I want to become an electrician

[paulspounds]

So I've been working in my office job for 5 years now and I'm losing all of my motivation and feel it's time for change.

At home, I've set up so much electronic gadgets it's unbelievable. I've wired sounds systems around the house & am pretty proud of my universal colour-mood lighting after learning how to do it on Youtube..

I feel so rewarded once I've set everything up and it's all working and have started to seriously consider a new career as an electrician! Ultimately I want to set up my own business where I can set up advanced wiring for gadgets but with all the relevant qualifications to back me up and win me the work.

Do we have many electricians on here who could recommend the best way to go about becoming a fully qualified sparky?

 

[Maccapacca]

You could get some basic qualifications part time whilst still working then offer yourself out for an apprenticeship. Get a CSCS card.

 

[kkelly]

Ideally, you want an apprenticeship, my work do a yearly intake - so check out construction companies in your area

 

[MeEsH BaKkA]

For every interesting AV mega install you will do 30 years of DB changes under the deepest most awkward under stairs cupboards you can imagine and the rest of your time sawing into fingers when making off swa.

The AV side of things is pretty sewn up, infact home automation is pretty saturated also. If you want gadgets etc get into BMS stuff for massive offices.

 

[Brutal biff]

You'll need to speak to your local college when I did my apprentiship I had to do the 2330 course which is about 3 years which i think has now changed also you'll also need to complete a log book which needs to be done whilst on the job so you may need to offer yourself out for free labour to get experience and a chance to get that log book done.

I'm a member of an electricians forum so I'd post there if I was you as you may get more help and guidance just do say your going to do a 6 week wonder course as you'll get no help at all www.electriciansforum.co.uk

 

[paulspounds]

I'm a member of an electricians forum so I'd post there if I was you as you may get more help and guidance just do say your going to do a 6 week wonder course as you'll get no help at all www.electriciansforum.co.uk

Thanks mate. Do you mean DON'T say I'm doing a 6 week course? Only because I probably wouldn't mind doing that.. Well I found this on EC4U which says I could be a domestic electrician in 3 weeks? Although I'm not sure that qualification will be enough..

One thing I need to make clear is that money is not an issue and I'm happy to pay for a course, but can't seem to find any that last less than 2 years and they don't state whether they're full-time or not. If I found a full-time course, could I do it in a year??

I'm 26- can I still get an apprenticeship? To my knowledge I was under the assumption that you have to be younger than something like 23.


Thanks for all the advice so far people!

 

[MeEsH BaKkA]

You can get an apprenticeship when ever you like just don't get the hump with being told what to do by younger lads. If you ever want to earn money you are going to want a proper electrical installations course (2330 or whatever it is now) and a inspect and test course (which was 2391 but is now 4 separate courses) which is around 3.5 years of college/learning on site.

You would fall flat on your face if you did a 3 week course then managed to get employed on a site with someone.

Money is good though I earn 45k a year through being employed and around 20k through my own firm.

 

[Mynight]

I have my own company employing 5 sparkies. It is worth it for the money and interesting jobs (few and far between though). Not for the people who get bad backs easily lots of lugging kit and cramped spaces.

I'd advise going through your local college. I did one of those "fast track" ones well a 18 month variant. Which gave me all the needed domestic qualifications to work as an electritian. However most companies don't appear to be interested in these qualifications due to lack of actual experience. I learnt the hard way how much difference is between knowing all the theory and regs and actually putting it into an installation

Ended up going out on my own undercutting everyone else and informing the customers I was inexperienced. You'd be suprised how a £100 undercut can change people's minds on experience required

I'd advise to take a good look at your area and see how many electritians are around and what they offer. If you're overrun with them it may not be a good career choice if staying in that area.

I would also advise looking into getting qualified for commercial and PAT certified. I only get about 18% from domestic properties now 42% from PAT and 40% from commercial installations. Won't discuss exact figures but lets just say you wouldn't be dissapointed

Get yourself a 2391 qualification and you can test others work for a decent wage.

But bear in mind the costs of being an electritian as well

-£349 part p registered (per year)
-£1k+ PAT tester
-£1k+ installation tester
-liability insurance
-van
-tools

(Obviously you can claim the 20% vat back but its still eye watering the first time round haha).

They also love dropping new "updates" to the regs which you have to requalify for £50 for my local college.

Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to put you off I blooming love it and it has given me an incredibally healthy bank balance.

Just double check all research before taking the plunge.

Some colleges appear to be offering 2 day a week courses so you could see if you can arrange work around it whilst training.


Edit: just reread the "advanced wiring for gadgets" bit you might be looking more at an electrical engineering qualification there.


I hope this wall of text helps somewhat.