If you’re balancing work, family life and financial commitments, the practicalities of retraining to become an electrician can feel quite daunting.

With the right training, work experience and planning, you can work towards becoming a qualified electrician without putting your life on hold.

What does the training involve?

If you’re starting from scratch, the route typically involves several stages of electrical training: Level 2, Level 3, 18th Edition, NVQ and AM2.

The classroom and workshop training can be completed relatively quickly over a number of months. The work-based NVQ takes longer because you need suitable opportunities to gain experience and gather evidence. You can read more about the route to becoming an electrician without an apprenticeship.

How long does all the training take?

While there are set numbers of weeks for the various courses, there’s no single timeline for the retraining as a whole. You might need to space the training out or fit the theory in as home-study. It depends on how you study, how quickly you progress through the qualifications and how soon you can get relevant work experience.

Paul started his training at Able Skills in January 2024 and passed his AM2 in January 2026. He combined his training with site experience, building on practical skills he’d developed earlier in life.

Scott took a different approach. While serving in the Royal Marines, he studied through home learning and part-time training, using Enhanced Learning Credits (ELCAS) to help fund his retraining. He began his electrical training in 2023 and completed his AM2 in March 2026.

Their journeys show that there isn’t one way to make the transition. The key is to plan your training around your circumstances while making time to gain experience on-site.

Read Paul's student story and Scott’s student story to find out what their journeys involved.

It takes commitment to retrain as an electrician, and becoming qualified is a process rather than a quick fix. But with a clear plan, the right training and real-world experience, you can work towards a new career without following the traditional apprenticeship route.

If you’re considering a mid-life career change, read our guide to becoming an electrician at 40.