Calling all electricians that have 'retrained' at a 'mature' age...

[MarmiteTel]

Hey there!

I am looking to train as an electrician but am a little older than the typical age I guess you could argue you'd pursue a career in this field (or any field for that matter).

I am 30 and have signed up to a 2year City and Guilds 2330 Electrotechnical Technology (posh title!) course.

Just wondering if theres anyone else out there who have also retrained as an electrician at an 'older' age and if so, what success have you had?

Thanks so much in advance

MarmiteTel

[Hicks12]

My dad completed an electrician course early this year and hes 45 this year. It was a 3 or 4 week intensive course but he is really dedicated to things he puts his mind to, with him working in semiconducting i guess it was "easier" for him but he still found it very hard, i think what kept him motivated was the fact the company he is working for were closing the site and so he could have been made redundant (thankfully not). But yes its a hard course but very rewarding, hes now a fully qualified electrician.

[danroyle]

my father in law retrained as an electrician a few years back he is in his late 50's now. Managed to get a job with a good company 3 years ago and has never looked back he loves it and i got my flat re-wired on the cheap.

He keeps trying to talk me into doing the same.

[bignev]

Since any major wiring needs to be approved or done by a "proper" electrician (due to Mr. Prescott changing the rules), this may be a wise career move.

[Lucio]

The hardest part about the training isn't completing the course, it's the pain of setting up your own business for the first time. Make sure to get plenty of advice from your local bank's business manager on the costs and hire a decent account for the first year or two as you'd be amazed at some of the tax savings you can pull off.

[kalniel]

My partners brother did this, and has had great success. He had to work bloody hard though, but it's worth it.

[Michael]

I've just about finished my 2330 course, passed all exams and done the AM2, just need to finish my portfolio. I took the apprentice route.

I don't think I qualify for your 'older' request but I can answer any questions you might have (Or I will try to the best of my ability anyway!)

What did you do before you decided to do this?

[tiggerai]

My other half is a Marine Electrical Engineer - I'm wondering if it would be wise for him to take the "qualified" electrician route for when the (very seasonal) marine work dries up over the winter. What is the best way of getting into it? Evening courses?

[MarmiteTel]

I've just about finished my 2330 course, passed all exams and done the AM2, just need to finish my portfolio. I took the apprentice route.

I don't think I qualify for your 'older' request but I can answer any questions you might have (Or I will try to the best of my ability anyway!)

What did you do before you decided to do this?

Hey Michael! Thanks so much for the offer. Yeah, I'd love any advice, thank you. I'm doing the same thing, a 2year, part time course studying the 2330 Level 2 and then Level 3. I wish I could take the apprentice route, but am 'too old'...lol. Which makes me laugh. I, of course, explored every option, even the 'traineeship' route, but am having troubles getting a company to take me on. I think I'll have to do the first year and then try, try, try!!

Did you do the pt course then whilst doing the work based element? I understand that the Level 3 part allows you to do the NVQ (work based) in order to become fully qualified right?

I've been working in offices in various jobs for the last 12 years but am fed up! I've just come back from lots of travelling and just need to:

1. be my own boss
2. get out of the office!
3. get a 'skill'
4. get a change of scenery all the time
5. train and then take my 'skill' wherever I want

Sound like a good idea?

Thanks for your advice again.

[MarmiteTel]

My other half is a Marine Electrical Engineer - I'm wondering if it would be wise for him to take the "qualified" electrician route for when the (very seasonal) marine work dries up over the winter. What is the best way of getting into it? Evening courses?

Hi Tiggerai,

Great that your other half is in the industry; its also an idea I toyed with as I live on the South Coast. I'd defs say it is a good idea to get qualified, just cos then you can do anything that way and is not seasonal; you can do indoor and outdoor stuff eh.

You can do an evening course or a one day release. I opted for the one day release as the other local college here in Southampton offering the evening class seemed a bit crap. I think its worth going and seeing if you feel comfortable with the college as well. Its a hard choice though, as Im basically giving up 20% of my potential earning power to do the course...but its an investment in the future.

The other route, and it depends on his age and the local job market opportunity, is to do an apprenticeship. Thats hard though as theres not much out there!

Good to talk to you, speak to you soon

[MarmiteTel]

my father in law retrained as an electrician a few years back he is in his late 50's now. Managed to get a job with a good company 3 years ago and has never looked back he loves it and i got my flat re-wired on the cheap.

He keeps trying to talk me into doing the same.

Hey Danroyle,

Sweet! I'm sooo glad I made this choice. It feels like its my last chance to do it ya know. I'm hitting 30 this year and the options are defs running out. Especially with this particular choice as City and Guilds are changing the requirements this year onwards! From Sept onwards (if you haven't enrolled already), you have to be 'IN' the industry to do this course!!! Work that one out. Basically you have to be a practising electrician to become a trained electrician....?WTF??

Lol

[Whiternoise]

How much do beginners courses cost? I was thinking about maybe doing one of these or a building/plumbing course one summer, looks like a good qualification to have. Not only as a backup for employment, but if councils have their way you're not technically allowed to do any repair work to your house unless you're an approved <profession> from what I hear.

I've got the physics background, so I doubt the theory should be too much trouble - though I expect it's much more applied than I'm used to (physics != engineering), somehow I doubt they want a working knowledge of Maxwell's field equations.

[Michael]

Hey Michael! Thanks so much for the offer. Yeah, I'd love any advice, thank you. I'm doing the same thing, a 2year, part time course studying the 2330 Level 2 and then Level 3. I wish I could take the apprentice route, but am 'too old'...lol. Which makes me laugh. I, of course, explored every option, even the 'traineeship' route, but am having troubles getting a company to take me on. I think I'll have to do the first year and then try, try, try!!

Did you do the pt course then whilst doing the work based element? I understand that the Level 3 part allows you to do the NVQ (work based) in order to become fully qualified right?
I've been working in offices in various jobs for the last 12 years but am fed up! I've just come back from lots of travelling and just need to:

1. be my own boss
2. get out of the office!
3. get a 'skill'
4. get a change of scenery all the time
5. train and then take my 'skill' wherever I want

Sound like a good idea?


Thanks for your advice again.

Right, well personally I would reccomend that you try to get your foot in the door with an electrical company for some on-the-job experience, because companies tend to steer clear of hiring people who have just obtained the qualifications and don't have any hands on experience... What you learn at college is all the theory with bits and bobs of the physical aspect, you won't learn how to get wires from the mains board to the kitchen without making a mess, etc. You NEED experience. Even if you offer youself to work for free for one day a week or an apprentices wage, just do what you can to get on the tools.

Buy yourself some tools. Basics you will need are a set of insulated drivers, wire snips, pliers, a junior hacksaw, Stanley knife... The more tools you have the more prepared you are for every eventuality and you won't find yourself trying to use something to do a job it isn't designed for!

You are right about the nvq requirement. Level 2 can be achieved without ever visiting a job but to finish level 3 you need to complete a log book so the sooner you find an employer the better!

Your reasoning behind choosing this as a career seems sound to me You'll make a decent living, have a 'job for life', and you should be able to take it anywhere in the world with you, which is my aim really

Different people and jobs everyday, as long as you enjoy it and don't mind getting home dirty every day then you've made a good choice

Good luck!

(Ps. Don't just phone companies to ask about work, physicaly call into the offices and present yourself and explain your situation, you will have a much better chance of getting on somewhere that way... I promise you!)

[ehhhhhhh]

Is it possible to take only the exams and skip the courses like 17th ed. wiring and C&G 2330?

[ipwiz]

Wise move - but 2 years ? - with all the tax hikes and captive market - being a self employed elecie is tempting