Full Electrician courses

[The Logitician]

Hi,

Just looking at all different ideas of different careers out there; one being possibly retraining as an Electrician.

I've googled the internet and have look through quest magazine for ages now. There are plenty of different companies offering a mass of different courses.

I just want to see if anyone out there has done this, took a course during resettlement, or at any other time, and who has done a complete electrician course, where at the end it allows them/you to go straight out and be self employed, domestic installer and commercial?

Ta very much.

TL

 

[Joe_90]

I'm afraid being an electrician isn't something you can just leave the RAF and do. It's a trade with all the skill and knowledge that comes with that. You can be taught the theory (IEE 17th edition) but at the end of it you are no more able to install a fuse box that you were before. You can be taught how to install a fuse box on a rig in a classroom but when you get to your first house or factory it's bound to be different. An apprenticeship still takes 3 years and unless you're in a trade that works with electricity, and your forum title suggests not, you would most probably be wasting your time unless you were willing to invest that 3 years on minimum wage.

Quest magazine will try and convince you differently with all the shiny adverts in the back, but adverts are nearly always lies. I've been wearing Lynx deoderant for years for example.

 

[Bignick]

I'm afraid being an electrician isn't something you can just leave the RAF and do. It's a trade with all the skill and knowledge that comes with that. You can be taught the theory (IEE 17th edition) but at the end of it you are no more able to install a fuse box that you were before. You can be taught how to install a fuse box on a rig in a classroom but when you get to your first house or factory it's bound to be different. An apprenticeship still takes 3 years and unless you're in a trade that works with electricity, and your forum title suggests not, you would most probably be wasting your time unless you were willing to invest that 3 years on minimum wage.

Quest magazine will try and convince you differently with all the shiny adverts in the back, but adverts are nearly always lies. I've been wearing Lynx deoderant for years for example.

True(ish) ..... The 6 week courses with 17th ed, 2391 and classroom based wiring experience are an excellent starting point. It doesn't make you a fully qualified electrician but does send you much further along the line than a guy just out of school doing a traditional apprenticeship. Additionally you possess many core competencies from your time in the RAF: Discipline, Sense of duty, QA etc.
In short, if you think you have the smarts to do it then give it a crack. When you are done join a company that will give you the experience you require. Wages won't initially be quite as good as a fully qualified electrician but the will be more than minimum and more than a stackers would be outside. Good luck

 

[Mickwreay]

Both the above posts have a lot of good points mate.

I left last year after 25 years & did the Aldershot sparky courses. 17th Edition, basic electrical installation & C&G 2391. They are all very good & you will have a very good understanding of the trade after the courses.
I had also worked as a sparky in the early 80s on houses, pubs & factories so I did have some experience albeit 20+ years ago.

While in my final few months I posted a notice in a few local electrical trade shops offering to work for fuel money to improve my skills, with a view to getting a start. Response ZERO!

I know work for MHS on the married quarters as an inspector, the contractors they use do have a lot of ex-forces working for them. Heating Engineers seem to do well, not sure if that interests you? You can expect to get a job as an improver with salary in the region of 20-25K

Good luck in whatever you do mate.