Career change to Electrician..

Are there any electricians on here?

I'm interested in changing career and re-training as an electrician. Can anyone tell me which qualifications i'll need to get started?

All tips and info much appreciated!

Nick

[pmapp]

Hmmmm, this has been in the back of my mind for quite some time.

I'll be interested in the responses.

Any of those sort of trades, you can make a dishonest fortune.

Try looking at your local technical college they offer courses for this sort of thing.
I read or saw about someone who had done this and it takes about 2 years I think

Cheers rick0361, i've found this at my local college - http://www.bracknell.ac.uk/_colony/c...eDetailID=1503

Part time, 2 evenings a week for two years and it's recognised by the industry as a starting point. Not released dates/prices for this year yet.

Sounds like a good idea. You must be a bright spark

I'm not an electrician but have had some dealings with it all over last 3 years. Unless you intend labouring for someone else you will need qualification to 17th edition of BS 7671 2008 (formerley IEE wiring regs.)

If you want to keep business flowing you will either be best specialising in commercial installations or if you want to do domestic it will be best if get registered to 'Part P'. Part P is the section of the Building Regulations that covers domestic electrical installation. If you register to Part P with say NICEIC, ECA, NAPIT or equivalent you can by-pass the building control process which makes your business much more attractive to clients than non registered.

Some non registered sparky's are finding it difficult to get work. You charge to the client may be a little higher but overall probably cheaper once you stick building control fess on top. Additionally homeowners are more wary about electrical stuff than any other aspec of building so tend to go for 'qualified' sparky's above the guy down the street on the cheap.

Good luck. What I do know about it, it seems an interesting and challenging trade.

Been thinking a bit about a career change myself although to what I don't really know - getting a bit fed up of IT in local government. Hope you manage to sort it out as it is pretty portable and the changes in the law requiring people to have electrical certificates for work carried out mean it is potentially a gold mine really. Although someone I know is a sparky and he had to spend a lot of dosh a couple of years ago getting all the stuff that enabled him to do the certification and stuff like that

May be worth a look?

http://www.nictraining.com/nroot/nic...ctricalcourses

Cheers guys, some helpful info..