7 week course took 3 years!

[fuzzy]

Just been phoned by someone wanting plumbing experience.

He had signed up for a 7 week course that took 3 years. Apparently the 7 weeks is the total spent in centre not the time from start to finish.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

not a very fast fast tracker then!

 

[kay-jay]

yep thats right fuzzy!

7 weeks is the time spent in the centre only. in between week long modules you need to study for and pass the requisite exams. you are also expected to practice all the practical skills you have learned on the previous week otherwise when you do the following week you are likely to fail the practical because there is more work to do but in the same time frame.

there are centres who do do a 7wk course but that is split into 2 halfs and you have a week to pass all the first half exams before you can book on the 2nd half. from speaking to a few who chose this route they say its very difficult to pass the exams simply because they do not have the time to absorb the information which is pretty much bombarded at them over a very short period of time.
even though they are spoon fed the answers!!! on the 7 week course all the exam answers are in a convenient work book issued by the centre. they still need to revise however.

but on the 3 year '7 week' course the answers to the exam questions have to be found from widescale revision from a number of text books. this is obviously better as it encourages much wider reading. whereas the actual 7 weekers only need to revise the course workbook. which leaves them sadly lacking in wider knowledge.

so, owing to the fact that there are 2 very different streaMS OF FAST TRACK perhaps this is worthy of noting in the thread about fasttrackers ruining the industry.???

KJ

 

[Hutchey]

good point! one place i looked at was offering 13 weeks full time in centre to get up to "nvq 3". i saw that loosely as it might not have actually had the nvq attached.
i opted for something like you describe. its designed to last 2 yrs but you can do it quicker or slower. i'm 4 months in almost and still have 3 modular texts to read, study, take tests on and pass before i can even apply for my first 2 week slot to do practicals.
I dont expect it to be faster than 18 months for me and even that might be pushing it.
well done on completing yours by the way and good luck out there!
Rich

 

[fuzzy]

thought the 7 week advertising was misleading, thats my point

 

[Hutchey]

very true Fuzzy
my lot didnt offer any quick options and was actually very up front and honest about what to expect and how long it would take as a guide.
agreed they do need some form of regulation on this