Considering the high demand for qualified electricians in both commercial and domestic and industrial settings, becoming a qualified electrician can be a rewarding career for motivated problem solvers who want a well-paid profession with a scalable salary, along with plenty of advancement opportunities.
Working with electrical installations requires a range of practical skills and theoretical knowledge – as well as an extensive understanding of health and safety. This knowledge can be learned on the job through an apprenticeship or bestowed during a specialist course that combines both hands-on and classroom training.
How much does it cost to become a fully qualified electrician, however?
There are a couple of different routes into this profession, with some (like apprenticeships) taking 3-4 years of part-time education.
Get Your Electrical Training For Free As An Apprentice
An apprenticeship and any assessments are paid for by the apprentice’s employer – usually partially funded by government grants, while the apprentice also receives a basic wage. For school leavers and younger applicants without extensive financial commitments, an apprenticeship is the cheapest means of becoming a fully qualified electrician.
This option is not always practical for trainees older than 21-25 due to the limitations of apprenticeships and the low wages, not to mention people swapping careers to become fully qualified electricians usually want a faster and more direct route into the role. The longer it takes to get qualified, the more costly the process will be, in terms of lost potential income.
Let’s look at how much it costs to become a fully qualified electrician in the UK by taking a professional training course with PTT.
PTT Electrical Training Courses: Costs And Other Useful Information
PTT’s recommended route to becoming a qualified electrician is by completing our step-by-step training schedule for new electricians, including several internationally recognised accredited electrical courses. All training schedules have been designed to offer flexibility, so you can accommodate family, work, and other personal commitments.
There are 4 steps to the process of becoming a qualified electrician with PTT. Here’s a breakdown of the costs:
1) First, you take the City & Guilds 2365 Electrotechnical Craft course – Level 2. This will give you introductory knowledge of basic concepts. You’ll attend classes twice a week, in the evening 6-9 pm for approximately 15 weeks.
This course costs £2,100 plus VAT.
Equipment-wise, you’ll also need work (steel toe-capped) boots and a high visibility jacket, as well as some electrician’s tools (you’ll get the list from your instructor). You’ll also need the textbook ‘City and Guilds Electrical Installations Book 1’ by Peter Tanner. Make sure you budget for these purchases when planning your course expenditure.
2) Once you pass the Level 2 qualification, you can move on to City and Guilds 2365 Level 3. This six-module course is delivered twice a week, in the evenings 6-9 pm, for a period of 16 weeks and costs £2,500 plus VAT.
3) After passing the Level 3 assessment, you’ll be ready to move on to City and Guilds 2357. This training is not classroom-based. Instead, you’ll need to be working as a practising electrician with a contracting business, and an assessor will be assigned to assess the quality of your electrical work and help complete your portfolio .
The cost of this on-site portfolio builder is £1,500 plus VAT.
4) The final step is taking the AM2 Assessment, which checks that you have the knowledge and skills to apply for Gold Card status and become a professional electrician. The assessment consists of an evaluation of your hands-on performance, as well as a written exam. AM2 assesses all aspects of the trade; install, testing, fault finding and knowledge of the wiring regulations.
AM2 Assessments are carried out by independent providers, so their cost may vary, although it’s usually around £765 plus VAT
Next Steps
If you have any other questions about the process of qualifying as an electrician with PTT, we invite you to download our free guide: How to Become A Fully Qualified Electrician With PTT
Image source: Canva
