Is it realistic to train as an electrician?

[CanIBeElectric2]

I’m a nearly-50-year-old woman. I’ve worked in low paid admin type roles all my life (currently in the NHS). But I am bright and capable, I think.

I’ve been trying to find an electrician. I’ve left voicemails and sent e-mails to 5 different local electricians and tried Checkatrade and I’m yet to have any response. It’s been months now and I jokingly said to DP that I could train as an electrician in less time than it takes to find one. But that got me thinking….

Electricians are clearly in high demand, and earn good money (compared to what I earn). There’s a place near me that offers an NVQ3 diploma 2 evenings a week over 3 years for just over £3k.

I was thinking I could do that and then get a job with something like a housing association, before branching out into self employment.

Has anyone done anything like this? How difficult will the course be?

Will I be able to get a job as an electrician once I’ve got an NVQ? Or would I just be a trainee with loads more courses to do?

How quickly can I become a self-employed electrician after qualifying? Would I need a certain amount of experience or additional qualifications?

Most importantly, what is it like working as an electrician? Is it an OK job?

Not quite the same, but I qualified as an electrical engineer many many years ago and have enjoyed a fabulous career.

An NVQ is what demonstrates competence. If you want to work in domestic as suggested by your mention of housing associations you probably want to also to test and inspect alongside it (has been called 2391 but they change the names now and then).

It's physical work, can be hard on your knees when you're working in lofts and the like.

I’m a bit older and did consider similar. I really enjoy plumbing too. However what I don’t have is the other skills required and I’m useless with power tools, so when we do the jobs at home, I direct and OH does the bit that requires brute strength.

wiring a plug is very different to chiselling out brick for conduit or all the other bits that are needed.

If you are feeling brave you could watch some YouTube videos and do the work up to the point of connection. At that point you will need a qualified electrician to finish the job and sign it off.

I know nothing about it but it sounds like a brilliant job and a way to help solve our skills shortage.

Brilliant idea! My ex is an electrician, earns £250 a day. Look into insurance and registering with the NIC EIC.

Plus training in home electric car charging points.....

Do it!!! You’ve potentially got 15 more working years. There is a women’s only electrical company near us, they get lots of domestic work from people who don’t want to let make strangers into their homes.

Thanks very much for the input. Really helpful.

Knees are definitely something to think about as one gets older.

I’m the one who uses the drill at home (male DP doesn’t do anything DIY-related) but “chiselling out brick for conduit” sounds beyond my physical strength. Although I could get down the gym and do some weights.

Thanks for the tips on other courses to look at. Yes, I am thinking about domestic work. There’s certainly going to be a lot of demand for car charger points in the next few years.

Thanks! I was thinking a female electrician would appeal to women. I’d certainly hire a woman, if I could find one!

Chiselling out a conduit is about skill as well as strength. Anyway you can get power tools to do it.

it’s a great trade and I hope you find a way to train in it.

I trained as a spark out of school. Loved the commercial work, bending conduit, pulling in big armoured cables. But, it is hard work. Domestics aren't much better, while the cables are smaller, so are the routes and access. Chopping out walls is hard work, pulling cables alone is a pain and working in other people's homes is a nightmare. DP and I are both qualified and have recently renovated our house. Coincidentally, wring was not our favorite job...

He's branched off into something more niche and I have a desk job auditing statutory compliance. Neither of us would go back to sparking and certainly not house bashing.

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