The number of people beginning electrical apprenticeships has almost doubled in the past three years. It is expected that the figure for 1999 will be even greater, says Brendan McCrea, head of apprenticeships with FAS.

The rising number of electrical apprenticeships mirrors the increasingly good job prospects. Electrician is one of the most sought-after apprenticeships although, as with other apprenticeships, its attractiveness appears to be evident only to the male portion of school leavers.

The number of women apprentices is tiny with only 13 women beginning electrical apprenticeships in 1998 compared with 1,744 men. McCrea says FAS actively encourages women into apprenticeships and gives a bursary to employers to encourage them to recruit women. The bursary provides a total grant of £2,100 to each employer for each female apprentice recruited. The grant is a contribution towards wage and other costs in the first 28 weeks of phases one and three (on-the-job) phases of the apprenticeship.

Second-level students who wish to become electricians must first find an employer and then the employer will register him or her with FAS. Training takes four years with seven phases of training. Off-thejob training in college or in a FAS training centre alternates with on-the-job training.

Skills and knowledge are assessed in all phases other than the first and apprentices must pass all phases to gain the National Crafts Certificate. During the on-the-job phases, apprentices are assessed by performing specified tests under normal working conditions. During the off-the-job phases, assessment is on the basis of exercises, projects and standardised tests covering practice and theory. Two repeats are allowed for off-the-job assessment, and failure in the final attempt will result in termination of the apprenticeship.

The minimum educational requirements set down by FAS are five Ds in the Junior Cert, but, in practice, more than 50 per cent of electrical apprentices have completed their Leaving Cert. McCrea says FAS is anxious that apprenticeships be accessible to as wide a range of people as possible so the minimum requirements are kept to a modest level. The employers have the option of deciding what level of education they require.

If you want to become an apprentice, FAS advises some thorough research including some time spent with a qualified craftsperson so you fully understand the job. You can then look for work and you should also advise FAS of your interest in apprenticeship so that your name can be made available on request to employers.

The difficulties of securing an electrical apprenticeship mean that many students do a foundation or pre-apprenticeship course. There are a number of these courses to be found in Post Leaving Certificate colleges.

For instance, St John's Central College of Further Education and Training in Cork offers a foundation course in electrical skills. This includes electrical installation, electrical craft practice, electronics, physics, computers and project work.

College principal Donal O'Connor says the college has a very good work experience programme with students spending four weeks on placement. "Quite a number of them pick up apprenticeships from these placements," he explains.

Applicants for the course should have five Ds in the Leaving Cert. They are interviewed by the college and expected to have a reasonable understanding of the career. The course did not run this year but it will be advertised next year with students accepted until mid-September 2000. The course leads to an NCVA certificate.