Thanks for the replies everyone. I will finish my electrical and in the mean time continue to learn all i can about refrigeration and do what i need to so i can complete the course in both.
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Thanks for the replies everyone. I will finish my electrical and in the mean time continue to learn all i can about refrigeration and do what i need to so i can complete the course in both.
A very sensible approach, goodluck with your trade training.
John.
Thanks for the support.
Did some more research and the tafe that offers to course only provides block release, meaning either long travel for 3 days straight, or paying for accommodation in the area. And after speaking with my boss i would be required to make up the hours i dont work elsewhere. (turns out trying to futher your education isnt seen has a benifit by the employer :rolleyes:). Not looking good so far.
I don't know what happened to this thread.
The first post seems to be an answer to preceeding questions which I can't see.:?
From what I can gather you have questions regarding dual trade qualifications.
Namely Electrical / Refrigeration.
I am qualified in both of these and say go for it.:)
Cheers, Jack
Jack,
Thanks for the reply, how did you go about getting licenced in both?
I started a little bit differently.
I was A fitter first back when they were all under 1 hat ie. electrical and mechanical. Shortly after being awarded that trade it was split back into electrical and mechanical again so i went towards the mechanical side.
During that time I had the opportunity to do the refrigeration course at tafe, most of the modules I had recognition of prior learning so that left me only 4 months full time to do.
I was lucky enough to be able to consolidate my time as a fridgey while being employed as a fitter so after 4 years i was then awarded my fridgey trade.
Licensing is no problem when you have the appropriate tickets.
After working as a fitter for a few years, being a fridgey is a dream job.
Thanks for the replies,
I have spoken more with my boss, and am still very interested in trying to do the course. I realise there are a few obstacles in the way, but like others have said, you need to make sacrifice if you want to get anywhere.
So at the moment my best option for making up the time spent at tafe would be to forfeit my pay for that day. Also im seeing if the course is available by correspondence, if not i will make arrangements for travel.
I havnt given up just yet. :D
Hey I'm not really following this thread too well either ... but other things are definately available by corro ... such as electrical engineering? Or business (plenty of tradies could do with that ... whoop, sorry).
Something like eng would really be challenging but it is a huge amount of work.
I may be way off track ... but just a thought.
Thanks for the reply obob, engineering is something im considering also.Quote:
Hey I'm not really following this thread too well either ... but other things are definately available by corro ... such as electrical engineering? Or business (plenty of tradies could do with that ... whoop, sorry).
Something like eng would really be challenging but it is a huge amount of work.
I may be way off track ... but just a thought.
Did some more calculations and worked out how much money id actually be losing each week and im not sure it would be worth it in the long run, even though i may make it back if i worked for myself, but wouldnt if i continued working for others.
hmm, decisions... lucky ive got about a year left to work out what im going to do. :D
I guess the problem with eng is the cost also ... great that you are trying to come up with a plan. That already puts you way ahead.
Thats true, and i have to look at how useful and practical doing the course would be to me. The place i live now(and want to live for a long time) doesnt have a high or even moderate demand for electrical engineers.
I worked for the government at the time and completed both apprenticeships concurrently.Quote:
Originally Posted by cross
I have considered engineering but find it painful enough dealingwith the majority of them now, let alone becoming one:D
Like I said before, I missed the start of this post.
Are you just after a change or don't like being a sparky.
There are many aspects to the electrical trade and a change within the trade might be change enough.
Cheers, Jack
My Original Post:
Hey everyone,
Just after some advice. Im currently in the 3rd year of my electrical apprenticeship, and am considering doing the refrigeration and air conditioning course once i complete the electrical. My boss has the dual trade and we do both kinds of work. However doing the course would mean i would have to sacrifice holidays, money, or work weekends to make up the time i spend at tafe.
Anyone been in a similar situation or have some thoughts/advice?
Thanks,
Cross.
Haha, Ive heard similar things from a few people.Quote:
I have considered engineering but find it painful enough dealingwith the majority of them now, let alone becoming one:D
I am happy being a sparky, but has i said, our company does both which means im required to do both weather i like it or not. So if i have to do it i thought it made sense to get qualified. But at this point that is proving to be a fairly difficult option.Quote:
Like I said before, I missed the start of this post.
Are you just after a change or don't like being a sparky.
There are many aspects to the electrical trade and a change within the trade might be change enough.
If you are required to do both then your boss would be silly not to do everything he can to have you qualified.Quote:
Originally Posted by cross
Once you are a qualified sparky he would be able to put you on as a mature age apprentice to do the refrigeration trade.
He would get government rebates and it probably wouldn't end up costing him anything at all.
Cheers, Jack.
Like alot of employers, he doesnt mind if i do the course, but he isnt going out of his way to help me or make me do it considering it doesnt really benifit him.Quote:
If you are required to do both then your boss would be silly not to do everything he can to have you qualified.
Im not sure how that would work considering ill be 21 when i finish electrical?Quote:
Once you are a qualified sparky he would be able to put you on as a mature age apprentice to do the refrigeration trade.
I have 2 adult refrig lads going thru trade school at the moment, they have log books and need them signed off, some of the work they are required to do we dont do so they are sent off to another company for a few weeks to get the relevent experience this seems to work, they also do work for other companies in their hollidays just for the experience. I have had 2 other lads that have done the same and are now tradesmen. these are all mature age students and go to the trade school with the younger lads, does not seem to be to big a problem for them. the new licencing regulations was the catalist for this.
Hey everyone,
Just after some advice. Im currently in the 3rd year of my electrical apprenticeship, and am considering doing the refrigeration and air conditioning course once i complete the electrical. My boss has the dual trade and we do both kinds of work. However doing the course would mean i would have to sacrifice holidays, money, or work weekends to make up the time i spend at tafe.
Anyone been in a similar situation or have some thoughts/advice?
Thanks,
Cross.
Haha, Ive heard similar things from a few people.
I am happy being a sparky, but has i said, our company does both which means im required to do both weather i like it or not. So if i have to do it i thought it made sense to get qualified. But at this point that is proving to be a fairly difficult option.[/QUOTE]
My Boss is considering paying for the course, so i just have to make up the time or forfeit pay for the days im away.
I still am not sure if its the best option for me considering it will give me another certificate at the same level that i will be getting from electrical, so it isnt necessarily a progression upwards from my original training.
As far as I can see you've got three choices: -
1. Do the course and hope that it may give you some benefit in the future when there's no electrical work to be had, yet everyone wants an air conditioner.
2. Don't do the course, but do overtime instead, and invest the money you make in an air conditioning company as a nest egg for the future when everyone wants air conditioners and there's no electrical work to be had.
3. Don't do the course, and don't do any overtime, but spend your time with your mates or your girlfriend and enjoy life as much as you can because you only live once.
They're all valid choices and only you can decide what you want to do.
I still do all three. I'm still at work, I renovate and I'm still a uni student by corro. I have always tired to consider them all as hobbies, which isn't always easy ... but they all teach you a lot, you meet a lot of cool people and get heaps of life experience. The money side of things comes in to all these items too but I don't think it should be the focus. Chose your best option and then enjoy it ... the rest will come. Any of the options has to be better than vegging in front of the TV.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cross
I was 24 when I started my Apprenticeship;
Can't see any real issues.
Electrical F/M
Now Doing Instruments and Chemicals at a Power Station Water Treatment Plant :2tsup:
That lays it out fairly nicely pawnhead. Im still considering all 3 points and havnt ruled any of them out just yet. I will do some more thinking and time will tell i suppose.Quote:
Originally Posted by pawnhead
You might have missed it, but there's also this option. Of course it depends on how happy you are with your life at the moment. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by cross
Thanks, these are all things i have to consider. I am very happy with my life at this point. I would be happy just doing electrical, but my boss has made it clear that i will be required to do electrical and airconditioning from day to day. He also said that he will be able to teach me most of what i need to know so i can do the job without formal qualifications in refrigeration. The reason i want to do the course is because if im going to be required to do that kind of work, i feel i should be appropriately qualified.Quote:
Originally Posted by pawnhead
Im a Plumber and accidently a builder, when i went to do my master plumbing i heard that you needed a building liscence to co-ordinate trades during reno's etc, so i payed the money and spent 4 years after hours doing the course.
Turns out you dont have to be a fully qualified builder to co-ordinate trades but without getting long winded, it has helped me a great deal.
Do the extra, it is worth it, but maybe your boss should help out a bit more, he cant expect you to do training that helps him if he doesnt pay you to do it, thats what apprenticships are about.
The way he sees it is that the less training he has to provide the better. Electrical is the minimum that i need, which he is paying for.Quote:
Originally Posted by bricks
Do you need a license to do air conditioniong? Can you get one without doing a course? If you don't, and you can, then the answer would be simple for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by cross
I don't mean to blow my own horn, but all the builders that I've worked for consider me one of the best chippies they've had, but I've never done a formal aprenticeship. You don't have to to get a carpenter's license. You just need experience and references, so I didn't bother. I just took a short cut to my builder's license by doing a four year part time course at tech, but I'd been working as a chippie for quite some years before I tackled it. Otherwise it would have meant another three years in tech learning a lot of BS, a lot of which would be irrelevant to what goes on on site.
To the best of my knowledge, if i wanted to work for myself and do air conditioning un-supervised, then i would need a licence. For now its perfectly fine for me to work under my boss' licence. And the only way i know to get a licence is the course, or wait until ive done a few more years work and apply for a licence based on my experience. However i would probably be forced to attend at least some tafe(if not all the modules) to do part of the course.Quote:
Originally Posted by pawnhead
Cross,
Do the extra and get the qualification. The study is for your current job, therefore it should be tax-deductible - of course, check this info with your accountant at tax time.
GET THE QUALIFICATION!!!!!!!! I reckon you'll kick yourself later if you don't. You aren't always going to be working for this man, which means you aren't always going to be able to use his licence.
Good Luck!!!
Cheers
Wendy
Thanks everyone for the replies, thanks to those who are giving me a gentle push towards doing the extra course and thanks to pawnhead for a slightly different perspective on the situation.
I am still going to do everything i can to do the extra course once i finish electrical. I have a number of options when it comes to making up for the time i spend at tafe, i just need to work out which one is best for me. Also recently my boss has agreed to pay for the course, just has long as i make up the time i spend at tafe somehow.
One of the main things i took from this thread (3 threads) was something barrywhite said "If you are content to just work on wages don't worry about it. You will have a JOB and that stands for "Just Over Broke". To get any where in life you need to work for yourself."
I realise life isnt all about money, but i would like to work for myself at some stage and having both trades will give me the most options when it comes to that time.
Thanks again,
Cross.
Yeahhhh..:brava
Only took us 3 posts and 4670 man hours to convince you to do it.:clap:
Al :2tsup:
Dont wanna rock the boat cross but sound like your getting screwed, Id do the course out of my own pocket because its worth it but tell my boss where to go if he asked me to use my skill.
There is a shortage of skilled trades and apprentices, here in adelaide most are through training organizations, we have to compeate just to make them stay with us. If your annoyed coz you think your getting a bum deal, id say you are, although indentured to your employer it isnt impossible to change jobs as an apprentice, Id line up a new job and tell my boss where to stick it.
Sounds like a real prick that you work for bricks. :~
Al :~
I work for myself, and i work contract basis for a pretty big company,
When i work for the company (You can go a year without seeing the owner) i suppose im kinda the boss for the apprentices and tradies.
Im finding that its becoming harder and harder to keep apprentices / employees , it just annoys me when other blokes seem to treat their work force like slaves and i cant even fart with out someone pulling the pin.
I dont consider myself, an ar #@ le leader, i try to keep people happy, ( they tend to be more co-operative). But in the company there are normally 5-10 people, including apprentices who leave every month because of a policy I or the 25 or so others in my position cant change.
If your a skilled worker in this country you are gold, it is hard to replace you and you shouldnt have to put up with crap.
Work hard, get money, you should'nt have trouble finding a job (in a big city at least). As Johnny Howard said about workplace reforms, everyone has the right to find a new job if they dont like whats going on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bricks
Like I said.Quote:
Originally Posted by ozwinner
Al:U
While i may believe i work for myself, and i go to work and make my own decisions like a big boy, I think everyone Knows they serve a higher being in this world. :oo:
Tha missus:C
Quote:
Originally Posted by cross
Quote:
It is not the intent of the legislation to lock people out of the industry just because they haven't done the relevant course. All people handling refrigerant are required to hold a licence from 1 July 2005, however if you have worked in the industry prior to applying for a licence, then you will be able to obtain a 12 month Experienced Person's licence. This licence recognises past experience in the industry as a transitional measure. When you reapply for a licence at the end of the 12 months you will need to show that you have the necessary skills, experience or training necessary for you to be able to meet the requirements of the licence (see Table 1). This will be done either through a trade recognition process, a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process or a demonstration of current competencies.
http://www.environment.gov.au/atmosp....html#industry
As I read it, if you've got a sparky's licence and experience in refrigeration, then I'd just apply for the licence.Quote:
APPLICATION FOR NATIONAL REFRIGERANT HANDLING LICENCE
Documentary Evidence in support of Application
< snip >
Trade Certificate i.e. Any Certificate having a Trade Outcome, and evidence of Industry Experience*
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:...lnk&cd=3&gl=au
Thanks for taking the time to look that up pawnhead, i have sent an email to arktic enquiring about the options i have for obtaining the licence.
Found the full version of the information you posted pawnhead:
http://www.arctick.org/pdf/Licence%2...tions%20V1.pdf
"Any Certificate having a trade outcome in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning e.g. Journeyman's Certificate, or Allied Trades Certificate and detailed evidence of at least 4 years relevant industrial experience working as a Refrigeration Mechanic."
Nice of them to edit and leave out important parts in one version of the paperwork. :(
Here is the email reply i received from arctick:
"If you only require to do splits up to 18KW you can do a course which is Mem20198 Certificate II in Engineering Production (Air Conditioning). If you require to do commercial refrigeration you will be required to complete the apprenticeship course which is MEM 30299 Cert III in Engineering Mechanical (Refrigeration & Air Conditioning). If you take on one of these courses you will need to apply for a trainee licence, which you will need to be supervised for, but once completed you will be issued with a licence and you will not need to be supervised."
Looks like its back to tafe for me..... :D