S
Steven Jones
Good Evening All,
My name is Steve and I am new here in the forums and to the world of plumbing.
I am in the process of leaving the Navy (leave in July after 13 years) and have decided to move away from my I.T based job and try something new (Plumbing and Gas in case you weren't sure). I am currently on a fast track plumbing course (don't hate me for it all you real plumbers, we all have to start somewhere) with Access Training in Cardiff and will also be doing 4 weeks of gas afterwards.
I am really enjoying the course and am looking forward to passing (confident, I have hot water systems (vented) tomorrow morning) the exams and gaining the basics of plumbing. I have read a number of posts of people getting confused about the qualifications available on the fast track courses so wanted to post something to help them and any others seeking answers. Unfortunately as I am new I can't post in the training area yet. I wish someone had explained it to me properly before, as I believed it was a full NVQ course. However now I understand I am more than happy.
Fast track does not get you an NVQ Level 2 or any other level at that. You can only gain that on job, what you do get from fast track is a Level 2 diploma (which I believe is just like the old technical certificate, 6189 I think it was but may be wrong there), which from there you can complete your portfolio by placement or work, thus gaining the NVQ level 2. You will sit several exams (about 12 I think) which are mostly online (GOLA) covering all aspects of plumbing and complete a diploma portfolio of tasks such as installation of bathrooms, cloakrooms, hot and cold water systems etc.
I don't expect that I will be able to start my own business after the course but I am hoping to have a pretty good grounding to start from and maybe one day, after enough time and lots of experience, to do just that. I also expect with the economy being the state it is that a job will be harder to find but the balance of my life has shifted and leaving the Navy was worth the risk.
I do have a couple of questions that maybe someone could help me with.
1. Does anyone know of any ACS Placement/Exam centres in Hampshire (the nearer to Portsmouth the better)?
2. Does anyone know of anywhere to get past papers/revision papers for C&G NVQ Level 2 exams (I have scoured the net and not having much luck)?
And finally, please accept my apologies if I am posting in the wrong place, I am new not just to this forum but forums in general.
I look forward to chatting and using the forums.
Steve
My name is Steve and I am new here in the forums and to the world of plumbing.
I am in the process of leaving the Navy (leave in July after 13 years) and have decided to move away from my I.T based job and try something new (Plumbing and Gas in case you weren't sure). I am currently on a fast track plumbing course (don't hate me for it all you real plumbers, we all have to start somewhere) with Access Training in Cardiff and will also be doing 4 weeks of gas afterwards.
I am really enjoying the course and am looking forward to passing (confident, I have hot water systems (vented) tomorrow morning) the exams and gaining the basics of plumbing. I have read a number of posts of people getting confused about the qualifications available on the fast track courses so wanted to post something to help them and any others seeking answers. Unfortunately as I am new I can't post in the training area yet. I wish someone had explained it to me properly before, as I believed it was a full NVQ course. However now I understand I am more than happy.
Fast track does not get you an NVQ Level 2 or any other level at that. You can only gain that on job, what you do get from fast track is a Level 2 diploma (which I believe is just like the old technical certificate, 6189 I think it was but may be wrong there), which from there you can complete your portfolio by placement or work, thus gaining the NVQ level 2. You will sit several exams (about 12 I think) which are mostly online (GOLA) covering all aspects of plumbing and complete a diploma portfolio of tasks such as installation of bathrooms, cloakrooms, hot and cold water systems etc.
I don't expect that I will be able to start my own business after the course but I am hoping to have a pretty good grounding to start from and maybe one day, after enough time and lots of experience, to do just that. I also expect with the economy being the state it is that a job will be harder to find but the balance of my life has shifted and leaving the Navy was worth the risk.
I do have a couple of questions that maybe someone could help me with.
1. Does anyone know of any ACS Placement/Exam centres in Hampshire (the nearer to Portsmouth the better)?
2. Does anyone know of anywhere to get past papers/revision papers for C&G NVQ Level 2 exams (I have scoured the net and not having much luck)?
And finally, please accept my apologies if I am posting in the wrong place, I am new not just to this forum but forums in general.
I look forward to chatting and using the forums.
Steve
