Electrical Courses

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Choosing a career as an Electrian- an Electrifying and Rewarding Job!

A career as an electrician can be profitable as well as stable. An electrician may be referred to as a domestic or even an installation electrician. An electrician does a variety of services, generally with circuits and wiring. It can be an exciting field that with the proper training can make one a lot of money, as well as give opportunity for advancement.

What does an Electrician do?

Simply put, an electrician works with electricity. They may work specifically in residential homes, or on office buildings and businesses. They may work in combination of many different places. An electrician can work for many, many companies, as most companies will always need the services of an electrician. They may also go into business for themselves, and enjoy a fulfilling career by making their own hours and doing there own business.

The work of an electrician may include anything from fitting a bathroom shower circuit to checking the wiring for a faulty line in a residential home. An electrician may also work with major electrical cabling in huge businesses and office spaces. As an electrician, one would take the contractors’ plans and read them, thus figuring out where to fit in wiring, sockets and other electrical issues that is required. They will do the installing of electric lines, running them through ceilings, floors and walls. They may get to fit fuse boxes and circuit breakers, as well as mount what is called “back-boxes” onto the walls to take the plug sockets and points. An electrician may also carry out a second “fix”. This means they connect the wiring that is already laid out into sockets, light fixtures, appliances and switches, thus making them workable.

What skills and knowledge will I need?

  • good practical skills to work with hand and power tools
  • the ability to follow technical drawings and instructions
  • a methodical approach to work and the ability to pay close attention to detail
  • a commitment to keep up to date with industry developments
  • the ability to work unsupervised and as part of a team
  • good communication skills
  • normal colour vision
  • a thorough understanding of electrical safety rules and regulations.

 

What qualifications and experience will employers look for?

There are many electrician courses available. To qualify as an electrician, you must have the Electrotechnical Services NVQ at Level 3, which is awarded by City & Guilds.

You may be able to start as an apprentice with an electrical contractor or building company. Most apprentices start between 16 to 19, although entry may be possible over 19.

If you are not eligible for an apprenticeship scheme and not employed in the industry, you could take the City & Guilds (2330) Technical Certificate in Electrotechnical Technology levels 2 and 3.

Technical certificates do not prove that you are a qualified electrician, only the full NVQ can do this; but they do cover the theory and some of the practical skills needed to move on to the NVQ qualification.

Industry bodies strongly recommend that you gain a placement or employment with an electrical contractor as soon as possible after you start the technical certificate, so that you can complete the NVQ.

What further electrician courses can I do?

If you are working in the industry, you can take the Electrotechnical Services NVQ at Level 3, awarded by City & Guilds (course code 2356).

The NVQ contains several options but for installation work, you would take the one for Electrical Installation (Building & Structures). This option includes the C&G (2330) Technical Certificate.

Your employer may ask you to take two other qualifications:

You could also take further training courses for professional development purposes, for example the City & Guilds In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (2377), often known as portable appliance testing (PAT).

Electrical Safety and Part P

Part P of the Building Regulations states that certain types of household electrical work must be approved by a certified contractor or building inspector. You can certify your own work by completing a short Part P training scheme.
Entry requirements for a scheme will depend on your qualifications and experience. Good providers offer extra training if you need it, for instance, 17th Edition Wiring Regulations.