There are many ways to get yourself certified, even if you haven’t been to college. For example a wireman can get certified by Tenaga Nasional after 3 years of working experience. The only thing you need is a sponsorship from a registered wiring contractor. After getting your basic wireman certificate, you can opt to go for a higher certificate which is the ‘wireman-nil’ . There is difference on being just a wireman and a wireman nil.
The difference between a Wireman and Wireman Nil
A wireman has the authority to certify that wiring installations to a building is done according to specification. A registered wiring contractor must have the signature of a wireman on the application form before his work can be approved by Tenaga Nasional. However, if you are just a wireman, you can only certify jobs that has an incoming supply of 230 volts or single phase supply. That sets a limit to what a wireman can certify. He will be limited to signing for housing projects mainly.
A wireman nil, on the other hand can certify electrical installations that has 3 phase, 440 volts incoming supplies. Most bungalows and factory lots these days has 3 phase supplies. This makes the wireman nil certificate a hot item. Those with Wireman Nil certificates are always in hot demand. From electrical Contractors to Factories.
What are they tested on
At present anyone wanting to obtain these certificates are tested on theoretical side as well as the practical aspect. Candidates are expected to be able to understand basic written Bahasa Malaysia to understand the questions. It is suffice to say, anyone who has attended school till Form Three should be able to understand.
After getting the wireman Nil Certificate, the next worthwhile certificate that one can go for is the Chargeman Certificate. The Chargeman certificate is also catogerised into Chargeman, Chargeman medium pressure, Chargeman High Pressure and Chargeman Nil. These certificates are quite tough to get as it involves a lot of theories which may be quite daunting for those with qualification lower than a Form Five education. Older generation Chargemen have an easier time getting these certificates as they are only tested orally and practically with no written test. That’s why one might wonder why all those all timers who can’t even write a word of English can manage to hold a Chargeman certificate.
What about other Trades
There are lots of other trades that can be certified by the relevant authorities. A plumber can get his certification from the JBA. All these certificates are worth much more than a College Diploma. But what about those trades that don’t have the relevant authorities to certify them? There are other ways which I will discuss in my next post.