A Guide to the new City & Guilds electrical series short courses. Continuing Professional Development Maintaining Standards

Transcription

1 03 A Guide to the new City & Guilds electrical series short courses Continuing Professional Development Maintaining Standards

2

3 CONTENTS 1 Why have the qualifications changed? 2 What are the changes in a nut shell? 3 What is the Qualifications and Credit Framework? 4 Portable Appliance Testing 5 17 th Edition IET Wiring Regulations 6 Building Regulations for Electrical Installations 7 Starting out in Inspection and Testing 8 Progressing in Inspection and Testing 9 Design 10 What sets training from Pennine apart from the rest?

4 1 WHY HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS CHANGED? Basically there are three core reasons for changing the City and Guilds electrical series short courses. Reason 1 the requirements of BS 7671 have altered On the 1 st July 2011 Amendment 1 to BS 7671:2008 was published. It ran alongside the existing standard for a period of 6 months, however from the 1 st January 2012 all electrical installations must be designed and installed to comply with BS 7671:2008(2011). Although the bulk of the British Standard remains the same, there have been some significant changes that affect for example, how we now document periodic inspection and testing. In association with the industry bodies and SummitSkills City and Guilds have amended or replaced their existing qualifications to come in line with the changes in BS Reason 2 the national qualification framework has changed The Qualifications and Credit Framework is the new Government framework for recognising achievement through the award of credit for units and qualifications. The role out of the QCF commenced in 2010 and replaces the National Qualification Framework (NQF). It s aim is to provide more flexible routes to full qualifications and make them achievable in smaller steps. The QCF is regulated by Ofqual and a new centralised database will help to track credit and provide learners with a record of their achievement. Reason 3 the qualifications are being made more relevant to the industry In recent times qualifications such as the 2381/2 Wiring Regulations and the 2391 Inspection and testing have become accepted by employers as being the accepted standards for electricians. There is nothing wrong in this, however, employers have started to accept these qualifications as the only requirements for training as electricians and the electrical industry has become diluted as a result. Both the government and the industry bodies have demanded that action be taken to halt this worrying trend and to this end City & Guilds along with other awarding bodies have adapted the qualifications to make them specifically suitable for continuing professional development or to extend the skills of those in allied trades. Due to the changes in the national qualification framework City & Guilds courses now work together and help to build knowledge and understanding. The various courses can be linked together to form part of a larger qualification and the courses are interchangeable between awarding bodies such as City & Guilds and EAL.

5 2 WHAT ARE THE CHANGES IN A NUT SHELL? Portable Appliance Testing and Building Regulations City and Guilds 2377 and 2393 see some very minor changes in titles, course content and assessment; however in reality the learner should see no significant difference. 17 th Edition IET Wiring Regulations City and Guilds 2382 has been updated to include amendment 1 of BS 7671:2008. The option to take either an update course or a full course has now been removed and all learners will need to take the full course as it has been over 4 years since BS 7671:2008 was introduced and those who needed to update should have done so by now. Those who hold the or th Edition qualification need not take the new course, since the changes in BS 7671 have little impact on the majority of projects, unless the work involves high risks relating to overvoltage, work in medical locations or projects that involve maintenance gangways. Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations City and Guilds 2392 remains unchanged and is the entry level for those who have little experience of inspection and testing. City and Guilds Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations will not be open to new applicants from June 2012; it is expected that examinations will be available up to December 2012 and beyond (dependant on demand) for those who are currently registered for the but have not yet successfully complete the assessment and / or the exam. Those who currently hold the 2391 will not need to take the replacement courses. Inspection and testing is separated into Initial Verification and Periodic Inspection and Testing and the qualifications have been separated accordingly. This recognises that the two types of inspection and testing have different aims, documentation, outcomes and the inspecting engineer may need different skills and knowledge. Although the tests remain the same, the order in which they should be carried out may change based on the type of inspection and test being carried out. Detailed knowledge of different wiring systems and equipment along with the requirements of previous versions of BS 7671 and the IEE Wiring Regulations is an absolute must for Periodic Inspection and Testing deals with initial verification whilst 2395 deals with periodic inspection and testing. Those who are involved in both initial verification and periodic inspection and testing should complete both qualifications; however it is not all bad news, the on-line exam is common to both qualifications and need only be successfully completed once although the written test and practical assessment to each qualification must still be undertaken.

6 For both the 2394 and 2395 qualification it is expected that the learner has existing knowledge and experience in inspection and testing and is therefore not suitable to those new to the industry (the 2392 is more appropriate in this case). Learners are also expected to have completed the th Edition Wiring Regulations qualification before enrolling on these courses. Design The (formerly the 2400) has been replaced with the 2396 qualification. One of the most significant changes is that the qualification is now a Level 4 Award, recognising the demanding work that needs to be put into the exam and the project. The requirement for the practical assessment has been removed, although it is a strong recommendation that learners only attempt this course after completing the existing 2391 qualification, the new 2394/5 qualification and gaining the 2382 Award. 3 WHAT IS THE QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDIT FRAMEWORK? The QCF allows qualifications to be compared with each other and demonstrates where a learner sits in the grand scheme of education. Level of difficulty Starting at Entry Level and ending at Level 8, each qualification is accredited to indicate where it sits in comparison with other qualifications in other areas or other awarding bodies. NQF / QCF Level Example of qualifications Approximately comparable with 8 Fellowship (FCGI) Doctorate 7 Membership (MCGI) Master Professional Diploma ILM QCF qualifications Master s Degree Post Graduate Diploma Post Graduate Certificate Entry (1, 2 & 3) Graduateship (GCGI) Associateship (ACGI) ILM QCF qualifications IVQ Advanced Technician Diploma Full Technological Diploma Licentiateship (LCGI) Higher Professional Diploma Level 4 Vocational Level 3 Vocational Advanced Apprenticeship Level 2 Vocational Apprenticeship NVQ Level 1 Level 1 Vocational Award Entry Level vocational qualifications Progression Awards Bachelor s Degree Graduate Certificate and Diploma HNC & HND Foundation Degree Diplomas of Higher and Further Education Certificate of Higher Education A Levels ONC & OND GCSE Grades A* to C BTEC First Certificate GCSE Grades D to G

7 Awards, certificates and diplomas All qualification titles start firstly with the level of difficulty as described above. The title then goes on to state whether it is an Award, a Certificate or a Diploma. Whilst this appears to be of little importance it is a good indicator of the amount of work that needs to be put in to be successful and also how many credits will be earned on completion to count toward a broader qualification. Award Certificate Diploma between 1 and 12 credits between 13 and 36 credits 37 credits or more Each credit will require approximately ten hours of learning time. 4 PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING Level 3 Award in the In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (PAT) [Credit Value = 4] Level 3 Award in the Management Requirements for the Maintenance of Electrical Equipment [Credit Value = 4] Typically both qualifications are offered in the same course with learners taking the separate on-line exam as an optional extra. The course is typically two days in duration with most training centres arranging the assessments in the afternoon of the second day. Learners will require a copy of the IEE Code of Practice for the In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, which may be taken into the exam. For those who undertake the practical elements of appliance inspection and testing the is the ideal qualification for proving training. For those who are involved in the management side of appliance testing the is more relevant th EDITION IET WIRING REGULATIONS Level 3 Award in the Requirements for Electrical Installations BS 7671: June 2008 (2011) [Credit Value = 4] This qualification is the starting point for the remaining City & Guilds electrical series qualifications and is an essential credential for anyone involved in fixed electrical installations. Learners will require a copy of BS 7671:2008(2011) which may be taken into the on-line computerised examination. The course is typically four days in duration and most training centres arrange for the exam to be completed on the afternoon of the last day of the course.

8 6 BUILDING REGULATIONS FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS Level 3 Certificate in the Building Regulations for Electrical Installations in Dwellings For those involved in electrical work in domestic dwellings the is an ideal qualification. The course focuses on the Building Regulations and the 14 Parts attached to it. The course is usually one day in duration with the on-line exam being completed during the afternoon session. Learners are permitted to take a copy of the IEE Electricians Guide to the Building Regulations into the exam with them. 7 STARTING OUT IN INSPECTION AND TESTING Level 3 Award in the Requirements for Electrical Installations BS 7671: June 2008 (2011) This is the starting point for those who are new to inspection and testing. The qualification deals with Initial Verification of electrical installations up to 100 Amp and is related to single phase supplies. The course is usually 5 days in duration with the practical assessment and the on-line exam normally carried out on the last day of the course. 8 PROGRESSING IN INSPECTION AND TESTING Put into driving terms, the 2392 is equivalent to a driving license where as the 2394/5 is the advanced driving test Level 3 Award in the Initial Verification and Certification of Electrical Installations [Credit Value = 5] Level 3 Award in the Periodic Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations [Credit Value = 5]

9 Training centres take different approach on the presentation of these courses with some combining the two qualifications whilst others keep them totally separate. The convention that appears to be evolving is 4 days class based learning for the 2394 qualification and 3 days class based learning for the Most training centres arrange for the on-line exam to be carried out on the afternoon of the fourth day of the 2394 course, however the written exams involves returning to the exam centre on a date set by City & Guilds and the practical assessment is arranged on a date agreed between the training centre and the learner. It should be noted that since it assumed that learners already have an understanding of inspection and test methods, City & Guilds do not require that the delivered courses have a practical content. You should check with your training provider what their course content includes if practical experience is required. 9 DESIGN Level 4 Award in the Design and Verification of Electrical Installations [Credit Value = 10] Most training centres run this qualification over five days, with subsequent ongoing support as learners undertake the design project. Learners are encouraged not to use the IET On-Site Guide since this focuses on simple installations up to 100 Amps. Assessment is in the form of a written exam completed on a date set by City & Guilds and by a practical project completed by the learner after the course. 10 WHAT SETS TRAINING FROM PENNINE APART FROM THE REST? Here at Pennine we believe that learners should learn skills that will help them in their job and not simply learn to pass an exam. Our experienced tutors are able to make training relevant to your particular occupation, be it as a maintenance engineer in a production facility through to an electrician working in a hospital or a chemical works. Some training organisations are solely interested in cash generation and will sell courses to learners to improve their figures. Pennine (Elec-Tech) Ltd are proud to say that they give correct, truthful and honest guidance and only recommend courses which are necessary and best suited to an individual and their needs.

10 Another benefit to you using Pennine Health and Safety is that we are able to adapt courses, including City & Guilds qualifications to meet your specific needs (provided certain criteria is maintained). We aim to put learners at ease, in recognising that many attendees have not been in a classroom for many years we take the time and effort to ensure that every learner gets the attention that then need. For many, concern arises over performing mathematical operations whilst for other reading a book is the stumbling block. Putting the learner first and allaying their fears are all par for the course for us. Not only do our tutors have industry experience but they are qualified to deliver adult learning and hold assessor awards, standards that many training organisations fail to achieve. Our internal verification and quality assurance programmes ensure that our learners get the best possible service. Learners may attend one of our programmed public courses held in Rotherham, or we can deliver a course specifically for your company on your site. If you don t have the room then we have access to training facilities at over 110 Biz Space venues around the UK. Significant discounts are offered for group bookings and multiple course bookings and we make no charge for adapting standard courses to client specifications. We re not just electrical! We provide health and safety training as well as electrical training and we provide electrical and health and safety consultancy as well. No customer is too big or too small and no industry is alien to us. We provide common sense health and safety advice and cut through the redtape of bureaucracy.

11 Pennine (Elec-Tech) Ltd was formed in 2011 by Andrew Linley and Robert Armitage, former directors of the Lowe Group and NECTA, prior to its acquisition by Connaught Compliance. Pennine (Elec-Tech) Ltd is part of the Lowe Group of Companies and is backed by the resources and experience of Ted Lowe, a respected figure in the UK business world and more specifically the Electrical Contracting Industry. The company aim is to provide common sense electrical safety guidance and training to companies and individuals who have a genuine interest in working safely and providing a healthy place of work. We don t believe in red tape and or in doing safety just for the sake of it. We seek to give practical and realistic advice and provide training that is relevant to YOUR work activity. Our business is split into three key areas: Electrical Safe Working Electrical Competency Assessment & Approval Training Using our own sector specific staff and partner companies we are able to use experienced advisors and trainers who know their subject area like the back of their hands. We can relate to real life experience and actual experiences as well as interpret legal precedent and legislative guidance.

12 E1-GN2 PENNINE (ELEC-TECH) LTD The Business Centre Bradmarsh Business Park Rotherham South Yorkshire S60 1BY Tel ELECTRICAL SERIES City and Guilds Short Courses