Hi,
A friend asked me this question, we searched on the internet, TAFE is one option that we think he can follow.
Does any one has any suggestion? How long does it take as minimum if he studies full time and does his apprentice hours.
Where should we looking at for good information?
I looked into this (NSW) late last year.
First the TAFE (at least the one where I was looking) didn't have any full time courses - because to be qualified, you have to have done specific tasks as an employed apprentice. If you don't get those tasks/experience signed off on, then you don't get the qualification. If the employer fakes that and someone later dies because you didn't wire something up right - and you get dragged into court - even if you've since left that job a couple of years ago, if you can prove to the court the employer didn't actually provide the training he signed to say he did, he now becomes liable for your mistake. Furthermore, if the employer's typical work doesn't provide for you to cover all those set tasks/training, then it's his responsibility to arrange for you to do them with another employer that does do that kind of work. They said two electricians may swap apprentices for a few weeks to achieve that.
Years ago you could go do the couse, get work SOMETIME, and get your qualification after a certain time had passed. NOW they expect you to either already be an apprentice before enrolling, or, if they need you to fill up course numbers, they'll enrol you, but expect you to have found work within the first few months. I asked could you just keep taking the tests in the meantime without work - they said yes, but without the practical side of it, you would find it extremely difficult to pass - that they only knew of one guy that still managed to pass the tests - but most don't.
None of this is my words btw - it came from the two TAFE teachers I spent an hour talking to. So it could be wrong.
My recommendation is that you should go to the NECA website. The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) is the peak industry body that represents the best interests of the electrical and communications contracting industry in Australia. Here is the link for NECA registration in Victoria, but the home website is just neca.asn.au .
http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/Tradespeople/Home_buil…
Google is your best friend.