Get on a welding course or go for city and guilds welding?

[Wizard of Arc]

Can anyone advise on the dilema of whether to go for a generic welding course offered by a private company (shorter) or take the long slog of a city and guilds (1 year).

I'm wondering what companies tend to go for and so on. I know city and guilds is internationally recognised by commonwealth countries and so on.

Advise needed

Regards

 

[zardoz]

Which city and guilds welding course is it ? Is it city & guilds 3267. These days one welding type is done per course ie: MIG or TIG or Arc (MMA) of Gas. A newer c&g welding course is starting next September. Take a look here:
city & guilds courses

In the uk most people take these courses as night classes, one night per week for three hours 6pm till 9pm, over the course or 12 weeks for level 1 and 17 weeks for level 2 or 3.

 

[Delgado]

From my own personal experience of moving from the UK to Spain, I would definitely say that your best bet would be to go for the City and Guilds(try to get level 3 if you can). I have found that most companies don´t really care if some other private company in some other county has given you qualifications, as they are most likely going to give you a welding test anyway. What they do care about is qualifications that they recognise from their own countries education system, and for this reason, GNVQs/NVQs can be approved and matched to that countries equivalent qualification fairly easily(at least in Europe). Once you have got your equivalent certificates not only will you be more employable (most companies here specify them in the job offer), you will also be more likely to get paid the correct amount for the job that you are actually doing.

In case you´re interested, here´s a site that tells you the EU equivalents of GNVQs

 

[Wizard of Arc]

Yeah the course in city and guilds is the 3267 one.

Thanks Delgado, the NVQ / C and G is the way forward as I too see this on the various countries immigration quals.

The crazy thing is the college in question (Morcambe/Lancaster) speak of it being full-time, yet lasting 1-2 years! That's a very long time for a full time welding course at entry level I think! :O

I'm going to start making direct enquiries now...

 

[zardoz]

C&G 3267 is definately not full time. the beginers level is only 10 or 12 weeks at one 3 hour lesson per week at evening class.

 

[Wizard of Arc]

Hmm, must be another one then:

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=11851

and

http://www.preston.ac.uk/WSCourseSearch/CourseDetails2.aspx?CourseCode=PC86218

Choices choices....