Finding The Right Electrical Certificates For Study
Make The Change Now And Get Into Electrical Work
Electricity is one of the most important aspects of modern life. We constantly need skilled electricians for both domestic housing and industry. Work for some is predominantly concerned with installations - others with safety testing or fault-finding and maintenance. The electrical market as a whole now accounts for 3 percent of Britain's Gross National Product. It could be a very good decision to bite the bullet and start your electrical training now!
What's The Work Like?
You might wonder whether electrical work will suit you. To be an electrician you will need to be able to use a variety of tools effectively. Those who can work methodically through a process do well as electricians. You must be happy working alone if you're considering self-employment. You should be reasonably fit, as some of the work can be physically demanding. But most important of all, if you want to work for yourself you'll need to be resolute and persistent.
FREE Detailed Report on Electrical Training
Even if you're an absolute beginner, you can be up and running in several months time with the right training and application. Yet many people find it hard to know who is best to train with, and which courses to take.
That's why we've compiled an impartial report to help you understand. All the different training options are clearly explained - and we'll send it to you for FREE. It'll help you see the wood from the trees where electrical training's concerned. Check out the report now, and you'll see what we mean. And when you feel ready, come back here and go onto some of the college sites listed at the side. You might like to bookmark it now (Ctrl D) so it's quick to find again.
Be Your Own Boss
The motivation to study for an electrical certification often comes from a desire for self-employment. Colleges are constantly enrolling new students who want greater freedom in their working lives. And as the need for electrical work in peoples' homes continues unabated, it's likely to continue. It's also not unusual for other tradesmen to get some electrical qualifications to boost their offering to clients. Others want the skills and legal qualifications to do more of their own DIY.
In common with all the trades, good electricians get a lot of their work through word of mouth recommendations from satisfied customers. Your training will get you up to speed technically, but you'll also need good people skills when dealing with the public.
Electricians working for commercial companies generally do a regular forty hour week. Salaries generally come in around the 26,000 mark, though it's higher than that in some areas. Domestic electrical contractors in their own business are wise not to stick too rigidly to a 9-5 routine, as they can bring in a great deal more money if they're flexible. They must think about their expenses though when quoting for jobs.
Where Should I Start?
The professional industry bodies offering the most regarded certifications are EAL and C&G. Students training in their teens usually add work experience and NVQs to their C&G exams. This typically will take three to four years. So older career changers tend to go for less lengthy courses that they can fit in around their current work. These courses don't include NVQ assessments, because the trainees are mostly focused on household work. Commercial training companies provide a variety of options to help students prepare for work in the shortest time possible. So whilst trainees emerge with more limited qualifications, they are still considered competent and qualified to carry out the more in-demand jobs.
What's Involved In Such A Course?
Probably a good place to start would be on a course that prepares you for your EAL level 2 Domestic Electrical Installer. Training will include installations, safety procedures, wiring and rewiring in homes and testing circuits. As everyone carrying out domestic electrical work now has to be Part P certified, your training will give you an understanding of what's needed.
Similarly, you'll have training for the City & Guilds 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations Certificate (2382), another legal necessity. You might also cover training for the C&G 2392 certification, which demonstrates competency in initial testing and verification, C&G 2391 for Inspection, Testing and Certification and C&G 2377 which covers PAT testing.
The whole process will probably involve around 300 -500 hours of training, which will be part home study and part in-centre training. You could be successfully working in customers' homes a few short months from now - building your future on solid ground.
