FAS Apprenticeship Battle For Qualification

Dannyboy1987

Hi Everyone i have a problem getting my trade qualification , i have done all my exams and passed with out a problem but the main issue is that i'm currently without my papers as i haven't finished a the full 4 years of the standards based apprenticeship. i have been in contact with Fas and there trying to help as its to do with fetac. its been going on for months now i have done up everything they have asked of me but there is always something small they want. my papers have to go to a board meeting which is held only once a month but they keep telling me next month. Any information would be of great help as it's starting to get to me. i worked hard for something i don't want to lose thanks if you can help.

pieface_ie

Same as myself and i suppose alot of people.Fas say you must do 208weeks to complete your apprenticeship,but thats quiet difficult as so many people are out of work.

Phase 7 should be abolished as its a waste of time.I too finished phase 6 recently at DIT and i was hoping to go advanced entry into a full time course with my trade behind me but its looking tough trying to get the final few weeks/months signed off.

Dont give up mate!

Outkast_IRE

Ya there will be plenty of battles like this one goin on around the country over the next few years .
Lucky for me im waiting to get called for phase 6 and have been working solid since i started my apprenticeship, however the last fas representative that was in talking to our class said that if you worked extra time on phase 1,3 or 5 the on the job phases that it doesnt count for a thing at the end .
For example i was 12 months in phase one , 18 months in phase 3 and looks like at least 12 or 13 months in phase 5 . This was all down to waiting lists for FAS , however for example if i got caught without work in phase 7 they arent meant to make any allowance for the fact you have worked extra time in any of the other phases!! thats madness .They are effectively placing you in limbo , even though you have more than enough time served over the whole apprenticeship!

I know if it really came down to push and shove they would try and help ya out but it shouldnt be that way. They should just check the right amount of months were worked and exams done and let that be that.

Dannyboy1987

I know its crazy everything is in limbo , I'd understand if i didn't do exams but i have. Its getting to the point that they are holding us from working , emigrating and gaining extra education to move on with our prospective careers. This is one thing the News and papers haven't covered as it must affect a huge amount of the under 25's they say is out of work.

Has anyone been in contact with FETAC ?

Thanks
Dan

Outkast_IRE

Dannyboy1987 wrote: »

I know its crazy everything is in limbo , I'd understand if i didn't do exams but i have. Its getting to the point that they are holding us from working , emigrating and gaining extra education to move on with our prospective careers. This is one thing the News and papers haven't covered as it must affect a huge amount of the under 25's they say is out of work.

Has anyone been in contact with FETAC ?

Thanks
Dan

Are you looking for your papers to emigrate or to go to higher eduacation ?

Dannyboy1987

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Are you looking for your papers to emigrate or to go to higher eduacation ?

To be honest i'd love to do both. There's no future here

Outkast_IRE

If its higher education then are you friendly with any of the phase 6 lecturers or the department head ? if you are they would put in a good word for ya just to say this guy has all his exams past and is just waiting on papers would you consider him for this course or whatever.
If you did phase 6 in dit and are looking to do a dit course then it could be a option to help ya along . All the department heads etc know the story so they might help ya get a course in a relevant area to your apprenticeship.
What trade did ya do ? im waiting on my plumbing phase 6 at the moment and hope to do building services engineering afterwards.

Dannyboy1987

i got on well with everyone in dit so hopefully that will help me out. I'm a Vehicle body repairer so i'd love to get in the the insurance end of things.

Outkast_IRE

ya sure make a few phonecalls and have a course in mind that youd like to get into and see is there anything they can do to help

Dannyboy1987

I wasn't granted my trade papers after months of waiting what should i do next ?

macaronicheese

Dannyboy1987 wrote: »

I wasn't granted my trade papers after months of waiting what should i do next ?

If you ever do get the papers wipe your arse with them after the toilet , because thats all those Fetac craft certs are worth TBH.

Dannyboy1987

macaronicheese wrote: »

If you ever do get the papers wipe your arse with them after the toilet , because thats all those Fetac craft certs are worth TBH.

You know this how ???? Get you a visa to most country's quicker than a Arts degree would

doolox

In my opinion a craft trade cert is a very useful start to a technical career.
It is far more useful than many of the National Certificates or Ordinary Degrees which now face competition from Honours Degree holders who will snap up all the available jobs, if they don't go to the holders of Masters in a particular field.

A craft trade stamps a person out as a practical rather than an academic based person and sets them on a definite path which most employers and hirers can understand and choose ahead of cert and diploma holders.

If possible get into a trade with a legal requirement such as Gas fitter or electrical which will soon require compliance certs signed by a qualified person so that prospective employers cannot weasel their way out of paying a decent wage either by hiring unskilled and unqualified replacements or relocating to cheaper locations.

Unfortunately manufacturing is dead in Ireland and many people will have to move to other sectors of the economy. Those sectors with a legal backing and standing such as medical. higher grades of engineering, education to some extent but 3rd level is shaky financially, dentistry, pharmacy etc will always command high salaries and stability. Craft trades serving into those sectors will always be needed and will be stable.

Transport, combining and increasing input from electronic and electrical trades as the petrol engine fades out, may be another area to explore but will be very competitive due to the physical nature of the electric car, which will be very reliable compared to petrol or diesel cars, requiring a lot less maintenance than current models.

Any trade concerning new building or development in Ireland is now dead in the water as is any business, such as auctioneering, legal etc concerning the buying and selling of houses in any big way. People are just too scared to buy or sell and this will be the way for a good while.

yashio

i just passed my phase6 carpentry,i was told i will need to go back to fas for 12weeks to complete phase 7 as im out of work,does anyone know if ya get paid for this and what is involved in completing phase 7-any help??thanks

Goat_Boy_jones

I'm about to start my phase 6 plumbing in blanch, anyone know roughly what the rates are?

corryworry

Does anyone know if it's possible to start off at phase 6 electricical if it's been a few years since phase 5 was completed?
I completed phase 5 in 2007 and then failed one phase 6 exam and resits.
It would be ridiculous to start off from scratch as I've been tipping away working as an electrician ever since but I don't know if they'd be willing to take me back and start where i left off! (no lectures about the long gap please! - I know!!)

Tigs_

i wouldnt bother given all the bad press fas have been given..any employer would be skeptical if they saw FAS experience and or education on your C.V,fetac or not,it doesnt matter,because of the recent scandals all over ireland about FAS tutours illegally passing students who were looking to top up their welfare..:)

FAS CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR C.V

All thats out there now are FAS jobs (eg work for free)..People need to grow a pair and ****ing boycott FAS.

They are only there to look after the likes of themselves patting each others backs while working the arse off of ours for free


http://www.facebook.com/pages/End-the-FAS-work-place-programme-WWP1-WWP2/109792949040367?v=wall&viewas=0&ref=ts&_fb_noscript=1

E mc kiernan

well,dannyboy1987 or anyine elsethat can help,just wondering has anyone got the phase 7 carpentry assesement forms?!?i never got the assesement book when i started my apprenticeship an need the phase7 assesement forms to send in to fas.If anyone has them on the fas cd could you email them to me if possible please...trying to finish my time and get the fook out of here...thanks..

pieface_ie

that assessment form you refer to is usually a form your employer fills out and sends in to FAS, its not something you send off yourself. Its the same form as phase 1, 3 and 5.

shev7924

Sorry if am cutting in here but has anyone been able to get into one of fas phase 7 courses or is there even any going on?I am looking to get into one for plastering but cant get an answer off fas...............as usual

darrendoyle

Just thought I would post up to see if there is any other sparks in the same boat. I served my 4 years back in Dublin and passed all the college phases I was let go twice due to the lack of work and was out of work for a few weeks. I eventually got a job with a sparks who worked for himself and had a registered company. I finnished my time and headed off to oz where I am now but the problem is fas wont give me my papers and its cocking everything up over here.

The idiot in fas says he has no records of my employment which is bull because I hand delivered 2 change of employer forms to him and spoke with him on the phone a few times. He also told me that he would go meet my new employer and give him the phase 7 form to sign off but he never did. My dad spoke to him at home the other day and he said I have 50 weeks to serve which is a joke.

Does anyone know what to do ?

TeddyTedson

darrendoyle wrote: »

Just thought I would post up to see if there is any other sparks in the same boat. I served my 4 years back in Dublin and passed all the college phases I was let go twice due to the lack of work and was out of work for a few weeks. I eventually got a job with a sparks who worked for himself and had a registered company. I finnished my time and headed off to oz where I am now but the problem is fas wont give me my papers and its cocking everything up over here.

The idiot in fas says he has no records of my employment which is bull because I hand delivered 2 change of employer forms to him and spoke with him on the phone a few times. He also told me that he would go meet my new employer and give him the phase 7 form to sign off but he never did. My dad spoke to him at home the other day and he said I have 50 weeks to serve which is a joke.

Does anyone know what to do ?

What was the first company you worked with?

darrendoyle

designer group

TeddyTedson

darrendoyle wrote: »

designer group

You could have a word with their HR Manager and ask if they'd be able to just fill out a change of employer form for the last year with them.
I'm in the same boat as you, fás are ****ing useless on the phone. I've got nowhere with them but I'm working over here still but should be finished my apprenticeship by no but no papers. They are telling me I need 50 weeks too, is this just a number they tell everyone!?
I've worked for loads of people and fas have no record of half them even though I also sent the change of employer forms in myself.
It's getting to the stage where I'll have to go in with dynamite strapped to myself if I'm going to get anywhere with them I think...

Naikon

If they aren't fufilling their obligations, threaten to sue. That will get the lackeys in FAS off their arses.

bertie1

shev7924 wrote: »

Sorry if am cutting in here but has anyone been able to get into one of fas phase 7 courses or is there even any going on?I am looking to get into one for plastering but cant get an answer off fas...............as usual

Attention of Phase 7 redundant Apprentices

---

CIT Offers a Way Forward for Redundant Apprentices
Commencing Monday 11th April
Progression Opportunity
for Redundant Phase 6 Apprentices
Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown Campus, is offering a newly developed
Certificate in Craft Transferable Skills (Level 6 Special Purpose Award). This fulltime
12 week programme is available to all redundant apprentices who have
successfully completed all phases of their apprenticeship up to and including Phase
6 but who are unable to access employment to complete Phase 7. The programme
is free to all qualified applicants and places are limited. The programme will assist
successful candidates in the completion of their apprenticeship training and will
also enhance their opportunity to progress to relevant third-level programmes of
study.
Refresher Courses
for Referred Redundant Phase 4 Apprentices
Four week full-time revision courses are being offered to all redundant apprentices
who have been referred in any of their Phase 4 Assessments in the Carpentry &
Joinery, and Plumbing trades. These courses are free for all qualified applicants and
places are limited.
Contact Denise O’Keeffe, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown,
Cork. T: 021- 4236233 or send an email with your details to skills@cit.ie
www.cit.ie
Free Courses on Offer