Carpentry & Joinery Instructor/Lecturer.....HOW?

Jambo5

Hi all, I'm currently in Army but will hopefully be leaving in next 2 years.

Before I joined Army in 09 I was a time served joiner and had 7 years experience. 5 years down the line I'm trying to do what I can to get into a college for when I leave.

I have read bits and bobs but can't find a comprehensive answer. At moment I have 7 years experience(not to mention the various joinery tasks around the globe i've done with Army) and i'm qualified to NVQ level 3.

Last October I completed the PTLLS (preparing to teach in life long learning sector) and thoroughly enjoyed the course.

I know that this is entry level into a college to instruct and have other courses I will now tackle. The next one is ITQ course just to get me current with computers etc. After that I want to complete an NVQ Assessors course.
I have also been invited to shadow an Instructor at a local college but due to the nature of my current work its impossible to get time off.

After them two course's I'm stuck.
Can anybody advise me further?
Has any body on here went from a joiner to then work in a college?
Is there any thing else I can do?
Has anybody went from Instructor to Lecturer?and how?
As soon as I leave Army I plan to go back on site to get current again and try and chip away at getting a start in a College. This will be in North Eat of England.

Thank for reading. Hope you can help

Loopy28

I am a lecturer and NVQ Assessor, not in your sector but another vocational area.

With your PTLLS you can try and gain an instructor post at a FE college, they will then support you to obtain the full FE teaching qualification while you work with them. This is quite common, the hardest part is getting your foot in the door and getting the job but you have a really solid background. They will also support you to gain your NVQ Assessor Award (TAQA/CAVA)

Alternatively, I know a lot of people go down the NVQ Assessor route first by gaining a role as an unqualified Assessor with a college or private training company and then qualifying as an Assessor while they work for them. Once qualified, they then look to move in to lecturing from there. That was the route I took, I managed to get a role as an unqualified Assessor, once qualified and with experience, I completed my teaching qualification with te college, which they paid for and then got a lecturer role.

Jambo5

Thanks Loopy28. I get some support from Army to pay for courses. I price a NVQ assessors course up for £800 I will pay 20% of that Army will foot the rest.

Are you saying me getting the Assessor Qual will help me and definately worth doing off my own bat?

elsien

Don't you need candidates to assess to do the assessor qualification? Just wondering how that's going to work if you can't get time off to shadow as it is?

Jambo5

Yes elsien you are right.
When you leave Army you are granted resettlement or time off just before discharge to do courses. To shadow is voluntary and although I will gain experience I won't gain a qualification.

Loopy28

I think the Assessor qualification definitely helps. If you google carpenter/joiner lecturer vacancies you will probably find that a lot will ask for you to be a qualified Assessor.

You need two candidates to assess to achieve the qualification. Lots of colleges and training providers can offer Unit 1, which is the knowledge unit but for Unit 2 and 3, you will need to find two candidates who are completing an apprenticeship/NVQ to assess for the occupational units 2 and 3.

You might find a provider or college who can provide these candidates for you. Be wary of any online providers who say they can provide candidates but don't give them to you in your sector. The Assessor qualification is generic so you can assess any sector you are occupationally competent in but it is preferable for you to have used candidates for your qualification in what you hope to assess in.

Jambo5

Loopy28 thank you again. Is become a lecturer harder than what I think? is it a closed shop?