Ways I can further my career as an electrician?

[Jakehoward]

A little bit about me; I'm 22 years old and have an NVQ Level 3 17th edition. I went into an apprenticeship straight after school at the age of 16. After 3 years I am now qualified with an aditional 3 years experience. I'm now starting to think about my future and I want to explore what choices I have as an electrician.

Im looking for information/advice on what I can do to further myself. Such as aditional qualifications, and how to work my way up the ladder to become supervisor and so on. What experience do I need?

Also what are the specialized fields that an electrician can get into? I know I could go in solor panels or fire alarm systems, things like that. But I enjoy all the techinal parts, so I was thinking maybe design? But I dont know where I should begin.

I still love all the hands on and practical parts of an electrican. Is there maybe any fields that allow for that, plus more specialized techinal work?

I'm really just hoping to get some advice from some more experinced electricians on how I can improve and make more of myself as an electrican.

Any information/adivice would be much apreciated.

 

[pewter]

2394 + 2395 is worth getting.

i did the 2396 design course, i thought it was worth doing.

 

[Sharpend]

I would personally suggest that you look at the qualifications that pewter has posted then get your head down and gain some good experience preferably across the general board of industrial/commercial and domestic, you will then be better placed to a decide whether you want to specialise in one specific area, or you might decide that you'd prefer to advance to a HNC/HND qualification in electrical engineering to allow you to take a different path in the future. Either way you will be more knowledgable. 

 

[Evans Electric]

I'd suggest you get some time in as a  sparks before you decide on anything to be honest, Jake. 

As Sharpie says ,  HNC   etc   the local college will put you right on the relevant courses, I'm no expert these days.

There are a couple of major milestones in the trade ,  one is the transition from schooldays to your first day "on the job" as an apprentii.    We,ve all been through it ....fetch a 20mm tee box ......20mm teebox ????...... pass that coil of 2.5.....is that the thick stuff ?? :C

The other is the transition to full blown Sparky ...on your own , no one to ask or check with , except the idiot school leaver mate who thinks you know everything.  

Put it like this ,  if you are a brainy bod , college work & passing exams no problem , then that is your future .  As with some of the guys I started off with .  

If you are a practical sparks  then THAT is your route.

As for solar panels ....climbing around on roofs and in fiberglass filled lofts you can keep. 

 

[binky]

solar panel work is pretty dead, apart from maintenance. Get you inspection an testing done as a priority.