Make A Career Change Now With Electrical Training Courses

Electricity is one of the most important aspects of modern life. In Britain and around the world we rely heavily on the expertise of electrical contractors. As there are many different jobs within the industry, the nature of an electrician's work will depend on the type of specialist training they've had.

Approximately three percent of the UK's GNP can be attributed to the electrical industry. So if you're looking to retrain for a new career, an electrical course could be just the thing for you.

How Do I Know I'll Enjoy It?

People often question whether they'd be any good in this role. To be an electrician you will need to be able to use a variety of tools effectively. It's important to be able to follow safety guidelines and procedures, so you need to be able to carry out tasks with great precision. You'll need to be able to work independently, and make decisions for yourself. Obviously if you're colour-blind, this work isn't going to be right for you. And in the end, if being your own boss is your goal, you should be determined and positive!

Get Your FREE Electrical Training E-Book

You may have a few skills under your belt already, or you may know next to nothing. Whatever your present knowledge, good industry training will have you equipped for the job very quickly. To simplify things, you'll find it a lot easier to understand what courses are right for you when you've gone through our respected e-book.

All the different training options are clearly explained - and we'll send it to you for FREE. There are a lot of training colleges and companies in the UK, offering various different areas of expertise.

The e-book will put things into perspective. It makes sense to go through that first before you do anything else. And then when you've got the hang of what you need, come back to this site and look at what some of the training companies featured here are offering. If you enter Ctrl D, this page will save in your 'Favourites' file automatically.

Make The Move To Self-Employment

One reason many people retrain to become electricians is because they want to become self-employed. The majority of adult students in reality head down that track. And there appears to be an on-going healthy demand for electrical contractors in private housing, so it can work very well. Of course, some just want the qualifications so they can earn a second income part-time. And some people take electrical courses in order to safely fit a new kitchen at home for example.

In common with all the trades, good electricians get a lot of their work through word of mouth recommendations from satisfied customers. Your chosen college should give you all the technical expertise, but do remember to maintain a good attitude whenever you're working for others.

Commercially employed electricians will usually work a 37 - 40 hour week, with possible overtime at the weekends. And according to SalaryTrack, last year the average employed electrical worker earned between 24K and 29K a year. Electricians who work for themselves and take on a variety of domestic jobs can bring in significantly more than that, although their hours are usually longer. Of course, anyone running their own business has to cover their costs as well, though these shouldn't be too extensive.

Which Training Will Suit Me Best?

The electrical industry mainly recognises EAL and City & Guilds in Britain today. School leavers bolt on National Vocational Qualifications to their City & Guilds through work placements in industry. But naturally this takes several years.

Those who are more mature usually prefer to do shorter training courses part-time alongside their existing jobs. This training usually leads to work in the domestic market, so excludes the necessity for lengthy NVQ's.

The private training colleges offer flexible programmes that lead to certifications that will get them up and running with the best financial return from their training investment. Students come out with solid, industry legal electrical qualifications that they can speedily make use of in households anywhere.

What Might This Training Cover?

Although course contents will vary slightly, every level 2 EAL Domestic Installer Course will follow a proven track. You'll be taught a basic understanding of electrical wiring in the home and standard safety procedures. 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.

A second essential qualification from C&G is the 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations. You might also cover training for the C&G 2392 certification, which demonstrates competency in initial testing and verification, C&G 2391 for Inspection, Testing and Certification and C&G 2377 which covers PAT testing.

Allow up to about five hundred hours all in to complete your training, which will be a combination of practical workshops and home study. Qualified electricians are needed all over the country. The opportunities are there - now it's up to you.