Electrical Competency, what is it?

davezawadi (David Stone): 
This thread has not quite gone where I hoped. We know the general definition, I would like comments on whether these are met by electricians in general, and if not where we need improvements.

I don't think that question can be answered. As I am sure your daughter has mentioned, doctors have annual appraisals. Members of the judiciary have them periodically too. I was, however, a little surprised to find that electricians have them, or at least registered ones do. (Surprisingly, surgeons do not have to demonstrate their hand skills to a colleague. ? ) So that's a start and the two schemes must have data on pass rates. (Whether the assessments are rigorous enough is a separate question.)

Registered sparks must have the current BS 7671 C&G. IIRC, pass rates are published.

Would it be rude to ask to see an electrician/inspector's qualifications, or even CV (assuming that he or she had one)? I think so.

So we go by word of mouth, the local advertising booklets that drop through the letterbox every month, tradesmen's web sites, and so on. I don't quite see how a customer can be sure that an electrician is competent, even after work has been completed. Satisfaction is another matter entirely.

davezawadi (David Stone): 
This thread has not quite gone where I hoped. We know the general definition, I would like comments on whether these are met by electricians in general, and if not where we need improvements.

I don't think that question can be answered. As I am sure your daughter has mentioned, doctors have annual appraisals. Members of the judiciary have them periodically too. I was, however, a little surprised to find that electricians have them, or at least registered ones do. (Surprisingly, surgeons do not have to demonstrate their hand skills to a colleague. ? ) So that's a start and the two schemes must have data on pass rates. (Whether the assessments are rigorous enough is a separate question.)

Registered sparks must have the current BS 7671 C&G. IIRC, pass rates are published.

Would it be rude to ask to see an electrician/inspector's qualifications, or even CV (assuming that he or she had one)? I think so.

So we go by word of mouth, the local advertising booklets that drop through the letterbox every month, tradesmen's web sites, and so on. I don't quite see how a customer can be sure that an electrician is competent, even after work has been completed. Satisfaction is another matter entirely.