Qualification requirement "lowered" for PV installer training.

Edit- it should be noted that these are not sufficient qualifications to join a Competence Scheme run by the NICEIC or NAPIT. So if you want to become a self-employed electrician speak to those scheme operators before starting any training. 

Rather than being selective with the cut and paste, let's just go for it and see the full offer.

Now don’t we have an opportunity for you!

On Monday 5th September, the pre-requisites for becoming a full trained Solar Photovoltaic (Solar PV) engineer changed. Before, you would have had to be a fully qualified NVQ Level 3 Electricians in order to partake in any Solar PV course across the nation. With the new pre-requisites in place, you no longer need to hold a NVQ Level 3 but instead, hold the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations Qualification and the Initial Verification Qualification. This mean that it has become a lot easier (and quicker) to get qualified in this industry!

If you are completely new and have no electrical experience at all then do not worry! We offer a Domestic Electrical Installers course here at Get Training. This is a 5 day intensive electrical course so that an individual can get a basic understanding of electrical work. We recommend this course in order to help yourself gain the necessary knowledge to proceed with the 18th Edition and Initial Verification.

Each course is outlined below as follows;

Domestic Electrical Installers (D.E.I) for £950 – 5 Days

This course covers electrical work as outlined in the Building regulations and the 18th Edition wiring regulations.

18th Edition for £595 – 3 Days

Focuses on the new wiring regulations and amendments.

Initial Verification for £695 – 3 Day

This qualification is based primarily on 18th Edition and IET Guidance Note 3, and to be able to test electrical installations, safe to work prior to them being placed into service.

Solar PV for £825 – 5 Days

This course will undertake the routine service and maintenance of a solar photovoltaic systems installation, this is recognised by the micro generation certification scheme registration bodies as an acceptable qualification to join the scheme.

The cost of this package has been reduced to £2995 and will provide all training required for those new to the electrical industry or this can be tailored to support existing electricians.

There was a City and Guilds Webinar on the new EV qualification last week where the issue of pre-requisite qualifications was discussed. I did not see it but a colleague of mine did so I will try to get an update from him shortly. I do know, however, that there is much debate about the issue. 
Insisting on candidates having the NVQ denies access to people who may wish simply to expand their understanding of these important subjects. Not everyone will be a practitioner!

Doesn't it also exclude people who have obtained equivalent or higher skills through many years of work?

Reminds me of those job ads for "Engineers with at least 20 years experience" that state "must have at least a 2:1 in a relevant engineering discipline".

I see, they will now allow me to take the course. How kind. The trouble is not that one needs prerequisites to take the course or even just the exam, but if the pass rate is too low the AQA will cancel the whole thing! Now when I was a lad (some years ago!) one could sit any exam one liked and if you passed, you were qualified at that level. Now it seems that everyone is worried that everyone will not pass, as they must be seen to do.  The world has become a very strange place, but behind it all is a very serious agenda. Have you seen that the UN is now saying that Europe MUST not increase fossil fuel usage to cope with the energy crisis? The UN appears to want to kill all of the poorer and older population?

I think we can throw into that mix "The nature of unintended consequences" that are oh so popular these days too

David Stone said:

The UN appears to want to kill all of the poorer and older population?

The UN wants countries to abide by pledges they have previously made, and find alternative sources of energy.  Not renege on those promises at the first sign of trouble.