Best 17th Edition Training for me?

[Russell Morrell]

Hi All,  this is my first post on TEF and looking for some help based upon your experiences.  I've recently left my career in BT and am looking to start my career as a self employed residential electrician.  I've been looking through the training courses available to me in 17th Edition and associated examinations.  Not surprisingly there is a lot of choice. However there seems to be quite a variation in the prices charged for these courses. All appear to be a 4 or 5 day course including examinations, however prices seem to vary between £600 (including reference material and exam charges) to £5000 for similar courses. (clearly this cannot be the case) I'm based in South East  Kent so would be looking to take my training in Maidstone or nearer.  I want to take a short course to achieve my accreditation.  Can some one also explain what I then need to do, and suggestions, costs, in order to register with the appropriate competent persons organisation so I can undertake my own testing etc?  Thanks

 

[Blue Duck]

There are those that are better qualified to answer your questions than me.

Avoid "training centres" and fast track courses. You will not be equipped with the information to survive out there, just mearly taught to pass exams.

A quick Google:

http://www.midkent.ac.uk/courses/subject-areas/electrical-installation/

 

[Doc Hudson]

Welcome to the forum Russell, to try and put a bit more meat on the bone of you investigations into various training packages and costs, durations etc. If you perhaps try to consider purchasing electrical training in a similar way to purchasing a car, or mobile phone or energy supplier, in that there is a very broad range of options and costs and it is often very hard to get an exact like for like comparison between packages. In all these situations the devil is in the detail of the small print and in very often there is a sales rep trying to sell you the best package to increase their earnings not always the best value package for the customer. A common example is a large number of training providers selling PAT testing in a bundle of courses as part of a domestic electrician course. This is just sponging money of students for the sake of it. 

You say you are looking to register as a competent person, so the first step is to look at the website of the body you are interested in joining and double check their enrolment criteria, or call their customer services and ask someone. Once you know exactly what qualifications you need, you will then have a better idea about what courses to purchase. You need to have an understanding that electrical installation includes; Design, Installation, Testing, Certification and an awareness of current regulations and legal obligations to undertake all of these.  I would imagine that some of the cheaper courses you have seen are purely regulations based and do not include any aspect of design, installation or testing. Regulations change over time and there are a lot of courses that are update courses for people who already have qualifications to an earlier version of regulations. Sometimes these update or regs only courses are sold as if they are a full start from scratch electrical qualification.

If you could post a link to some of the courses you have been looking at we can probably give a better idea about what they are actually selling you. and if it is genuinely worth spending you time and money doing. Unfortunately the forum is littered with posts from people who have already done and paid for a course that proved to be of little or no use to achieve the objectives they were hoping for. Hopefully we may be able to help you select the best path for your requirements.

Doc H. 

 

[Andy™]

Hi All,  this is my first post on TEF and looking for some help based upon your experiences.  I've recently left my career in BT and am looking to start my career as a self employed residential electrician.  I've been looking through the training courses available to me in 17th Edition and associated examinations.  Not surprisingly there is a lot of choice. However there seems to be quite a variation in the prices charged for these courses. All appear to be a 4 or 5 day course including examinations, however prices seem to vary between £600 (including reference material and exam charges) to £5000 for similar courses. (clearly this cannot be the case) I'm based in South East  Kent so would be looking to take my training in Maidstone or nearer.  I want to take a short course to achieve my accreditation.  Can some one also explain what I then need to do, and suggestions, costs, in order to register with the appropriate competent persons organisation so I can undertake my own testing etc?  Thanks

an apprenticeship takes 4 years (and even then you still dont know everything). do you really think you will learn enough to call yourself an electrician in 5 days?

 

[Russell Morrell]

Hi Andy, what I didnt add is that my previous experience and work in telecoms has given me a good basic understanding of electrical principals and installation methods. I also have some experience in electrical work in a DIY manner as well as most recently working with a fully qualified friend in doing electrical work at various resedential type properties. You are correct, I dont expect to learn everything in 4 days, that would be completely unrealistic. But to understand how I could both gain qualifications and working experience would be a great help. I also have a BTEC qualification in Electronics and Electrical Engineering. Russ

 

[Andy™]

your best option would be to go to a college and take a course they have. it will take a lot longer than 5 days (years, but not full time). you would also need plenty on site experience too (if your friend is willing to let you help a lot more then that would be that part sorted)

the short courses you are looking at are mostly abusing the system. the main reason for them in the first place is so that old sparky's who know what they are doing could get a bit of paper saying they are qualified. its more get as many people on it as possible whilst telling them they will be fully qualified in 5 weeks earning £75k even though they have not even picked up a bit of T&E before

 

[Russell Morrell]

Andy, thanks for your enlightening comment. I had no doubt the 5 day courses would only serve to gain the piece of paper not the knoledge to go with the whole range of skills required to undertake the many, varied, and technically challenged aspects of the job. What courses would I be looking for? 17th Edition, Part P and BS7671 at a college or further education place? Cheers. (and yes I do now my t&e from my SWA etc...... lol)

 

[Andy™]

first of all, part p is a building regulation, not a qualification. it will not allow you to notify work etc ( you need to be registered with a scheme provider for that). its just the 5dw scams trying to get more money from you.

no idea what the course numbers are these days (im sure someone else will know them), but you would need quite a few including 17th

on the plus side, at least you have came here before doing the course, usually its 'ive done a course but cant find any work and no-one will employ me' type of threads

 

[Tony S]

first of all, part p is a building regulation, not a qualification.

At last someone has said it. I get told off for being brutal, truthful, but brutal.

We have training providers on here that will give good unbiased advice. Wait to hear what they say.

Modern qualifications are a mystery to me now but I do know anything with part P on it is a waste of paper (money).

 

[kerching]

At last someone has said it. I get told off for being brutal, truthful, but brutal.

We have training providers on here that will give good unbiased advice. Wait to hear what they say.

Modern qualifications are a mystery to me now but I do know anything with part P on it is a waste of paper (money).

Same with PA testing....nowt to do wi't regs.    Also,F boring

just had an email from a firm doing it for 59 p per item.....also,doing EICRs at £5 / circuit ...I would like to see a Cert from them!!!

i need to retire...and quickly

Might start my own forum

Grumpy Sparks against the World.......any takers?

 

[Tony S]

PAT testing at the foundry was regarded as punishment duty.

 

[Andy™]

i dont really mind it, but then i only work to hourly rate not per item

 

[Sharpend]

Russ, you need to reevaluate your position. Whilst you have some basic knowledge it is not enough to be able to legitimately charge for works. 

you also need to assess where you want to be in 5-10years time. Only recently we've had a poster on here by a chap who was given QS status by Niceic and now wants to progress his career, only to find that realistically he is going nowhere as he doesn't have an installation qualification. 

So yes you could take the quick and easy route and start practising as an electrician but not have the foggiest idea as to why you install what you install. Potentially putting yourself and other innocent persons at risk, possibly putting yourself up before a judge, for what a quick fast buck? 

Personally I'd say that you have more about you than to take those kind of risks, so I'd suggest that you visit your local college and discuss the c&g qualifications and undertake those safe in the knowledge that you stand a chance of a) knowing what and why you do something, b) give yourself every opportunity for the future. 

I wish you well. 

 

[kerching]

59p/item!

turn off pc

crawl under desk

find lead

test it

label it

test pc

label it

test monitor

label it

look up,a,few skirts

label,it

test 4 gang lead

label it

plug it all back in

look up,a,few more skirts...refering to previous labels

crawl,out from under desk

£2.36

repeat

now, if RR was."...............

 

[Sharpend]

You'd earn nothing. 

 

[kerching]

I would pay £25 /hour plus Kleenex  :facepalm:

 

[Sharpend]

I would pay £25 /hour plus Kleenex  :facepalm:

I worry about you, your poor wife is all I can say! How does she pay the bills. :slap