Guidance needed on electrical courses to become an electrician

s572757

Hello everyone, I am interested in pursuing a career in the electrical industry as an electrician. I have been looking at several vocational training centers around me and Learn Trade Skills is closest to where I live. I have been looking at several of their courses but am not sure which one, to begin with. and heard they provide hands-on training on these courses. Any advice will be appreciated

tacpot12

I suggest you head over to this website where the subject has been discussed in detail: Talk Electricians Forum | Electrical Advice | Electricians Advice | Electrician Courses (electriciansforums.net)

I would recommend not paying up front. Pay for the smallest amount of training they will allow you to. Don't worry about how much you are not saving by not paying up front - worry about how much you might lose if they go bust! Taking out their finance might be a good idea as it makes the lender responsible for you receiving the training you have paid for, but the lender might also fail or make getting your money back difficult so only paying for the training you have to still makes sense.

TELLIT01

I hope the OP isn't thinking this will be a quick way to become a qualified electrician.  My nephew did a 3 year apprenticeship, with college one day per week, in order to get the required qualifications.

tacpot12

It rather depends what work they are prepared to do. If they are happy to do domestic work as a self-employed person, then it can be quite quick, but if they want some be employed as an electrician it takes much longer to get all the qualifications and experience. 3 years is about right. 

s572757

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

MalMonroe

Hi, can I just say that if you google your local council, they sometimes have apprenticeship opportunities where you get paid to work and learn (not a lot as an apprentice but worth it in the end) and you are also trained properly with days at college, as per TELLIT01's post, above.

It's always worth getting a properly recognised qualification as rules and regs about dealing with electricity have tightened up quite a bit in recent times and you will need to be properly certified (in a good way!) once you've finished training.

Here's some government info - https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/electrician
 
You could also google something like - 'electrician training uk'

Hope that's helpful and good luck with it all.  

s572757

I have been looking at their course learntradeskills.co.uk/product/professional-package/, Is it worth starting?

dil1976

s572757 said:

I have been looking at their course learntradeskills.co.uk/product/professional-package/, Is it worth starting?

No those courses do not state actual qualifications you get (eg c&g number). Ignore any that say Part P as that is irrelevant as that is a building regualtion. These have a good reputation in the trade and will help guide you towards what you want and you can pay for each section separately rather than as a lump sum https://www.xstraining.com/

ChasingtheWelshdream

MalMonroe said:

Hi, can I just say that if you google your local council, they sometimes have apprenticeship opportunities where you get paid to work and learn (not a lot as an apprentice but worth it in the end) and you are also trained properly with days at college, as per TELLIT01's post, above.

It's always worth getting a properly recognised qualification as rules and regs about dealing with electricity have tightened up quite a bit in recent times and you will need to be properly certified (in a good way!) once you've finished training.

Here's some government info - https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/electrician
 
You could also google something like - 'electrician training uk'

Hope that's helpful and good luck with it all.  

Just as info, our council now pay all apprentices national living wage (£10.90) rather than the national apprentice rate. (£5.28 first years, then minimum wage). This is specifically to encourage more people to apply who couldn’t afford the apprentice wages otherwise.

You may find your council offers a similar scheme.