How to Become an Electrician - Find an Apprenticeship. Work Experience, College Courses & Commitment 

Currently Im an adult apprentice at the age of 43 (currently studying science principles). It took me over a year of applying for apprenticeships to find a company to take me on. I had 18 months wiring experience on new builds, I paid for various courses like the C&G 2382-15, 2392-10, 2391-52 & had a ECS card. My advice is dont ever give up applying, you will get loads of rejections. It's a numbers game eventually you will get accepted.

Great advice guys. If you're looking to get into the electrical industry, I cannot stress how important it is to have the right kind of attitude, whenever you're presented with a problem, your approach should always be "Right, how can I resolve this?". It demonstrates you're adaptable to any situation or challenge and won't be put off by the slightest hurdle.

Thanks mate this helps a lot! 👍

Good video guys

Thanks for the advice 👍

Good advice Gary and Joe. But I have found in the real world that doesn't work, I have contacted a skip load of companies over the years and not one has ever given me a chance, however 1995 I was at the doctors and opposite there was a new nurseing home being built I walk on to that site and simply asked if there was any electrition's on site and I simply asked him if he was looking for any starf and I started work on the following Monday. No letters no emails just bair face cheek a year later I started on another nurseing home just down the road on there for two years, you can send as many emails or letters as you want but you don't ever get any replys so best thing is to just go out do the leg work and simply ask.

I echo what's been said by other adult learners, it's been impossible to get an apprenticeship in the rural area where I live. In the end I paid for everything including the NVQ myself and worked for myself on small jobs while passing stuff I couldn't do over to two local sparks who then let me labour for them on those jobs to get more varied experience. They were also able to witness my work for my NVQ. It doesn't help that the government have removed incentives for employers. On my level 3 course, out of 19 adult learners only 1 got an apprenticeship and that was because he was working for his father in law. They were mostly London/Kent based guys.

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Worse thing they can do is get there mum to send an email. I've had quite a few of them. If they can't be bothered to even email themselves it doesn't say a lot about them!

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Great video as an adult learner I completed 2330 electrotechnical 3 year 1 day a week in 2006 - 2008 but got now experience so did nothing for about 9 years so emailed and phoned every electrician in my area saying I would work for a day for nothing just to get some hands on experience got to the end of the list and the very last one said yes come down and see what I could do , have now been working for about 2 years with a sparky with 30 years experience so it can be done. Oh bye the way he does pay me it was just the shear fact I was willing to learn for nothing . But could you do an update video for adult learners on how to go about getting qualified. Course , 18 edition regs , inspection and testing and do you have to complete an am2 course to get qualified. As there is so many confusing ways people say you have to go about getting qualified. Sorry about the rant keep up the great video’s.

One more question. Let's say I find an electrical installation course at college before finding my apprenticeship. Once hired as an apprenticeship, will the electrical company pay the rest of my course? Or is it better to try find an apprenticeship first and have them look after the college side?

I failed my maths and starting college in September hopefully when I resit I’ll pass,thanks for the tips.

awesome videos thanks, hi I am Jake ,is there a special way for an electrician from another country,or if i want to move overseas to be registered as electrician or do I have to do an new apprentice ship.

Can you say something about going from military to apprenticeship.

Does anybody know if all electrical apprenticeships (domestic, commercial and industrial) cover the same criteria for the 1st year? I cant find the answer to this anywhere and I want to do a domestic and commercial apprenticeship but all I can find where I live is industrial and I dont want to work in industrial for the rest of my life. Can I do year 1 as industrial and then jump ship to a commercial or domestic apprenticeship for the remaining years? I live in Ireland but i think it's the same system for UK.

Was applying for apprenticeships while I was at school and managed to join a security firm after leaving, stayed there for just over a year now moved to an electrical company. Takes time.

Hey ,in the moment I m living in Ireland and I want to start the apprenticeship but I will move to England in the end of 2020 so my question it's do you think that I should start the apprenticeship here in Ireland or just keep working like electrical assistant and wait to start a course of electrical there in England?Thanks

I’m on level 2 at the moment and I needed work experience. I had a placement with a employee and it was all set up. Then a day later the employer decided that they “don’t have enough time to accommodate for me”. It’s very unlucky and I don’t think employers should be able to back out of a placement when they have agreed to it.

Im an adult learner also and im studying my City and Guilds Level 2 Electrical Installation and I’m also struggling to find a placement, could you do a video for adult learners plz 👊🏽

If you don’t have connections in the trade then finding work experience and apprenticeships is almost impossible. Electricians are in demand yet 9/10 electrical businesses already have people that they have taken on

How would i go about getting an apprenticeship with commercial and industrial electrical contracting companies, would it be a similar approach? I’m currently in an electrical apprenticeship but doing maintenance which doesn’t interest me

Hello 👋🏻 So I’m 16 living in England. I’ve just Finished My GCSEs but I Do want to go to College, But I’ve always liked the sound of being an Electrician for quite a while but I don’t actually know much about being “an electrician”. What I’m trying to ask is that can someone with no knowledge in being One, apply for something to learn how to Become one?

Hi Gary. I'm currently doing my C&G 2365 Level 2 diploma in electrical installations and I'm about to enrol into Level 3 pretty soon. I just wanted to ask whether it's possible to do a part time electrical apprenticeship on top of my college course since I'm at college only twice a week. So like a part time apprenticeship where I'm there say twice or 3 times a week.

I was made unemployed 2 months ago and I like the idea of re-training as an electrician. I can’t afford to do a full time college course as I have a mortgage so I’m looking at apprenticeships but I’m struggling to find a college that accepts student loans as payment. Have you got any advice as a way forward in my situation? I keep hearing there’s opportunities for adult learners now a days but it seems you need pots of cash to get anywhere 🤔

I’m an 18 year old and I have just finished college where I studied my business course. I plan to do an Apprenticeship in Electrical Installation Level 3. I’ve applied for many apprenticeships such as Apprenticeships that are provided by JTL. Haven’t heard back from the apprenticeships I’ve applied for even tho I have the required qualifications such as maths and English gcse to get in. It’s a matter of patience and perseverance I guess especially during this pandemic it will be much harder to find a job / apprenticeships due to businesses closing or not operating how they usually do due to the pandemic.

Hi I'm 16 and I would love to become an Electrition I am eager to learn and need an apprenticeship. Thiss video has been a big help but I'm still looking for an apprenticeship if anyone could help me out would very appreciate it

I have completed my level 2 electrical installations course in college and didn’t get the chance to enroll for level 3 i have been searching for an apprenticeship so i can get my level 3 and NVQ to become fully qualified but haven’t been successful in finding one, any advice

i would absolutely love to be an electrician. i am 18 with no education in it or experience, could i still get an apprenticeship for a level 3 college course

Iam a 16 year old studying electrical installation at college already done a course in a different place and achieved a level 1 construction and healthy and safety and CSCS card but businesses don’t seem to want me why is this ?

I'm 16 at the moment and looking forward to becoming electrician. After finishing my GCSE I will be doing my sixth form. Will I be able to get paid apprenticeship after finishing my sixth form?

I am have done level3 just this year.. I am looking for work experience for lost 3 months no luck.. vary head to fine work experience

This is probs a dumb questions but once you find an apprenticeship can you leave your course in college or is that mandatory?

I’m 17 and want to become an electrician. Do I need to complete a level 2 emta full time course before I get an apprenticeship

Hi I am what is termed by your channel- a " Mature Viewer " (Oldie/ Passed their sell by date !!). I have 4no. grandchildren, one of whom is "13" going on "40"!!! He is currently going off the rails ( in my parlance )- but in his -"Am I bothered!" The point of this long winded comment is that I will, at an appropriate time, of his choosing, introduce him to some of your excellent learner videos. He is not "academic"( thank goodness) but he has an aptitude for hands-on stuff ( In his parlance). This is just a long way of saying - seeing your yougsters on video gives me some hope for his future, whatever trade or manual work he chooses. I am an 'Old School Academic' ( I can feel your youngsters groaning - often referred to as an 'Old Fart') but all I can say to them & my grandson is that classes can be fun & interesting! At the moment he is bunking off lessons ( Old school for looking clever) If you haven't lost the will to live by now -- keep up your excellent work with our youngsters - as you keep saying - they are our future. My time is over in this day & age but theirs are just beginning !!! In the words of my grandson - "He's off again!!" He'll learn eventually. Christ, I have just realised it's 2am - not a good example for our youngsters! Kind regards, keep up the good work & finally - Goodnight.

Gary I’m worried as I feel like I’m too slow on site and don’t reach my employers speed.

Do all apprenticeships start in September?

do i have to do college to do an apprenticeship

but what if I am 30+?

Man apprenticeships are so hard to find

Dont bother... become a chippy or plasterer, were your not subjected to random regulation changes and forced to buy your right to do aspects of work

I hate that feeling when you work so hard to get all the qualifications what you need n then you left with no job ...