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City and Guilds Electrical Courses

So you want to change careers and become a professional electrician? Great! You'll love the electrical trade, and the UK's current skills shortage means that you should have no trouble finding plenty of work, especially with our C&G electrical courses and qualifications

But you can't start working as an electrician without the proper training and qualifications. Electrical work is very dangerous if you don't know exactly what you're doing, so it's very important to learn all the relevant theory, develop your skills under the supervision of an experienced electrician, and get certified before you begin your new career.

Here at Access Training, we offer a range of accredited City and Guilds electrical courses that are specifically designed for inexperienced electricians who want to train up, get qualified, and go professional. Even if you've never so much as changed a plug before, our City and Guilds electrical courses will mould you into a skilled electrician in no time - we'll teach you everything you need to know and help you to earn the industry qualifications that domestic electricians are expected to hold.

Browse our C&G Electrical Courses

Established in 1878, City & Guilds - or the City and Guilds of London Institute, to use its full name - is one of several trusted awarding organisations with whom we work to deliver high-quality electrical courses. If you're interested in earning City & Guilds electrical qualifications through our C&G electrical courses, Access Training can help.

 

What Electrical Qualifications can I earn with Access Training C&G Courses?

Depending on which training programme you choose, you can earn some or all of the following certifications on our City & Guilds electrical courses:

 

Domestic Electrical Installer

This is one of the basic industry qualifications that all electricians must hold. Part P qualifies you to install and repair lights, electrical sockets, cooker circuits, and other consumer units in domestic properties.

Included in the following electrical courses:
Essential // Professional // Premier

 

Level 3 Building Regulations

This is another must-have qualification that's included in all of our career change electrical courses. Earning this certification will show that you have a good working knowledge of the latest electrical regulations.

Included in the following electrical courses:
Essential // Professional // Premier

 

Level 3 Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)

Many self-employed electricians find that they can boost their income by performing PAT tests in addition to domestic installations and maintenance. This course component will teach you how to test electrical devices and prevent potentially dangerous accidents.

Included in the following electrical courses:
Essential // Professional // Premier

 

Level 2 Fundamental Inspection & Testing

Inspection and testing is an important skill for professional electricians to hold. This qualification - also known as City & Guilds 2392 - will allow you to inspect and test new installations (as well as new circuits on existing installations).

Included in the following electrical courses:
Essential // Professional // Premier

 

Level 3 Periodic Inspection & Testing

This qualification goes further than the City & Guilds 2392 certification, enabling you to issue safety reports and recommend any additional works that may be necessary. Sometimes known as City & Guilds 2391-51, the periodic inspection and testing qualification is ideal for budding electricians who wish to carry out commercial and industrial (as well as domestic) work.

Included in the following electrical courses:
Essential // Professional // Premier

 

Our electrician courses combine online learning with intensive hands-on training to give you a comprehensive understanding of your new trade in a relatively short timeframe. If you'd like to enrol on one of our C&G accredited electrical courses, please click on one of the course options listed above or contact Access Training today!

 C&G Electrical Courses

Last updated 17 December 2021.

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plumbing and electrical course students

Whether you are brand new to the trade industry, itching for a change of direction, or just looking to refresh your knowledge, Access Training's Plumbing and Electrical courses are just what you need! Our state-of-the-art training centres across the UK are the perfect place to start if you're looking to kick-start or advance your career as a plumber or electrician.

Our Plumbing and Electrical courses have helped countless people to gain the industry-recognised qualifications that enabled them to succeed as professional tradespeople. When you go the traditional training route, it can take years to gain the qualifications necessary to start work as a plumber or an electrician; however, each of our courses aims to get you fully qualified within a far shorter timeframe than traditional methods.

Our Plumbing and Electrical courses are also perfect for anyone already working in the industry who wants to refresh their training or add new skills to their portfolio.

Browse our Plumbing and Electrical courses now

 Browse our Electrical Courses >

Browse our Plumbing Courses >

 

We design all of our courses to suit our students, which is why we offer three different options to suit all ambitions:

  • Our Essentials courses give you the foundation knowledge needed to become qualified.
  • The Professional courses go further, giving you a comprehensive preparation for your new life as a professional electrician or plumber.
  • Our Premier courses go further still - these are our most advanced training programmes, and they include a range of additional qualifications that will really help you to stand out from your peers when you're looking for work.

All of these courses are designed for budding tradespeople with no prior knowledge of plumbing or electrical work, so even if you've never so much as changed a fuse or taken the lid off a toilet tank, we can help you to become accomplished and successful in your new trade.

If you have any questions about our Plumbing and Electrical courses, feel free to get in touch with the Access Training team!

City and Guilds Electrical Courses

So you want to change careers and become a professional electrician? Great! You'll love the electrical trade, and the UK's current skills shortage means that you should have no trouble finding plenty of work, especially with our C&G electrical courses and qualifications

But you can't start working as an electrician without the proper training and qualifications. Electrical work is very dangerous if you don't know exactly what you're doing, so it's very important to learn all the relevant theory, develop your skills under the supervision of an experienced electrician, and get certified before you begin your new career.

Here at Access Training, we offer a range of accredited City and Guilds electrical courses that are specifically designed for inexperienced electricians who want to train up, get qualified, and go professional. Even if you've never so much as changed a plug before, our City and Guilds electrical courses will mould you into a skilled electrician in no time - we'll teach you everything you need to know and help you to earn the industry qualifications that domestic electricians are expected to hold.

Browse our C&G Electrical Courses

Established in 1878, City & Guilds - or the City and Guilds of London Institute, to use its full name - is one of several trusted awarding organisations with whom we work to deliver high-quality electrical courses. If you're interested in earning City & Guilds electrical qualifications through our C&G electrical courses, Access Training can help.

 

What Electrical Qualifications can I earn with Access Training C&G Courses?

Depending on which training programme you choose, you can earn some or all of the following certifications on our City & Guilds electrical courses:

 

Domestic Electrical Installer

This is one of the basic industry qualifications that all electricians must hold. Part P qualifies you to install and repair lights, electrical sockets, cooker circuits, and other consumer units in domestic properties.

Included in the following electrical courses:
Essential // Professional // Premier

 

Level 3 Building Regulations

This is another must-have qualification that's included in all of our career change electrical courses. Earning this certification will show that you have a good working knowledge of the latest electrical regulations.

Included in the following electrical courses:
Essential // Professional // Premier

 

Level 3 Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)

Many self-employed electricians find that they can boost their income by performing PAT tests in addition to domestic installations and maintenance. This course component will teach you how to test electrical devices and prevent potentially dangerous accidents.

Included in the following electrical courses:
Essential // Professional // Premier

 

Level 2 Fundamental Inspection & Testing

Inspection and testing is an important skill for professional electricians to hold. This qualification - also known as City & Guilds 2392 - will allow you to inspect and test new installations (as well as new circuits on existing installations).

Included in the following electrical courses:
Essential // Professional // Premier

 

Level 3 Periodic Inspection & Testing

This qualification goes further than the City & Guilds 2392 certification, enabling you to issue safety reports and recommend any additional works that may be necessary. Sometimes known as City & Guilds 2391-51, the periodic inspection and testing qualification is ideal for budding electricians who wish to carry out commercial and industrial (as well as domestic) work.

Included in the following electrical courses:
Essential // Professional // Premier

 

Our electrician courses combine online learning with intensive hands-on training to give you a comprehensive understanding of your new trade in a relatively short timeframe. If you'd like to enrol on one of our C&G accredited electrical courses, please click on one of the course options listed above or contact Access Training today!

 C&G Electrical Courses

Last updated 17 December 2021.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Fully-Qualified Electrician?

Stuck in a job you don’t love? Or perhaps you’re considering your options after leaving school? Well, if you’re thinking about learning a trade, you may be wondering how to become an electrician. Read on to find out!

 

How to Become a Qualified Electrician

In order to become a fully-qualified electrician, you will have to complete a level 3 electrical or electro-technical qualification (or equivalent). This is traditionally done through an apprenticeship, as Level 3 will be awarded on completion. However, completing Level 1 and 2 qualifications may help you find a trainee position.

Becoming an Electrician Without an Apprenticeship: Here at Access Training, we offer intensive short-course training packages that will help you to get equally qualified (if not more) without needing to join an apprenticeship scheme.

Electrician Courses >

Whatever route you choose, the typical electrician needs to have:

  • Practical skills
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Social skills
  • Basic maths skills

 

How Long Does It Take to Get Qualified?

The time it takes to become a qualified electrician will depend on the study route you choose to take.

Generally, apprenticeships take three years to complete and will involve one day a week at college and four days within a related job position. However, many colleges offer two-year fast-track options for advanced students, as well as part-time study, which could take much longer.

After completion, it is then up to the student whether they continue on to higher education courses or undertake job-related training (e.g. a PAT testing certification).

Students at Access Training can achieve the very highest level in the electrical trade and earn a number of industry-recognised electrical qualifications (including PAT Testing and 18th Edition) in a matter of weeks.

Our electrical training courses are open to candidates of all experience levels. Your experienced tutor will guide you through the certifications needed to become an accomplished electrician, with study and examination for each qualification taking just a few contact days to finish.

So the question is this: do you go down the traditional apprenticeship route, or try something a little different? If the traditional route isn't right for you due to the time it takes to complete (because you'd prefer to quickly earn the experience and skills needed to become a fully-qualified electrician) then browse our range of electrician courses and enrol today!

Browse All Electrician Courses >

If you have any questions regarding our range of electrical training courses, please do not hesitate to contact us today!

UPDATE (08/10/2021): We now offer live online courses that allow you to learn about the electrical trade and the theory that underpins it from the comfort of your own home. These virtual classroom sessions are combined with hands-on learning at our training centre, equipping you with both the knowledge and the skills you'll need to succeed.

 

Read more:

Does your work day leave you feeling bored and unfulfilled? Are you considering taking the plunge and embarking on a new career? If so, Access Training can help!

Electrical training

We provide a number of City & Guilds-accredited electrical training courses, covering every aspect of electrical work. For people who have little to no prior knowledge of the electrical trade, we provide three course options:
Each of these courses will get you trained to a progressively more advanced level; for example, the 'Essentials' course is ideal for those who wish to learn the basics, while the 'Professional' and 'Premier' courses will furnish you with a number of additional industry-recognised qualifications to help you go further.

Electrical Training for Experienced Candidates

If you already have some experience of electrical work and wish to gain further qualifications, we offer a variety of courses for you, too. Options include:
  • Portable Appliance Testing (City & Guilds 2377) - A requirement for anyone who is inspecting and testing electrical systems.

  • Inspection and Testing (City & Guilds 2394) - This course covers design, installation and testing, meeting legal requirements, and issuing safety certificates.

  • Electrical Design Course (City & Guilds 2396) - This is the highest qualification in the electrical trade, covering designing electrical installations, calculating required materials, and inspecting, testing and verifying all installations.

  • Part P & 17th Edition for Experienced Installers – This qualification will allow you to re-wire entire houses, install electrical systems in dwellings, wire up home extensions, and carry out installations in commercial spaces. 
So if you are serious about a change of career and wish to start training as a professional electrician, give us a call on 0800 345 7492 to book your place on one of our electrical training courses. Our training programmes are flexible, intensive, and affordable - no matter what your current commitments are, we can help you to get the qualifications you need!

The latest news hot off the press here at Access Training is the end of the level 3 inspection and testing qualification 2391 as we know it (with the exception of a few re-sit papers!). The qualification, aimed at electrical personnel who either carry out or supervise the testing and inspection of electrical installations, has been replaced by two separate qualifications, including:

2394 – Initial verification of electrical installations

2395 – Periodic inspection and testing of electrical installations

From information we have received from the Joint industry Board (JIB), if an electrician wants to earn their JIB ‘Gold Card’, they will be required to pass BOTH qualifications!

For those of you who have attempted the old 2391 in the past, the 2394 is in essence the same qualification with the addition of an online multiple choice paper, whilst the written element has been reduced to just a one and a half hour exam.

The 2395 consists of an online multiple choice exam (a common element of both qualifications), a visual inspection task, a periodic inspection and a test on a three phase or single phase installation, which will incorporate faults the candidate will be required to identify. There will also be a separate one and a half hour written paper.

Some of the concerns being aired by the industry include the fact that the separation of this qualification may work to dilute the kudos held by inspection engineers, as well as having the effect of dummying down the subject area. Having sat the 2395 examinations, I can assure you that no such dilution will take place. The new qualification is as demanding as the old 2391, and if anything the changes have led to the examination of a wider subject area.    

Author: Mark Jenkins

This Wednesday solar energy company, The Green Home Company, announced that they would be expanding their business in Bridgend and creating 100 new job vacancies in the process. If you’re considering a future in solar in South Wales this is exciting news. People get into solar from all sorts of trades, so if you’re currently enrolled on roofing, property development, plumbing or electrical courses, this news could be music to your ears!

The Green Home Company’s announcement couldn’t have come at a better time as, only yesterday, the government had their plans to halve the solar feed in tariff (FIT) scheme shelved. The proposed cuts looked set to cut thousands of jobs in what had, throughout 2011, been a boom industry. Now it looks like the industry can continue to grow, providing work for thousands of skilled tradesmen across the country.

This Green Home Company expansion is great news for local industry and gives local trainees a real boost. Knowing that your skills are in demand is an excellent form of encouragement, especially given the worrying looking jobs market these days. The Bridgend based installers are likely to offer training, upskill opportunities and excellent prospects for many alumni from Access plumbing, roofing and electrical courses.

If you’re interested in getting into the solar installation industry, this could be your opportunity to make an impact in a great, local solar installation role. If you’re still busy working though plumbing, roofing or electrical courses here at Access you can take encouragement from the fact that there are great opportunities out there and exciting new skillsets to develop!

Hoping to get into a trade? Access Training can help. We offer City & Guilds authenticated plumbing, roofing, decorating, gas, electrical courses and more to give you the skills you need to succeed. For more information about any of our electrical courses call our experienced advisers on 0800 345 7492 today.

The NICEIC has just has published the results of a survey which asked registered electrical contractors their thoughts on Part P of the Building Regulations. Around 1,500 completed the survey. The results obtained, which reflected a wide spread of electricians’ views, are to be considered by the Government in their latest review of current Building Regulations.

As discussed in previous posts, the effectiveness of Part P is currently being looked at and re-examined by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, who published the initial legislation back in 2005. This dictated that electrical courses graduates working domestically must have attended one of a specific range of electrical courses to become a qualified installer. They also had to be part of a Competent Person Scheme.

There has been much debate regarding the changes needed, with most agreeing that Part P electrical courses should be amended to improve the current model. The responses received from the NICEIC survey support this view with 85% believing it should be retained. Three quarters of contributors said that there should be a pubic list of approved electrical installers for consumers to use, preventing unqualified electricians from carrying out domestic electrical work.

One of the most telling findings was that half of the respondents have seen a marked increase in the standard of electrical work since Part P was brought in as an essential element of electrical courses.

Other notable findings were that 75% of contributors said they wanted firmer action to be taken against those individuals who did not comply with the scheme. At present prosecutions are virtually non-existent.

Finally, an important point the electrical courses graduates wanted homeowners to understand was which DIY tasks they can carry out themselves as opposed to those they need a qualified electrician to complete.

Here at Access Training we feel that safety comes first and that, despite its numerous faults, Part P has been an undoubted success since its introduction, increasing the quality of the workmanship being carried out in people’s homes.

Here at Access Training we offer Part P electrical courses which will enable you to reach the industry required standard. If you require any further information regarding Part P electrical courses, or any of our other courses for that matter, please call 0800 345 7492 or email enquiries@accesstraining.co.uk.

On the electrical courses we provide here at Access Training, we believe an integral element is the preparation of students for future developments in the industry. Currently the subject of solar photovoltaic or solar PV is a particularly hot topic of conversation. As part of our training we ensure that students on our electrical courses are fully aware of the technology involved, however, we are finding some students have concerns about its longevity and are worried about what to say to customers if they enquire about the benefits of investing in a solar PV system.

Solar technology is widely expected to be one of the key methods of producing environmentally friendly power in the future, but what is not clear from the information currently available to the general public and electrical courses students alike is the current benefits for the customer and installer.

The benefits of solar PV installation can be summarized thus:

•    Feed in Tariffs backed by the Government
•    Electricity which can be consumed for free
•    Gain an income by selling surplus back to the grid
•    A reduction in carbon footprint and CO2 emissions
•    Ideal for the UK climate as the technology works all year round

One of the benefits that students of our electrical courses have found to be most impressive is that customers earn a guaranteed 41.3p from their electricity provider for every unit of electricity they produce. This allows some individuals to earn anywhere from £600 to £1250 a year, representing a return of 8% to 14%. However, the exact figure will be dependent on the position of the panels, the amount of sunlight to which the property is exposed and the overall size of the installation.

If you would like to find out more about solar PV installation and its benefits, or for more information about the electrical courses on offer here at Access Training then call our course advice team today.

Have a quick look at the following headline which appeared in The Sun newspaper on May 31 2011: Jobs Idea ‘Fail’

“Labour blew £180 million on a workplace qualifications scheme branded “not fit for purpose.”

Completely regardless of the political connotations of the above headline, let’s have a look at the newly conceived QCF qualifications scheme and examine just why it was such an expensive failure.

The previous government decided that the qualification structure surrounding electrical courses and other trades training needed to be changed and standardised. In reality it caused so many issues and arguments between the awarding bodies and the educational centres running the trades training and electrical courses that the whole scheme had to be shelved. The ill fated qualifications were scrapped just before they were due to go live wasting a lot of time and resources.

The Sun article stated: “Official figures reveal the huge level of funding by the last government for the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). But an independent review of electrical courses and other vocational courses this year called it ‘entirely inappropriate’.

“Professor Alison Wolf, who published the critical dossier, said the QCF had no relevance for learners ‘likely to switch jobs and entering decades of employment in a rapidly changing economy’.

“Her report went on: “This should not be the main, let alone the only, type of vocational qualification offered. Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi, who uncovered the bill, said: Labour simply doesn’t understand what employers want.”

So what does this mean for those individuals considering training courses such as resettlement training, gas, plumbing or electrical courses? Absolutely nothing. It merely ensures that the current tried and tested qualifications and methods of training remain the same. For example, City & Guilds electrical courses are still the courses to look for if you wish to qualify to complete domestic, commercial and industrial electrical installations.

You can therefore rest assured that the electrical courses offered here at Access Training are the most up to date available, allowing you the opportunity to gain qualifications recognised and respected throughout the industry. If you are looking for all encompassing electrical courses, or you are just starting out and looking for something at more of a beginner’s level, here at Access Training we have something for everyone.

Get in touch to learn more about our training courses!

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