With so many training routes available, it’s easy to become confused and quite frankly, overwhelmed. What’s the best and fastest way to become an electrician? How can you extend your electrical skill-set if you’re already working in the trade? If you’re looking for the best way to improve your knowledge within the industry, you’ve come to the right place.
We at The Trades College are fully committed to streamlining your journey into a brand new career path or developing the skills you already possess. We’ve put together this guide to provide you with a transparent understanding of what the electrician tradesman can expect along with the paths that are available to you. Regardless of if you want to become a fully qualified electrician, a domestic specialist or a multi-skilled guru, read on to see what the best training options and qualifications are available to you.
Is now the right time to invest in my electrical skillset or become an electrician?
There has never been a better time to become an electrician or a more profitable time to invest in extending your electrical skills. Are you debating jumpstarting your career? Debate no longer! We’ve compiled a list of key statistics that showcase just how lucrative electrician training can be in 2021.
For a number of years, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles data on working in the construction sector and electricians have come out on top as the best paid of all tradesmen. Alongside being well rewarded for the work, electricians are also in high demand. Skilled trades are amongst the most in-demand in the UK today, employers are still finding it a task to try and fill vacancies.
The types of salaries you can potentially earn varies across the country. According to Adzuna, the average salary for commercial electricians earn £35,328 per year whilst a domestic electrician in the UK is £32,690 per year. Here is a list of different areas with their expected salaries across the UK:
- North East of England – £33,747
- North West of England – £35,973
- East Midlands – £32,665
- West Midlands – £35,707
- South East of England – £34,242
- South West of England – £34,420
- Scotland – £33,475
- Wales – £33,330
- Northern Ireland – £33,707
Hopefully this helps shed some light on some of the benefits of what can be expected after becoming an electrician, or adding to your metaphorical toolbox.
What are the essential qualifications for an electrician?
A fully qualified electrician that requires no supervision is in incredibly high demand. Whether you’re capable of performing electrical maintenance or installation work, you’re needed! This will require having an industry recognised NVQ qualification. Electricians with less than 5 years’ experience, who already have their NVQ 2365 Levels 2 & 3, you will need to be able to gain two 2357 qualifications which will allow you to apply for your ECS Gold Card and JIB grading, upon successful competition. These are the NVQ 2357 Electrical Maintenance and NVQ 2357 Electrical Installation.
If you’ve been working in the trade for 5 years or more, the NVQ 2356 ‘mature candidate assessments’ are ideal to verify your skills. Online electrical training is a convenient and cost-effective way to gain essential qualifications that can validate the skills you are using at work. Most importantly, online electrical courses mean that you can gain your qualifications without having to take time off work!
How quickly can you train to be an electrician?
The electrician trade has advanced wonderfully over the years. Traditionally, there were two different routes you could embark on when becoming an electrician. Either you completed an apprenticeship or you can go to college. Typically, you can expect that it takes about four years to complete an electrical apprenticeship or college course, which is a significant amount of time.
Nowadays, there is a wide range of online electrical training paths you take. Including ‘fast track’ options. Whilst working around your daily routine, work hours and life in general, you can take part in an online electrical course to get your qualifications. We truly do live in a golden age of technology and education!
What’s the easiest way to get level 3 electrical qualifications?
Simply put, an online electrical training course is the most convenient way to obtain electrician qualifications. Using one of these courses, you can collect evidence for your NVQ Level 3 portfolio when it suits you best whilst taking it at your own pace.
You’ll be fully qualified and ready to work as an electrician either running your own business or working for a firm. Carrying out periodic inspection and testing of electrical equipment is a vital and highly sought after skill set. Not only that, you will be able to install systems and equipment in homes along with installing cabling, fit electrical equipment and test circuits at home. These are only a few of the skills you can gain with the potential of working on commercial maintenance contracts for industries such as hotels, restaurants, offices, etc.
