to study full time, but i have too many outgoings to be able to afford this.

Anyone know of a place/scheme/course i can either do weekends or preferably home study to an extent in order to gain the relevant qualifications?

[Paulm4]

Where abouts are you?

If in Scotland we have an adult apprenticeship scheme.

[R1-Jay]

West Sussex,

going to book up a diploma course, then tackle edition 17 and then part p.

will do the NVQ's at weekends to gain the full qualifications

[hbzboy]

You never thought about a Fire and Gas Techs position offshore?

[R1-Jay]

never thought about it, would consider it but checking around today, it seems you really need to know someone in the offshore business to be able to get a foot in the door

[okie592]

hbzboy said:

You never thought about a Fire and Gas Techs position offshore?

I'm also a fire engineer, would be intrested in offshore too.

I've been speaking to sparks lately, and they seem to get paid a bit more. Most are on 30k vs my basic of 26k but then most don't have a company car nor the chance of commision and it's much more labor intensive, western power seem to take boys and train them to be sparks and they have it pretty easy

You can do a evening college course to become a spark though.

Edited by okie592 on Friday 17th October 23:47

[Jamster123]

"becoming a spark" and actually going onto a site and doing electrical work, are two different things.

Ive seen many "fully qualified electricians" struggle with real basics.

Its very easy to get through the apprenticeship but actually having some knowhow and initiative to do the work takes time.

Ive had fully qualified guys trial on our team and struggle with a 3 gang light switch or take an hour to fit 3 basic pendants for example.

All Im saying is, don't expect to get your time out and waltz into the big bucks.

Night time courses won't provide enough practical in my opinion.

Best of luck, if you do get through it and get in the right places you could earn way more than 30k.

Edited by Jamster123 on Saturday 18th October 00:11

Edited by Jamster123 on Saturday 18th October 00:11

[Chicken Chaser]

This is something which I've recently thought about, but haven't gone any further into. I've done some basic wiring which hasn't come under part p and an auto electrics install on a camper and really enjoyed it. I spent time looking at part p to see whether it would qualify. I'm coming up middle thirties now though, so whilst I've got the time to study, I can't see myself as a low wage apprentice.

[hbzboy]

okie592 said:

hbzboy said:

You never thought about a Fire and Gas Techs position offshore?

I'm also a fire engineer, would be intrested in offshore too.

I've been speaking to sparks lately, and they seem to get paid a bit more. Most are on 30k vs my basic of 26k but then most don't have a company car nor the chance of commision and it's much more labor intensive, western power seem to take boys and train them to be sparks and they have it pretty easy

You can do a evening college course to become a spark though.

Edited by okie592 on Friday 17th October 23:47

http://www.oilcareers.com/content/jobsearch/job_advert.asp?jobadid=1229213

[ninetynine]

ive had a lot of so called fully qualified electricians work for me who come

with little or no onsite experience whilst i am happy to help train them

dont expect much more than minimum wage to start with as there is no substitute for

experience