Want A Successful New Career - Why Not Consider Electrical Training?

The electrical industry has become one of the most significant aspects of life today. Consequently good electrical workers are crucial to all of us. 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. The industry is now one of the biggest in the UK, with 20 billion pounds of work carried out annually according to the Summit Skills report for 2009. With the right qualifications you too could be enjoying a profitable and rewarding electrical career.

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Once you've passed the correct industry exams, you can be on your way to a great new career. Knowing which courses to take can be quite confusing, so we've put together a step by step document that explains everything.

There's no charge for this - we'll email a copy across to you within minutes of your request. 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.

Once you've downloaded it, allow some time to give it your full attention.

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What's The Work Like?

You might wonder whether electrical work will suit you. As electricians use tools and are very hands-on most of the time, you must be able to work well practically. You should have a logical, orderly way of thinking, and be safety conscious at all times. You must be happy working alone if you're considering self-employment. Obviously if you're colour-blind, this work isn't going to be right for you. Essentially, you'll need commitment and enterprise if you plan to start out on your own.

Be Your Own Boss

A lot of people choose to train for an electrical career so that they can set up in business for themselves. Most newly qualified adult electrical workers choose to either work for themselves, or on a contract basis. It's very sensible when you look at how much work there is particularly in the domestic sector. It's also not unusual for other tradesmen to get some electrical qualifications to boost their offering to clients. Finally some just want to be able to carry out electrical work in their own homes.

In common with all the trades, good electricians get a lot of their work through word of mouth recommendations from satisfied customers. You'll be taught all your technical skills on the course, but also remember to have good personal skills as well.

Thirty seven to forty hours a week is normal for most commercially employed full-time electricians. And according to SalaryTrack, last year the average employed electrical worker earned between 24K and 29K a year. Self-employed electricians should be prepared to extend their hours where necessary, but usually their higher pay will reflect that. They will need to take their overheads into account as well though.

What's The Right Course For Me?

In the UK, look primarily for C&G (City & Guilds) and EAL (EMTA Awards Ltd) training. School leavers bolt on National Vocational Qualifications to their City & Guilds through work placements in industry. But naturally this takes several years. Mature entrants generally study courses in their own time on a partly distance-learning basis. These courses don't include NVQ assessments, because the trainees are mostly focused on household work. 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. 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.

What's Involved In Such A Course?

Study programmes vary, but a comprehensive domestic course should equip you to pass your Level 2 EAL Domestic Installers exam. Training will include installations, safety procedures, wiring and rewiring in homes and testing circuits.

As everyone carrying out domestic electrical work now has to be Part P certified, your training will give you an understanding of what's needed.Similarly, you'll have training for the City & Guilds 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations Certificate (2382), another legal necessity. You could also be taught and assessed to carry out various other tasks that together will allow you to complete and self-certify domestic electrical work.

Obviously the speed you can get through a course depends on your existing commitments, but allow about four to five hundred hours for training in total.

Qualified electricians are needed all over the country. The opportunities are there - now it's up to you.