ACS Training

[markadams]

Hi,



I ran a small plumbing company in the past but changed jobs when I relocated
to Wales 6 Years ago. I would now very much like to go back to doing what I
really enjoyed. I would like to take it one step further this time and gain
the ability to work on gas appliances.



I have spoken to a few of the local training providers including some of the
colleges. It seems that unless you sign up with an intensive course provider
who claim to be able to get you experience with a real engineer for a cost of
Approx £1000 then you are stuck. None of the colleges give you the ability to
actually register with gas safe, because as I understand it, you need proven
evidence of relevant work as well as the paperwork to say you have passed the
ACS exams before you can register.



I am based in Carmarthenshire, Wales and unfortunatly do not know any
engineers in the area.



Is there a way around this issue that anyone is aware of? I would be very
happy to help out a local engineer as I have all my own tools etc for the water
plumbing trade, just need a hand providing the written proof for gas work. I
would not be stealing any work as I am more interested in working for another
company (maybe Swalec/British gas or other independant) than working for myself
again.



Thank you in advance for any help you can give.



Mark.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

hi mark have you tried ringing margam NPT college

 

[markadams]

Hi,

They are one of the few I have not called, do you think they would be able to help with finding a placement to build a portfolio?

Did you do a course there? Would you recommend them?

Mark.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

not sure but i do my acs reassessments there they seem good guys and you will be taught the right way

 

[markadams]

not sure but i do my acs reassessments there they seem good guys and you will be taught the right way

Thank you for the recommendation, The most important thing is that they teach the right things in the right way. I hope they can help with building the portfolio as they are reasonably close to me and it is good to go on recommendations.

Mark.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Thank you for the recommendation, The most important thing is that they teach the right things in the right way. I hope they can help with building the portfolio as they are reasonably close to me and it is good to go on recommendations.

Mark.

peter morgan is the man you want to train you,james pritchard will assess you,dne my acs with them for 15 years they are mustard,give me a mo will et the direct info for you

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

there you go


Katie Harris
Administrator – National Skills Academy
Energy Centre
Neath Port Talbot College
Afan Campus
College Green
Margam
Port Talbot
SA13 2AL
( 0800 612 5949 / 01639 648200 ex 8633

 

[markadams]

Thank you for the great help, I really appreciate it, I will give them a call in the morning, unfortunatly it may still leave me with the problem of getting real world experience so I can learn the actual job and get experience for the portfolio. I really hope they or someone else can help as the college sounds great.

Mark.

 

[markadams]

Hi,

I called NPT college this morning, very friendly and helpful person, unfortunatly I would not even be accepted onto the course if I do not have proof that I can provide the real world experience by working with a company.

I fully agree that this should be the way to learn any practical trade but at the moment it seems to be near impossible to get this experience without signing up with a cowboy, fast track company (which is not the way I want to learn).

It is very fustrating as I can understand both the reasons why engineers do not want to give someone the experience and also on the other side I am desparate to get back into the industry as I am a practical person who really enjoyed my time as a plumber. Back to the brick wall but it is starting to hurt now.

Mark.

 

[markadams]

Gas man,

After concidering all the options I have decided to take the Gas foundation course at Ystrad Mynach college. I would have liked to have taken the course at Port Talbot as it is closer to home but unlike Ystrad Mynach they cant arrange any work with an engineer.

Thank you for all your help

Mark

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Gas man,

After concidering all the options I have decided to take the Gas foundation course at Ystrad Mynach college. I would have liked to have taken the course at Port Talbot as it is closer to home but unlike Ystrad Mynach they cant arrange any work with an engineer.

Thank you for all your help

Mark

no probs mark you have to do whats best for you,sorry NPTC could not help,but stick around here because we can with any questions you have

 

[markadams]

I would be interested in any opinions from people that have attended any gas/plumbing courses at Ystrad Mynach college.

Mark.

 

[markadams]

Gasman,

Been on a few days training at NPT College, have been taught by Peter who is a great bloke.

Did you know he is leaving this year? Met some great enginners and look forward to the rest of the journey.

Mark.

 

[kirkgas]

You are still required to do a portfolio whether you are CAT 2 or CAT 3, the only difference is the length of the theory course, if you are a time served plumber and have your papers you do CAT 2 6-8 weeks full time theory plus portfolio, I believe some colleges are advising the course can be done in 4 weeks but I can't see how you can deliver gas theory to someone who has never done gas before in only 4 weeks

 

[markadams]

You are still required to do a portfolio whether you are CAT 2 or CAT 3, the only difference is the length of the theory course, if you are a time served plumber and have your papers you do CAT 2 6-8 weeks full time theory plus portfolio, I believe some colleges are advising the course can be done in 4 weeks but I can't see how you can deliver gas theory to someone who has never done gas before in only 4 weeks

Hi Kirkgas,

Now that I have actually started the course, I have to say that I dont really agree with you about not being able to learn the theroy in 4 weeks, If you are reasonable at learning theory and commit yourself to doing the study then I don't really see 4 weeks as being a problem. When you state 4 weeks are you talking about training 5 days a week?

I have taken a mock exam on-line and I passed so this I certainly think it is possible. The one thing that does take time is gaining experience and learning how to solve problems.

As for the portfolio I think we have discussed that to death so I will leave that.

Mark.

 

[kirkgas]

Yes I'm saying I think it is difficult to teach someone a lot about gas in 20 days, of course some people are capable of sucking up a lot of info but is there enough time to understand it rather than remember it, which is very different
Re the portfolio I was just advising you that whatever route you take you will need to supply a portfolio
Passing the online exam means what? I've given my 11 yr old twins ACS gas theory exams and they get through them no bother, cause they simply refer to the notes and answer the question, there are a lot of questions that can be taken straight from the notes without understanding them
Good luck with the course, I've said for years it isn't always about having 20+ yrs experience, its about your aptitude and attitude to doing a good safe job and I have had plenty of time served plumbers who have done gas for years and are now doing the exams and they are dangerous, they have been doing shoddy work for years and its a miracle nobody is hurt by their poor standards

 

[markadams]

Yes I'm saying I think it is difficult to teach someone a lot about gas in 20 days, of course some people are capable of sucking up a lot of info but is there enough time to understand it rather than remember it, which is very different
Re the portfolio I was just advising you that whatever route you take you will need to supply a portfolio
Passing the online exam means what? I've given my 11 yr old twins ACS gas theory exams and they get through them no bother, cause they simply refer to the notes and answer the question, there are a lot of questions that can be taken straight from the notes without understanding them
Good luck with the course, I've said for years it isn't always about having 20+ yrs experience, its about your aptitude and attitude to doing a good safe job and I have had plenty of time served plumbers who have done gas for years and are now doing the exams and they are dangerous, they have been doing shoddy work for years and its a miracle nobody is hurt by their poor standards

I agree with most of what you are saying, it is very much like passing your driving test, once you have passed you find your own way of doing things and pick up bad habits. I remember my instructor said that when you pass, that is when you start learning. Rightly or wrongly gas/plumbing work is very similar.

You will not find a single training provider (in Wales) that offers a course of more than 20 days for gas training, I feel that the provider I am with has the best approach as they are flexible and allow you to pay for as much or little training as you need. Even they say that no one should need any more than 20 days classroom training.

 

[kirkgas]

Well that is a complete contradiction to bpecs course spec which states CAT 2 is 6-8 weeks, they prefer 8, but if it can be covered in 6 because the candidates are good ones then they accept it, so I suppose these colleges are using that as a way of getting it down to 4 weeks to cut cost/make more money, I've spoken to Bpec about a welsh college offering non gas people these gas courses telling them they don't need a portfolio, which is not the case, but Bpec can look into it, as the college is a Bpec centre

 

[kirkgas]

I like the CAT 2 course for plumbers, we do it in 6 weeks and the pace is quite fast to cover it in 6, but if they cover it well enough in 4 for people to pass the exam that's maybe all some people want,
I prefer to teach it to guys who have never done gas before, but most courses include people who have done gas before, and TBH they are a PITA, they continually question what we are talking about telling us all that's not the way they were shown years ago, or that's not the way we do it at work mate, haha, just wish they would shut up and learn how it should be done, not how badly they are doing it

 

[markadams]

I like the CAT 2 course for plumbers, we do it in 6 weeks and the pace is quite fast to cover it in 6, but if they cover it well enough in 4 for people to pass the exam that's maybe all some people want,
I prefer to teach it to guys who have never done gas before, but most courses include people who have done gas before, and TBH they are a PITA, they continually question what we are talking about telling us all that's not the way they were shown years ago, or that's not the way we do it at work mate, haha, just wish they would shut up and learn how it should be done, not how badly they are doing it

I am not studying at a BPEC approved centre. BPEC or non-BPEC does not really matter. If a high enough % of people are passing the course with a good knowledge of the subject then the colleges are happy with this and I personally feel that real world experience is worth far more than a classroom education, especially in a practical skill like plumbing.

I do feel that you need the base theory but if this can be gained in 4 weeks and not 6 or 8 then provided the student is getting on-site experience and knows his/her subject then what is the problem?

Some students will need 6 or 8 weeks training and some will never be good enough but will still pass, this is just the way things are.

Mark.

 

[kirkgas]

I am not studying at a BPEC approved centre. BPEC or non-BPEC does not really matter. If a high enough % of people are passing the course with a good knowledge of the subject then the colleges are happy with this and I personally feel that real world experience is worth far more than a classroom education, especially in a practical skill like plumbing.

I do feel that you need the base theory but if this can be gained in 4 weeks and not 6 or 8 then provided the student is getting on-site experience and knows his/her subject then what is the problem?

Some students will need 6 or 8 weeks training and some will never be good enough but will still pass, this is just the way things are.

Mark.

Mark I agree with you, the theory is a base line starting point, and is something I make sure the students know, I've had a few people who can rattle through the theory no prob but the feedback from placement is that they are hopeless at practical therefore they will never get anywhere in gas unless they teach it haha, but they pass the exam and are as qualified as anyone, there are some who use the course to get a ticket for something they are doing every day and they simply don't listen or care about needing standards, its all " look mate, I will just be firing boilers in, I don't need to km
Now anything about pipe sizing or purging or good practice for fitting the pipes, people don't want to pay for a good job" haha so you let them get on with the theory they struggle through and pass and go on their merry way, after all they have been doing gas for years
Suppose the course depends on who's doing it and what they want out of it, if you work hard and put theninputmin you will get more out of it, good luck with it

 

[deandive]

Ive heard on the grapevine that Mark is working with a knowledgeable engineer who should be able to point him in the right direction. Ive also heard the engineer is very good looking witty and intelligent. ........................oh and ive heard hes an advanced driver may all be speculation mind ;-)

 

[markadams]

Ive heard on the grapevine that Mark is working with a knowledgeable engineer who should be able to point him in the right direction. Ive also heard the engineer is very good looking witty and intelligent. ........................oh and ive heard hes an advanced driver may all be speculation mind ;-)

Hi DeanDive,

Don't know where you heard that from, Witty and intelligent? Not sure who told you that :lol:.

As for being an advanced driver, well I can confirm that he has not crashed YET.

Hows it all going? I am missing the witty and intelligent conversation, I am sure it will start soon.

p.s. Don't forget to polish that badge of yours. Have you managed to re-program the space shuttle with your new analyser? (I want one).

Mark.