Portable Appliance Testing Courses On Dvd

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Portable Appliance Testing Courses On Dvd

Christopher Kavanagh

[Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009] [Viewed: 128] [Comments: 0]
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There are three main routes that you can choose from to become a PAT Tester:-

1. Home-study, where you purchase and watch a DVD showing how to PAT Test then, optionally, take an on-line exam via the provider, who will issue a downloadable certificate on completion.

2. The City & Guilds 2377 Level 3 Certificate for the Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (2377-200).

3. Courses designed to comply with the IEE Code of Practice for the In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (the proper description of Portable Appliance Testing) where the providers issue a Certificate of Competence on successful completion.

What's the difference?

1. Home-study is, on the surface, the cheapest option but you often don't get any support unless you pay extra for this.

2. The City & Guilds Course will give you an in-depth knowledge of the relevant legislation but may not give you the practical experience that you need.

3. The IEE Code of Practice Courses often give you more practical experience, depending on the equipment used to train the candidates, and the range of testers available to you.

In this article I concentrate on PAT Testing DVDs for Home Study. Please see my other articles for information on Portable Appliance Testing Courses based on the IEE Code of Practice and City & Guilds 2377 Courses.

Home Study DVDs:

There are a several publishers of Portable Appliance Testing (PAT Testing) DVDs, some of whom offer an optional test that you can undertake and then be issued with a Certificate of Competence on completion.

Costs range from about £10 + VAT (without an exam) to around £75 + VAT (exam fees included). Technical Support can be purchased from some providers at extra cost.

The online tests generally range from 20 to 30 questions.

Pros:

Portable Appliance Testing can be observed in industrial premises, workshops, kitchens etc, which cannot be covered on a normal course, unless the training is done on the customer’s site.
Several employees can be trained using the same DVD, leading to cost savings (although most providers charge extra - approximately £50 + VAT - for each additional test).
Staff travel time to a course, and any overtime and expenses can be avoided.
Trainees can replay the video repeatedly, until the point being covered is understood.
Trainees can learn in their own time and at their own pace.
The DVD is useful to refresh the trainee's memory at a later date.
It can be used to give Health & Safety managers an insight into Portable Appliance Testing requirements.

Cons:

Dishonest trainees could get someone with more electrical experience to take the test for them, and obtain a Certificate of Competence. This could be extremely dangerous if the now-qualified trainee electrocuted hemselves, or passed faulty equipment as safe and electrocuted someone else.
The test can be undertaken numerous times until a pass result is achieved; this doesn't necessarily mean that the trainee understands what they are doing when testing.
There is no professional trainer on hand to offer guidance or clarification.
There is no opportunity to try out Portable Appliance Test equipment, or to seek professional impartial advice as to which is the best tester for your needs.
The DVD's sometimes omit areas where there may be complicated test procedures – stating that "this is too complex to cover in a video".

Summary:

Such DVDs have a place as a refresher to previous PAT Testing Training, or as a supplement to practical courses, but will not, on their own, give you the practical experience and guidance that you will receive under the supervision of a qualified professional trainer.

Imagine that you are facing prosecution because you got it wrong and passed a faulty appliance which led to someone being electrocuted, and then explaining to the judge (or coroner) that you learned your trade by watching a DVD!

"It only took me three attempts to pass the test, your Honour!" 

Article Tags: portable, applaince, appliance, testing, course, courses, PAT, electrical safety, DVD, DVDs

About Author:
Christopher Kavanagh is a leading Health & Safety and Electrical trainer with over 15 years experience in the industry. You can find further information at http://www.pat-intuition.co.uk

Article Source:
http://www.articles-heaven.com/articles/?Portable-Appliance-Testing-Courses-on-DVD&articleid=46423

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