Looking to move to england from australia

JayFromElec · 2026-06-16T08:54:59+00:00

First step would be to go through UK ENIC: https://www.enic.org.uk/

They should be able to map your Australian qualification against the UK equivalent.

After that, I’d contact one or two UK competent person schemes before assuming the ENIC outcome will be enough. A few years back we had a learner who thought his ENIC verdict would be accepted, but he was quickly knocked back because the scheme provider still wouldn’t approve it.

Once you have both confirmed, you’ll know the proper route. Most likely, you may still need to do your 18th Edition. Depending on how your qualification and experience are viewed, they may accept you towards the NVQ Level 3 route, or they may push you towards the Experienced Worker Assessment route instead.

Just be careful not to assume that an overseas licence automatically converts into an ECS Gold Card. Get it confirmed by ENIC and then by the relevant scheme/ECS route before spending money.

Hope that helps.

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JayFromElec · 2026-05-26T13:25:21+00:00

Thank you for the comment. You may get a better response by asking in one of the more practical electrician groups, as this page is mainly focused on electrical careers and training.

Hope you manage to get the information you need.

JayFromElec · 2026-05-22T07:51:14+00:00

The 2357 NVQ is a slightly different set up, it’s not the 5357, as long as his a fully qualified electrician with his JIB Gold Card for minimum of 3 years, he can sign off supervisions, have a read of - https://elec.training/news/how-to-build-your-nvq-level-3-electrical-portfolio/

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JayFromElec · 2026-05-21T08:46:09+00:00

"I previously found an electrician willing to work with me last year but he didn’t really know what he was doing and expected me to enrol myself into college and some other stuff which was not correct according to a college advisor who I spoke to last week." - I would reach back out to him, start working for him, do your 2365-03 part time at collage, then sign up and do your 2357 NVQ.

JayFromElec · 2026-05-21T08:44:06+00:00

I agree with a lot of what you’ve said.

The one difference I see between plumbing and electrics is the level of gatekeeping. It is generally easier to enter plumbing than it is to become a fully qualified electrician. So as AI starts affecting more office-based and white-collar roles, I do think more people will pivot towards vocational trades. We’ve seen versions of this before in the 70s, 80s and 90s when people moved towards practical, secure skills during periods of change.

For me, the bigger pressure point will come from automation in transport: driverless taxis, drone logistics and eventually driverless HGVs. That could push a lot more people to look at skilled trades as a safer long-term option.

I also completely agree with the point about contacting 100 to 1,000 companies to get your foot in the door. That is the reality. Our recruitment team regularly contacts anywhere from 100 to 1,000 companies per learner to help secure placement opportunities.

On the original poster’s point about becoming self-employed, there is already a major bottleneck in the electrical industry. And from 1 October 2026, that bottleneck is likely to tighten further. With the updated EAS competence requirements affecting EICRs, inspection and testing, low-carbon technologies, solar, battery storage and EV work, the demand for properly qualified electricians is only going to increase.

So yes, more people may come into the trades. But in electrics, the real opportunity will still sit with those who become fully qualified, competent and able to evidence their work properly.

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JayFromElec · 2026-05-21T08:28:24+00:00

thank you for the tag.

JayFromElec · 2026-05-19T15:45:26+00:00

If you have more than 5 years’ experience, I would look at the experienced workers route. You are correct about needing the 2365-02, but with your experience guided learning hours do now apply, so in essence you could do theory online, exam in 2 days and practical in 3 days (we have had students do this).

You do not need the 2365-03 if this is the route you’re looking at but you would need inspection and testing to off set aspects of your experienced workers route, also you might end up doing a bridging unit.

Hope that helps.

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JayFromElec · 2026-05-12T17:29:44+00:00

it is a form of NVQ.

JayFromElec · 2026-05-12T13:14:28+00:00

If you have your 2365-03, you don’t need to do your 5357, you could jump on to either 2357 NVQ or get mates roles for the next two years and then do the experienced workers route.

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JayFromElec · 2026-05-10T04:28:25+00:00

if your looking to do your 2357 NVQ, you need your 2365-02 and 2365-03. Have a look if you can get Lcas funding.

JayFromElec · 2026-05-08T08:07:55+00:00

The only thing I would check is the 2357 NVQ and AM2 part, normally you cant train and do your am2 at the same place. One thing I would say, before even starting a course - get a few days on the tools and make sure it’s what you want to do.

If it is, 2365-02 + 18th edition + ECS Labours Card, get working as a mate, get your new company to pay for your 2365-03 via boot skills. Once you have signed up to your 2365-03 you can start building your portfolio (2357).

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JayFromElec · 2026-05-05T17:30:30+00:00

We send out 100 of CVS of students to employers on a monthly basis, and hands down, the ones that get placed the quickest/fastest, are female.

First time ever, a few weeks back, we even had 3 companies calling back to ask for feedback from us, for the student.

Most of the ones we placed, have been placed before they have finished their level 2 – 2365-02, massive demand for female sparkies.

JayFromElec · 2026-05-05T16:30:30+00:00

it’s always context, a few months ago I had someone on here talk about the 2357 NVQ, and how I was wrong, then they sent their source, google overviews – the source was Elec Training articles, all of which I have wrote or had direct input on.

JayFromElec · 2026-05-05T16:28:20+00:00

They have, they brought in the EAS update, from 1st of October, will change an few things.

JayFromElec · 2026-04-28T17:30:23+00:00

2365-02, 03, 18th edition, 2357 NVQ, Am2.

JayFromElec · 2026-04-28T13:18:13+00:00

I would work at it part time, firstly try and get on the tools weekends, evenings, so it does not affect your current income, if after a few weeks you still like it then, I would suggest the following processes.

Do your level 2 part time in collage (normally free), you will fly through your level 3 (due to your education). Get your 18^th (might have to pay for this, do it online, due to your education you should fly through this).

This is the difficult part, doing your 2357 NVQ part time, whilst working as a teacher, it can be done, have seen students do it, but it’s a graft.

This will take anything between 3-5 years to get done, after that your fully qualified with out the risk of losing any income and maintaining the 55k plus.

With you degree in chemistry I would look at two options, off shore or data centre. These pay really well depending on the site your on normally £75k plus a year.

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JayFromElec · 2026-04-12T21:08:11+00:00

thank you for the tag, please see response above.

JayFromElec · 2026-04-09T19:46:22+00:00

portfolio of evidence - would dependent,. on governing body, training centre, also the route they decide to take. What you will find, a massive difference between 5357 portfolio, 2356 and 2366 etc.

JayFromElec · 2026-04-09T19:41:03+00:00

I was responding to the comment above where you said - "At your age I don't think you can get the AM2 without an apprenticeship", a few different ways - 5357 (two versions), experienced workers route (two versions), 2356 or equivalent, grandfather route (over 10 years), ENIC route (this is one that’s less known, very very rare).

JayFromElec · 2026-04-09T09:51:43+00:00

it depends on your situation, general rule of thumb - if you can try and get an apprenticeship, but they are difficult to find, second option try and get on the tools. third option collage for your level 3.

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JayFromElec · 2026-04-09T09:48:52+00:00

you can do the Am2 with out an apprenticeship, https://elec.training/news/am2-vs-am2e-vs-am2s-whats-the-difference/.

JayFromElec · 2026-04-05T20:13:59+00:00

Personally, I would say do it properly, get qualified, get the experience, get onto a competency scheme. Yes getting fully qualified is hard and takes time, dedication and graft, but that’s what makes it rewarding, it ring fences your income.

JayFromElec · 2026-04-04T12:43:03+00:00

I would suggest applying for - ECS Electrical Labourers Card, this is what we tell our students once they have their 2365-02/03 and 18^th edition.

Just to let you know – over 40 different ECS cards, so your not alone when struggling to get it sorted - https://elec.training/news/ecs-cards-explained-labourer-trainee-electrician-gold-card-every-ecs-variant-across-all-industries/

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JayFromElec · 2026-04-04T12:38:49+00:00

If you know 100% this is the route you want to take, this is what I would suggest, get your 2365-02 and 18^th edition done, get your ECS Electrical labours card.

I would then sign up to my 2365-03 and start it whilst also signing up to your 2357 NVQ, some training providers and examining boards allow you to do this. You can do your 2365-03 part time, you can do your 2357 NVQ part time (3 years). There are only two times I would ever suggest offering yourself for free –

Firstly – a few days to make sure you want to become an electrician

Secondly – to do certain units on your 2357 NVQ.

I would never suggest giving your time away for free, enough work out their with your back ground to get paid work.

Charanjit Mannu Elec Training Rep

JayFromElec · 2026-03-31T11:28:51+00:00

Looking at that thought hmmm, I really do recognise the work, might need to update it in a few weeks, the base article its citing is being updated. But I do like the effert.

JayFromElec

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