Hi all

I realise that this is the wrong forum for a work thread but I just wanted to catch the attention of any Electricians in BC to a post I have made in the employment forum in the hope that someone may be able to offer some advice.

The link for the thread is below

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=417447

Thanks in advance

No, the BCIT aren't very helpful on the phone either! My husband passed the challenge exam last year so I'll tell you what I can.

You have to fill in the forms to see if they consider you suitably qualified to sit the exam. This includes getting references (on forms they provide) from previous employers (they have to tick sections indication the type of electrical work you did under their employment). This application took about 6 months - but they changed the procedure in the middle which caused a delay.

If they agree with your references/certificates etc, you then have to arrange to sit the exam at one of the local centres. When my husband took it there was several people doing it and apparently everyone gets a different exam paper. You cannot take the exam paper away and you cannot get hold of past papers (we searched for these and you just can't get them).

The pass rate is 70%, apparently only 11% pass first time, so it is quite difficult.

This first challenge exam means you are certified to work as an electrician, but you have to be employed and not work for yourself. To be able to be self- employed there is another challenge exam that you have to sit (don't know anything specific about this, my husband is still trying to find out - those helpful people again!!). All we know is that apart from being tested on the electrical stuff again it also covers all teh legal things etc that you need to know when working for yourself.

My husband doesn't post on here but he said to ask, do you know the BCIT do a 10 week refresher course? This should help you brush up on how some of the things are done over here.

Hope this helps.

Hi
I landed July 06 and am in the process of getting certified....
It took threee months for ITA to agree to let me take the exam, three months for an exam, and now I await the result.
Getting on a refresher course was impossible all places were booked, so I took the exam by just reading the books and using the links, if it works it will give me a saving of $800 appx, if not there is a free second attempt at the exam.
Apparently some people fly in from england for a few days to take the exam and return home, (seems a good idea).

a few links that might help.

http://www.electricalcertification.com/

http://www.thelearningpit.com/

http://electrical-contractor.net/cgi...assCookie=true

http://www.psknight.com/

I was told on the exam that I only need to apply to a government office for a permit & have insurance to work self employed, but ITA seem to have a different story most times you speak to them, as do BCIT.

Good Luck, there is a shortage of sparkies at present as long as the construction boom continues there will be rate of appx $32/hr +

It all makes immigration seem easy........


an extra link

http://handson.workfutures.bc.ca/pro...aphic&noc=7241

two extracts :-

To work as an electrician in B.C. you must be certified ....... As a qualified electrician you can work as a self-employed contractor or you can be hired by an employer.

you can write a challenge exam. By passing this exam you will receive the B.C. Certificate of Qualification and the Inter-provincial Standard Endorsement.

This seems to imply once the IP/TQ is passed you can work self employed.

cheers
jerry

Thank you sincerely both for going to the trouble to provide such detailed info. It's far more than I have garnered from trawling the BCIT website!

Jerry - If you have time, could you let me know the titles of the books you used to revise for the exam, I'd like to try and get hold of them before I arrive if possible. I'd also be interested to know how you found the exam - I have heard that it's caught a few of us out.

I'm going to try and obtain the BCIT forms now so that I can get them filled in by previous employers while I am still here.

Thanks again