Online Engineering Courses

[Tomm1992]

I'm looking at doing a level 3 btec in mechanical engineering through Tecol. Just wondering if anybody has had any experience with online training? This seems the best route to take as I cant really give up my job to do a qualification at college. Thanks.

[Tomm1992]

Yeah I read that on another forum about ICS. Thats what lead me to looking at Tecol.
Is it exactly the same certificate that you'd get through a college? with ICS

Edited by Tomm1992 on Monday 22 June 19:14

[MrBrightSi]

Says you're a tool maker mate, couldn't your employer send you to it on an apprenticeship?

Before i got the chance to get in the tool room i used 12 hour shifts and holidays to get a day off for the initial 1 year course before the btec, then let go for a day a week for the college course.

If you've done tool making for a good few years without this qualification, then you have no need to worry about the time it will take to do. The course what i experienced was a poor miss-match from all over engineering never delving too deep into any particular role of the engineer/tool maker.

Like buggles said the maths is the biggest part that causes anyone problems (that and presentations), if you're good at calculus or have an affinity with numbers then i'd say this course would be blind-fold passable for anyone time served.

Edit: I got a great mark for my course and if being honest, im pretty poor in my role overall. Take from that what you will.

Edited by MrBrightSi on Tuesday 23 June 15:03

[Tomm1992]

MrBrightSi said:

Says you're a tool maker mate, couldn't your employer send you to it on an apprenticeship?

Before i got the chance to get in the tool room i used 12 hour shifts and holidays to get a day off for the initial 1 year course before the btec, then let go for a day a week for the college course.

If you've done tool making for a good few years without this qualification, then you have no need to worry about the time it will take to do. The course what i experienced was a poor miss-match from all over engineering never delving too deep into any particular role of the engineer/tool maker.

Like buggles said the maths is the biggest part that causes anyone problems (that and presentations), if you're good at calculus or have an affinity with numbers then i'd say this course would be blind-fold passable for anyone time served.

Edit: I got a great mark for my course and if being honest, im pretty poor in my role overall. Take from that what you will.

Edited by MrBrightSi on Tuesday 23 June 15:03

I was made redundant at the start of this year from that role, and I'm just finding it difficult getting into a role that I want with just experience.

At the moment I'm working at Toyota as a sort of stop gap. I thought I could train around that and get into something I want to do, or even uni.

[King Kai]

I done the same qualification, but at college. I'd say make sure you do some background research, google some reviews on the course etc.

Just experience could be enough to land you the job you want, with a well written CV and cover letter. If you can display that you have the experience necessary to carry out the role, your potential employer could overlook alot. Doing some extra research on the role you want might give you a clearer insight on what you're missing from the academic side that you can compensate for with experience.

[MrBrightSi]

Tomm1992 said:

I was made redundant at the start of this year from that role, and I'm just finding it difficult getting into a role that I want with just experience.

At the moment I'm working at Toyota as a sort of stop gap. I thought I could train around that and get into something I want to do, or even uni.

If Mansfield is a close enough place for you, there is a company called crown who are currently looking for tool makers, mainly with press knowledge though but if you dont want to change too far from the career, they're a good employer and have put up with me for this long which is commendable.

Apart from that, as other posters have said, if you have time served then i cannot see how most places would turn you down.

I can appreciate why you want some documented proof of your experience and the btec level 3 if done at home shouldn't provide too much of a burden to anyone in the know.

Key stumbling points if you cannot get knowledge will be the CAD/CAM/CNC side as well as maths. Apart from that if you can write about EDM, do health and safety pandering and in general get around a word processor, id say you'd have no trouble.

[joBtw]

Tomm1992 said:

I'm looking at doing a level 3 btec in mechanical engineering through Tecol. Just wondering if anybody has had any experience with online training? This seems the best route to take as I cant really give up my job to do a qualification at college. Thanks.

Tom - i have completed the BTEC Level3 Certificate Engineering mechanical course with tecol ad it was very good. Don't know anything about ICS but the course i did was great. I have also started the Diploma course with them. Could have done it from the start but didn't relaise. Don't know if this helps? Good luck.

[joBtw]

I completed the certificate course with TECOL about 3 months ago and received my certificate pretty sharply. Course was very good - interesting. Nationally recognised so got me a pay-rise thankfully. Just upgraded to the Diploma now with them (Mechanical Engineering) but wish i had just started on the Diploma from the beginning - didn't realise i could at the time. Don't know if this helps? Havent heard of ICS by the way so cant say anything about them.

[Tomm1992]

Completed it mid this year. I got a job as a cnc programmer with this. Hoping to get into aerospace after getting a few more years experience