Any Electricians? Can I pick your brains?

meerustar

My son (16) is going for an apprenticship to be an electrician.

He has an assessment on 5th July and has to have an English, Maths and BPEC test.

Does anyone know what the BPEC test involves or can give some insider tips to help him along?

Also, how hard is it to become and electrician? He is a good worker, has worked hard for his exams (results due August) and is expected to get good grades.

He knows he has to study hard but I'm concerned (as mums are, lol) that he thinks it may be a breeze.

The apprenticeship is an excellent one. It's with the council with either day release or block release in college. He will start on at least £145 per week which is excellent for a 16 year old and practically guaranteed of a job at the end.

Any tips or advice I could pass onto him would be appreciated.

Thanks

moonrakerz

Doesn't BPEC stand for British Plumbers Employer's Council ?

meerustar

moonrakerz wrote: »

Doesn't BPEC stand for British Plumbers Employer's Council ?

So it does, lol.

Maybe it's becasue they are taking on 12 apprentices.

2 x Plumbers, Electricians, Bricklayers, Joiners, Plasterers and Painter & Decoraters.

Maybe it's a standard letter or something.

Thanks

christhesparky_2

It could possibly be a manual dexterity test?

they are used to assess hand / eye co-ordination, and just to make sure you have some sort of technical ability

meerustar

christhesparky wrote: »

It could possibly be a manual dexterity test?

they are used to assess hand / eye co-ordination, and just to make sure you have some sort of technical ability

Thankyou.

I notice you're a 'spark', lol. How many years does it take to be fully qualified ... or is it a case of being qualified and then you can take more courses to be advanced (if that makes sense).

Cheers

Canucklehead

Hi

You may have seen this already http://www.iee.org/EduCareers/ProfDev/Electrician.pdf

Your son will be learning until he retires:D

Corgi Guy.

meerustar

Thankyou very much ... that was interesting and answered a lot of questions for us.

Nobleck

Training takes 4-5 years to become qualified as an Electrician.
After that various courses rear their heads including Health and Safety every 3 years.
Every day is different and you will learn throughout the entire life span of the Electrical career that you choose.
A word of advise, the job is vary demanding especially now with more paper work required for each job that you carry out.

Good luck with the apprenticeship.

baldelectrician

I presume you are south of the border, the test sounds like the SECTT test the youngsters do up here.

See:

http://www.sectt.org.uk/assess.htm

hope this helps

meerustar

We're North of the border in Manchester.

The apprenticeship is with Manchester Housing.

Thanks

christhesparky_2

it generally takes 4 years of training between on the job practical training and theory at college,
then there are further courses for inspection an testing, wiring reg's, so in effect you are always learning.