Hi Mike - hope you are getting through in this problematic time.
Yes, we have been swamped by all this for years now. I have to agree with you totally, it is utter rubbish. I know, for example, a retired police officer, who got " a little bored", who went on a 3 day course and now speaks as though he has all the electrical experience in the world! I have corrected him on more than one occasion, when he has poured forth the same as comes from the rear of a cow!
It really makes no sense at all to let people like this test things. They are then either giving false confidence in items, or the opposite and throwing away perfectly good things, which only need a very minor repair.
Again, all forced upon us by health and safety gone mad, combined with a sprinkling of over cautious insurance companies, who will try not to pay out, any which way they can.
You cannot beat experience and training, the former you can only get over time.
We do have a similar problem with electricians in general, who now go on a fast track training course. I have a young guy I know, who has been qualified for over 6 years and works for a social housing group, doing maintenance. He also has a small business he set up. He calls me for advice on so many things , as he may have the paperwork, but no actual experience. It worries me - a lot....
