In today’s world where online learning is becoming increasingly popular, many people wonder: can you learn a trade online? While the digital age has made it possible to learn the necessary skills for many professions without needing to step foot in a classroom, this blog will explore whether or not it is realistic to learn a skilled trade purely online – let’s dive in!

Pros of Learning a Trade Online

Flexibility

Online trade courses offer a flexible learning environment, in terms of both schedule and location. They allow you to study at your own pace and to fit studying in around your existing work, family or other commitments. So, whether you’re a super-fast learner who wants to race ahead or someone who needs extra time to work things out, online courses allow you to work at the speed that’s right for you.

Accessibility

For those who don’t gel with a classroom environment or who live in remote locations, online trade courses offer a fantastic accessible option. They also allow you to go back and revisit topics and lessons that you may feel less confident with, which is something that is difficult to do in a traditional classroom setting.

Cost-Effective

Many online trade courses are more affordable than traditional trade schools or programmes. This makes learning a trade more accessible for those on a tight budget.

Cons of Learning a Trade Online

Limited Hands-On Experience

The biggest drawback to learning a trade online is the lack of practical experience. In order to develop the skills needed to work as a tradesperson, you need to have direct interaction with the tools, equipment and physical materials. While online learning is a great way to learn theoretical knowledge, it falls short when it comes to providing the practical experience necessary to master a trade.

Licensing and Certifications

The majority of trades require certification or licensing, which usually involves practical exams and supervised, practical hours. While you can learn any necessary theory online, practical and hands-on experience with your trade is crucial if you want to become certified.

Quality Control

Not all online courses are equal. While some courses may be top-quality and up-to-date, it’s easy to encounter courses online that lack depth and provide outdated or inaccurate information.

Self-Motivation

Learning a trade online requires strong self-discipline. Without a weekly schedule and mentor looking over you, it can be easy to procrastinate and fall behind in your studies. In order to be successful in online learning, you must be self-driven and motivated and remain focused on your goals. 

Blended Learning Is the Way to Go

While online trade courses can be a great place to start learning the theoretical knowledge of your chosen trade, it is crucial to supplement online learning with practical experience.

At Access Training, we offer flexible, blended trade courses that work around your schedule. With our courses you can learn and complete your theory modules from the comfort of your own home and schedule your practical training sessions in advance so that you can focus on hands-on learning in a timeframe that suits you – it’s the best of both worlds!

If you’re interested in learning a trade, check out our trade courses using the button below.

Browse Trade Courses

If you have any questions about our blended learning course structure or how you can get started with your trade career, get in touch with us at Access Training today!

Whether you’re looking to train as an electrician or you’re just curious about how electricity works, understanding the basics of electrical theory is the first step. Electrical theory training is crucial as it provides the foundation for understanding and working with electrical systems safely and competently – skills that are essential whether you’re an engineer, electrician or just a DIY enthusiast.

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Changing careers at 40 can be a daunting decision, but it’s never too late to explore a different path and transition into a new field. In fact, at 40 years old you probably have the perfect balance of experience and self-awareness that can set the stage for a fulfilling new professional chapter.

At Access Training, we have been helping people make meaningful midlife career changes for over 20 years. In that time, we have delivered over 35,000 trade courses to adult students from all sorts of different backgrounds –  so you can trust us to give the best advice on changing careers later in life.

If you’re feeling stuck or unfulfilled in your current role, this blog will guide you through the stages of a midlife career change so that you can successfully transition into the career of your dreams!

How to Change Careers at 40

1. Assess Your Current Situation

Before diving into a new career, first take some time to evaluate your current situation. What about your current role do you like or dislike? What are some non-negotiables for a new role? What things excite you? What are your best skills? What skills do you want to improve? What would you enjoy doing every day?

Understanding what you’re looking for and why you want a career change will help you make an informed decision when choosing your next role.

2. Consider Your Transferable Skills

One of the best things about a midlife career change is that throughout your lifetime, you will have acquired a wide range of transferable skills. You may have strong communication and leadership skills, or perhaps you’re good at problem solving or working in a team. You can then frame these skills in a way that aligns with your new field.

For example, if you’re good at critical thinking and problem-solving, you may be a good fit for a career in the trades where encountering unexpected issues and challenges that needs fixing is a common part of the job.

3. Research, Research, Research!

Once you have created a list of your top skills, start researching how they can be applied in a new field. This will also help you to identify whether you need to acquire new skills or credentials.

Consider enrolling on courses or workshops to gain additional experience in your new field. At Access Training, we have helped thousands of students get qualified and find work in the trades, so if a trade career sounds appealing to you, browse our trade courses today. Don’t forget: a short-term investment into your learning can pay off in a long-term satisfying career.

4. Prepare for Financial Changes

Changing careers, particularly later in life, can involve a temporary dip in earnings, so you should ensure you are prepared for this period of financial adjustment. Consider how much money you will need to train in your chosen career and how you will supplement your income through other means while you gain experience in your new field.

Having savings put to one side to help support you while retraining can help to reduce the stress associated with a career change and give you more freedom to focus on your goals.

5. Believe in Yourself

A midlife career change can be challenging, and you may experience setbacks and doubts along the way. However, at 40 years old, you have the advantage of maturity and life experience on your side that many younger professionals do not have. Stay resilient and trust that the skills and experience you have built up over the years are valuable.

You may even discover new strengths and interests that you never knew you had. So stay dedicated and believe in your ability to thrive in a new field – it’s never too late to pursue your dreams!

Browse Trade Courses

To learn more about midlife career changes to the trades, check out our blog Career Change at 30.

It's the issue that jobseekers in pretty much every sector recognise: it's difficult to find work when you have no experience, and it's difficult to gain experience when you're unable to find work!

Gaining work experience as an electrician is no different, that is why we have put together this blog post that highlights the importance of electrical work experience as well as discussing what electrical work experience options are available to you. Let’s dive in!

Why Is Experience Important for Electricians?

Hands-on electrical experience is important for trainee electricians, as although classroom training provides important theoretical knowledge, applying these concepts in practical situations is a different ball game altogether.  

Working with electricity can also be extremely dangerous and practical experience helps to enhance understanding of safety protocols and hazards in a real world situation. Plus, this experience is crucial in helping trainee electricians become more confident with their work, knowledge and tools. This practical training will not only help reduce on-site injuries, but will ultimately create more confident, efficient and knowledgeable electricians.

Why Is It Difficult for Trainee Electricians to Gain Work Experience?

It can be particularly difficult for trainee electricians to gain work experience because many employers require prior on-the-job experience. This creates a catch-22 situation where new electricians struggle to get experience, without having experience!

In addition to this, many companies are hesitant to take on those who are inexperienced due to the dangerous nature of electrical work, and therefore would rather hire experienced individuals that are already familiar with the job.

To overcome these challenges, there are a couple of different options:

• Get your qualifications and complete an NVQ

A NVQ is a National Vocational Qualification that demonstrates a person’s ability to do a job. At Access Training, both our Professional and Premium electrical courses include an NVQ, but with our Premium course, you can get your Level 3 NVQ and a guaranteed work placement.

This means that not only will you be completing the portfolio of work required for the NVQ, but also gaining valuable work experience that will help you find work later on.

 Find out how Kwame trained with Access, completed his work placement and got offered a job as an Electrician: 

• Enrol on the Access Apprenticeship programme

With our Access Apprenticeship programme, once you’ve completed your Level 1 Health & Safety training and obtained your CSCS card, we can get you a guaranteed interview with a UK construction firm who can then employ you as a groundworker or labourer.

This will provide you with invaluable on-site work experience early on in your programme while you complete your other electrical qualifications.  Plus, all of our Access Apprentices earn a standard site labourer wage – so you can earn while you learn!

So, if you’re struggling to find work experience as an electrician, give Access Training a try today. Get in touch or use the links below to find out more!

Electrician Courses  Electrician Apprenticeships

SHORT ANSWER: Yes, plumbing can be a very good career indeed. The work is very rewarding, and plumbers are in constant demand, so there's no shortage of opportunities for someone with the right skills.

Plumbing pays very well indeed, and if you want to be your own boss, you can choose to strike out on your own as a self-employed plumber.

Plumbing is also future-proof. If you're looking for a career that can't be made obsolete by AI or computers, plumbing is a pretty safe bet.

Read on for more reasons why plumbing is such a good profession to get into, plus everything you'll need to kickstart your successful plumbing career!

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Changing careers is never an easy decision and for those who have spent years in retail and are considering a shift to a trade profession, the transition can seem daunting. This blog will go over why a transition from retail to the trades could be the perfect opportunity for personal and professional growth and will discuss how Access Training can help you make the leap.

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