Electrician - Vetassess - What to Expect?

[John S]

Hi,

 

I am electrician who is waiting to sit the Vetassess Practical Assessment. I have completed my IELTS test so when the practical assessment is completed I can lodge my EOI. I have checked the electricians thread but there doesn't appear to be anything in great detail about the assessment.

 

The information provided by Vetassess is on what to expect is very limited and does not give much definition. I am aware that there is calculations to perform, installing / wiring, fault finding in DC circuits, testing, isolation, etc, etc.

 

Basically, can anyone give me a more detailed explanation of what the assessment involves for each part?

 

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

[Loulouhew]

HI JOHN THIS IS FROM WHEN MY OH DID HIS LAST YEAR

 

 

 

my husband did the practical yesterday in London and we found lots of helpful info on here and from some individual posters so thought I would post his experience so that it may help others!!

 

the day started in the main hall about 40-50 people all different trades, then we were sent off with different assessors.

 

started in the classroom checking passports and paperwork. we were first given some risk assessments to fill in nothing too complicated things like

 

task- use of hand tools

risk involved- cuts and bruises to persons using tools

method to reduce risk- person to be competent in using such equipment.

 

you are asked to complete 3 or 4 of the tasks so have a few ready to put down. quite basic stuff though.

 

we were then given the multiple choice questions. you need to get 4 out of 5 questions right in each section 4 sections in total. plenty of time to complete them but if like me you left college 20+ years ago you want to put some revision in , there were lots of circuit calculations, resistors in parallel + series so revise OHMS law

u = 1 x R

revise the formulas for parallel & series

and practice examples

 

there were a few power questions RMS values

power (watts) = voltage (volts) x current (ampres)

 

P = U x I

 

power factor etc

inductance in a circuit would hold back current (lagging circuit)

capacitance would hold back voltage ( leading circuit)

transformer ratios

 

one or two on 3 phase power .

 

from there we went to the workshop just the same as in college your own work area to begin the practical. all materials laid out on table and you just take what you need consumer unit rcd mcbs screws conduit etc...

as your getting on with that she calls you to do other part disconnection reconnection process or the DOL starter once you have done that you return to your work station and carry on .

 

now the tricky part ( for me anyway)

 

DOL STARTER

 

you have to draw a circuit for the DOL starter

 

 

get to know the symbols for each part etc

 

then will then ask you to connect it altogether with push in leads and you can put 1 lead into another for the self hold contact in parallel on 11 connected 13 and 12 to 14 as the diagram shows. you then have to go away and she puts a fault on it. so its just a matter of checking each lead to the diagram or just pull them all out and start again. having the diagram i was emailed will help you make sense of this part please pm if you would like a copy i can email it to you ( big thanks to stephen derby for this :biggrin:)

 

I was really stressed about this part as I dont work with DOL starters but having now done it and also having a diagram emailed to by another poster on here it was very basic stuff

 

there is also another diagram for the layout of the practical task which can be emailed aswell .when carrying out the practical there are set dimensions you have to stick to such as distance between switches , socket heights and lamp holder positioning check your dimensions draw it in pencil on the wall.

 

you have to carry out continuity test and insulation resistance with a megger and record results and if they pass or fail. They then connect a power lead up to the consumer unit to check it all works.

 

Get to know the disconnection and reconnection process by heart they are very strict on this. you have to talk them through what you are doing and you cant miss anything out just remember check voltage tester at known source first and then again after each time you use it. she was helpful and prompted you but would not tell you what to do

 

They do have tools there but looks better if you have your own, only used safety boots and took overalls hat gloves and goggles but didn't need them .

 

was finished by 4pm then they rang me to say I hadn't completed some paperwork so i rushed back and it was just a questionaire !!!

 

so just have to sit and wait for the results, in the next 10 days. if you have any questions please feel free to ask and I will pass on to my husband

 

good luck all

 

Louise

 

 

 

 

 

[John S]

Hi Louise, thanks for your reply.

 

At the moment I am having a nightmare with Vetassess. I work overseas and my time off is extremely limited. I / my immigration agent have been dealing with Vetasses since last year to secure an assessment at a time that would suit me. They contacted me and told me there was an assessment in April, I paid the money and they have recently told me that the assessment date is full, they did not even have the date posted on their website.

 

I called them this morning and they told me it was overspill from the February and March months that filled the April date. I was then told I have been booked for an assessment in March, a date I did not ask for and can not attend. So it appears someone has been delayed in taking their assessment because of me and I have been refused an acceptable date for my assessment because of myself being booked on an earlier date than I wanted and did not ask for. Does that make sense? Because it doesn't make any sense to me. I even asked if there was places available in Cape Town and they are full.

 

It now looks like I have to wait until Vetassess see fit to offer me a date that suits me. This means putting my R&R back at least a month, probably a lot more. This then effects the time date of my EOI. It now looks doubtful that I will even manage to make an application before the end of the visa year closes in June, even after all this had been explained to Vetassess countless times over the last 5 months. Obviously, peeved off is a slight understatement.

 

Anyway, if it is ok with yourself and husband I would like to message you about some of the finer details of the assessment if that is ok? I have so much conflicting information it is unbelievable. It seems no one really wants to tell you exactly what you will face. Looking at the fact sheet from Vetasses it all seems pretty straight forward but again, I'm just not sure as it doesn't give you any real detail.

 

Thanks again for your help.

 

John.

[Loulouhew]

sounds like a total nightmare ....hope you get a date sorted soon . will pm you my husbands email address and you can ask him direct then.

[djdv]

Hi Louise thanks for your very detailed post! It's helped me out no end. I have my assessment booked for the 8th of march and have been going thru my old college notes re familiarising myself with formulas etc. would you mind emailing me the two diagrams your husband used? I've tried to PM you but the site won't let me for some reason. If you could PM me your husbands email ill send a quick email so he can send the diagrams.

 

 

Thanks again for the help!

Danny

[John S]

Hi Danny,

 

I would have been doing the test with you if I could have made it home, but I can't My agent has spoke with Vetassess and they are going to try to squeeze me onto the April assessment.

 

I do have some books with plenty of info in, on PDF. I also have some stuff from my HNC course that has lots in about resistors in series and parallel. If you PM me your email address I will email them to you. I also have some drawings of DOL motors that are really easy to follow and understand. And if you don't mind, you can give me some advice on what you had to do in your assessment.

 

Cheers,

 

John.