An Independent Future With Electrical Courses
Electrical Workers Can Build a Rewarding New Career
Electricity is one of life's essentials in the modern world. Everybody relies on a safe and continuous output of supply, and on skilled workers to manage it. Fundamentally electrical workers are employed to install, manage and test equipment and systems. The work is heavily dictated to by health and safety standards. The electrical trade overall is now responsible for 20 Billion pounds of business a year in the UK alone. With the right qualifications you too could be enjoying a profitable and rewarding electrical career.
Will I Be Able To Do It?
What characteristics are needed to succeed as an electrician? Electrical work involves using a number of different tools - dexterity and hand to eye co-ordination are vital. As safety is paramount, you need to be logical and well disciplined. As a good deal of your work will be unaccompanied, you need to be happy to work on your own.
Your balance should be good, along with your colour vision and general fitness level. Finally if you're planning to work for yourself you'll need plenty of initiative and self-motivation.
Free In-Depth Information
Whether you've already got some relevant skills or not, once you've trained and got yourself certified, you can start making money. To make life easier for you, we've done extensive research on electrical training and careers, and written a very detailed E-Book.
This is free to download, and tells you all you need to know about the different training paths into industry. You'll find it answers all the questions you might have about getting into the industry (and probably a few more too!)
Take a look at it now to fill in any gaps you may have. When you understand what you're after, get back onto this webpage and check out some of the course options offered by companies featured here. If you Bookmark this webpage by keying in Ctrl D you'll be able to get back to it instantly.
Get Your Own Business Off The Ground
A lot of people choose to train for an electrical career so that they can set up in business for themselves. The majority of adult students in reality head down that track. As demand for qualified professionals continues in domestic households, this arrangement can be ideal.
Sometimes people with other trade skills want electrical expertise, to give their business more credibility. And some people take electrical courses in order to safely fit a new kitchen at home for example.
Happy clients will sing your praises to all and sundry when you've carried your work out well. You'll be taught all your technical skills on the course, but also remember to have good personal skills as well.
Commercially employed electricians will usually work a 37 - 40 hour week, with possible overtime at the weekends. Average salaries in 2009 were around 26K according to SalaryTrack 2009. Self-employed electricians should be prepared to extend their hours where necessary, but usually their higher pay will reflect that. Of course, anyone running their own business has to cover their costs as well, though these shouldn't be too extensive.
What's The Right Course For Me?
The two relevant trade certification boards in Great Britain are EAL and City & Guilds. In addition, teenagers doing C&G exams at technical colleges will find working assignments to complete their more practical NVQ's. But naturally this takes several years. Those who are more mature usually prefer to do shorter training courses part-time alongside their existing jobs. They don't need lengthy NVQ training because they're looking to work in private houses. Various training routes are offered by commercial colleges that will quickly lead to industry recognised qualifications.
Of course it means fewer certifications, but nevertheless students gain sufficient knowledge and skill (and the relevant certificates) for the field they'll be working in.
So What Would I Learn?
Study programmes vary, but a comprehensive domestic course should equip you to pass your Level 2 EAL Domestic Installers exam. With an eye always on safety, you'll be shown how to install electrics, rewire houses, test circuits and more.
The law aims to ensure that all domestic electrical work is done in accordance with 'Part P' regulations, so your training will equip you for that. Your training will also enable you to understand and meet the standards of the IEE wiring regulations. Working towards these industry-recognised qualifications will equip you not only to work on jobs in kitchens and bathrooms, on lighting circuits and wall sockets etc. but also to self-certify them as well.
You should find a typical domestic electrical training programme takes between 300 hours and 400-500 hours, and is a mixture of home study and workshop assessments. Training will give you confidence and ultimately success - as you'll never be stuck for work with such in-demand skills.
