Best "fast track" Gas course/training Center

[tamz]

Just a point of personal interest Fuzzy; would the kitchen fitters etc who did their ACOPS in the early 90's be classed as cat 1?

 

[fuzzy]

afraid so tamz, the ACOPS was much more open, however if they have passed it they are deemed to have proven prior competence. I think most of these are filtering out now though. ACOPs finished about 15 years ago

 

[tamz]

I thought they would!
Nearly all of them rapped it after the first time as they didn't know what they were doing or really want the responsibility.
It was just one of those stupid things that happened at the time. Give us your cash and here is a badge.
Thankfully lessons were learnt and things have moved on :38: :leaving:
Maybe the main difference now is the pass the buck mentality.

 

[bradders]

I used m65 gas at colne (end of m65 motorway) several years ago still have to put hours in on the job but price was resonable and training good with no short cuts

 

[fuzzy]

in house on the job? doesnt make sense, seems like a con to me

 

[jase158]

reading this back, seems like a lot of nit picking. The training centre in question are basically offering the training, the on the site experience and the assessments for a set price, not much to get your head round really?

 

[Rob Sale]

Does anyone recommendations and/ or advice?

Cheers!

If your cat 2 all you need to do is build up experience, the requirement is 150hrs timed on the actual job you are doing. for example when i go out with my placement. you put on your log. tightness test 5 min, gas rate 5 min, service 40 min, check effectiveness of the flue. or if i'm on a install i put soldering gas pipes 40 min etc,

then the guy your out with signs you off. You need keep the addresses of the places you went to and the appliance.

 

[fuzzy]

reading this back, seems like a lot of nit picking. The training centre in question are basically offering the training, the on the site experience and the assessments for a set price, not much to get your head round really?

the on site expereince is not what was said. The post said that the on site can be done in house? thats not nit picking if you were refering ot me, its a very clear and specific question based on the evidence required

 

[jase158]

After reading several comments on this I spoke to training centres and they are all offering In-house on the job training,

In House meant arranged by the training centre, on the job meant at a customers property. So In-House, On the job training is possible.
The assessing body state that it should not be at the training centre, yet it does not state that the training centre can not arrange it at a different address. If they bought a house and installed a boiler, cooker, fire and water heater in each room, theoretically you could do all assessments at this property, would look a bit suspicous but not impossible.

Sorry bad wording, in house as in they have Gas safe registered engineers that you go out with and they sign your work off for you, costs an extra £1000.

I then clearly explained that these companies offer on the job training for a fee, very good way of trying to confuse OP so that people find it so confusing and don't bother, but not very informative in my opinion.

If the OP wanted to, he could quite simply go to training centre, pay the money and be gas safe registered.

Whats required to be gas safe registered
1. Training
2. Experience
3. Assessments

This doesnt neccesarily mean you will pass Gas safe registration but you will be able to apply for it.

 

[fuzzy]

pass gas safe registration? not sure i know what you mean, you dont pass you simply pay and join

 

[jase158]

After reading several comments on this I spoke to training centres and they are all offering In-house on the job training,

so no need for gas safe engineers to train you up.

however I asked if i could do it with a gas engineer and just do the training at the centre, this seemed to confuse them.

pass gas safe registration? not sure i know what you mean, you dont pass you simply pay and join

Brilliant, so they never check on you, great, I will just pass my course and install cheap boilers that are undersized and don't meet regulations.

 

[fuzzy]

you said pass not check

they do check installations particularly new members to ensure they meet regulations and are installed safe, never heard of them checking whether they are undersized or not, not really in their remit

As youve pointed out this can be confusing, fueled by misleading information

 

[jase158]

you said pass not check

they do check installations particularly new members to ensure they meet regulations and are installed safe, never heard of them checking whether they are undersized or not, not really in their remit

As youve pointed out this can be confusing, fueled by misleading information

Or even nit picking, i call it tomatoes, you call it tomato's,

 

[jase158]

pass gas safe registration? not sure i know what you mean, you dont pass you simply pay and join

I heard on here that you had to do some sort of assessment to join Gas Safe they do an initial assessment and then random assessments once you have joined

 

[kirkgas]

I was always told that if you've got nothing nice to say, say nothing

i want told this so shut it!!!!!!!! :19:

 

[huge_punch]

interesting thread. I've just recently joined. I have done my city and guilds level 2 in plumbing practices, 2 years. Now want to get gas safe but have been told i must do NVQ level 2 before i can do level 3 NVQ, after which i can apply for Gas Safe. Its a long route, and difficult as i have a home to run, bills to pay and fam to support, but i love plumbing and its something i will have to do.

 

[fuzzy]

you dont need an nvq to do your acs which is what is required to become gas safe

it would however reduce the amount of hours expeirence you need to provide

when you say you have done your city and guilds i presume you mean your tech cert? remember that city and guilds award the nvq

 

[huge_punch]

Hi Fuzzy

Yes i have done the City and Guilds tech cert, 6129. It was a 2 year course and covered a lot of the aspects of plumbing but didnt not really go into too much depth. However the practical tasks we did have given me the confidence to start working for myself. I've done a few bathroom installs, rad installs etc (but dont touch the gas side of it).

Are their any colleges who will allow me to do the ACS without having to do the NVQ 2 or level 3?

 

[fuzzy]

yes, you do not need your nvq to do the acs, you dont need any quals

you do however need relevent experience, the amount reduces with quals so without you need a lot around 240 days gas work signed by a gsri

good luck

 

[PlumbingBud]

I was considering doing one of these fast track courses, but opted to go to technical college for the 2 year level 2 course. Im glad I did. I have a few months left and just do not see how you could do all the work and content in 6 weeks or so. We have learned a lot, and many lads fail exams, meaning they have to re-sit before starting the next module.
Our teacher even told us there was a lad who had done a fast track course and still had to go to college for the full 2 years, as he had learned next to nothing.

I was hoping to do level 3, and then the gas, but with cutbacks, it looks like level 3 is no longer available unless privately funded.
There are rumours that a gas foundation course will be in place next year leading to ACS qualification, but we have been told it requires 80 hours working with a gas qualified fitter in the field.

 

[huge_punch]

Can someone give a breakdown of the what the 100-200 hours of gas work should comprise off? I am really keen on getting my Gas Safe, and have someone willing to take me on. The only issue is this guy does not get a lot of work flooding in so i want to be certain he will do enough to help me cover the 100's of hours of gas work required.

 

[fuzzy]

Can someone give a breakdown of the what the 100-200 hours of gas work should comprise off? I am really keen on getting my Gas Safe, and have someone willing to take me on. The only issue is this guy does not get a lot of work flooding in so i want to be certain he will do enough to help me cover the 100's of hours of gas work required.

depending on your category its 140-240 DAYS