Which ECS card

[Samage89]

Hi,

I'm currently stuck between two pillars, I'm out of work and their is literally no guidance out there for me.

I completed a level 2/3 2330 course 5 months ago, did my 17th edition 2 months ago and I'm currently waiting on my CSCS operatives card, which apparently is absolutely essential for me getting on site, to which I have not been told, anyway.

CSCS card is in the post but I'm told I need an ECS card as well (where could this end, IPAF, CNCSG, SCATS), is it worthwhile me doing ECS as I'm aware this will allow me to work on 400v systems where as my CSCS card only allows 230v.

my quesion is should I do my ECS, and which card should I apply for?

Cheers for any responses,

Sam

 

[Evans Electric]

By ECS do you mean a JIB card which they call the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme . ?

Does this 2330 course mean you are an electrician , because if it does , you can work on 415v and apply for an ECS card .

 

[androidlee]

my opinion is you shouldn't do any courses. i find that the less qualified i say i am the more opportunities i get and the more money i earn.

this will be very controversial.

to be PC you have wasted your time and money doing the cscs if your electrically biased, and plan to be employed in the electrical industry.

the ecs is a electrically biased version of cscs and also is top trump so you can use ecs to be on site in any other discipline.

 

[alpha spark]

+ 1 android lee

 

[thesnowman]

my opinion is you shouldn't do any courses. i find that the less qualified i say i am the more opportunities i get and the more money i earn.this will be very controversial.

???

i'm lost, care to elaborate on that

 

[androidlee]

if your working for someone. i.e other professions i find the lesser skilled people have more work opportunities and earn more (alot more)

example. laggers (pipe insulation) day rates of

 

[m4tty]

[No message]

 

[Guy]

CSCS will get you on to site, so will the 'pass certficate' if you are still waiting for the card. At the moment I would leave it at that. I am going to presume from your opening statement that you have litttle experience (I am in the same boat) so therefore not having an ECS card is not going to stop you working on 400v because the closest you will get to that at the moment during this job climate is pulling cables, installing basket tray etc CSCS will be fine for the while. If someone really likes you, wants you to work with them on 400v stuff then the lack of card is not going to stop them from taking you on. Good luck

 

[ivixxiv]

ECS card is based on qualifications (same grading as JIB)

I'd get an ECS instead of CSCS as with your quals you'd be graded as an improver. Plus some sites/firms only accept ECS

 

[Lemon]

As an adviser with the ECS department i can tell you that you are looking towards getting a labourers grade card. This card is the lowest grade card and the only requirements would be to have an up to date ECS health and safety assessment. If you were then working directly through a company you would be looking towards getting a Trainee Electrician card where the requirements would only be the 2330 lvl 2&3 (buildings and structures) and to be working directly through the company in which to have section 10 filled out on the application form you can print of in the ECSCARD website. Note that the CSCS health and safety is construction based and will not cover the electrical side, it will not be a valid assessment for the ECS card.

Good luck

 

[lkayelectrical]

Been trying to get mine been a nightmare, as I've lost my level 2 cert even though I have my completion certificate!

 

[froria]

What color is the completion cert? You said you have the completion but not lvl2 but level2 has a red cert of completion. Only send the red c&g cert to the Ecs grading

 

[m4tty]

What is the point of having an ecs card. Excuse my ignorance I've got a basic card but never used it or updated it. Should I send off my certs to get a higher grade card?

 

[lkayelectrical]

What color is the completion cert? You said you have the completion but not lvl2 but level2 has a red cert of completion. Only send the red c&g cert to the Ecs grading

Not sure to be honest will have to look should really get a replacement cert but fed up of paying stupid fees e ecs is a joke any way but it's annoying about on site if people don't have common sence there deserve to get hurt its natural selection. Just a big money scam

 

[androidlee]

just needed for bigger sites matty (where you have large electrical contractors/principle contractors) million pound+ jobs

whats a basic card?

 

[Jono Pashley]

Yes Yes ill give you 50 quid for yet another H&S exam every 3 years because ive obviously forgot how to lift a box and not to shove my fingers into live sockets THEN you can charge me another 20 quid for the privledge of renewing the card, ECS/JIB can go do one.

 

[androidlee]

there is no renewal as such. you just retake the test

 

[highpockets]

i have been a plant operator. i have cpcs/cscs card full of categories that i have been throwing money at for renewals for years. It is assumed that the more experience of your trade you have, the more chance there is of you being incompetent. now i finish 2330 level 3 in couple of months. enquired ECS card today.

 

[Evans Electric]

JIB have just informed me that to renew my grade card ( for the 90th time! ) I must shell out yet another

 

[androidlee]

[No message]