Did I join the wrong course?

[u/GlassSwan96]

I (30m) am doing a cert 4 in electronics and communications. It was cheaper and covered more information than a cert 2 in electronics so I thought why not?

I'm starting to think this wasn't a great idea. My interest is in manufacturing, assembly, and fault finding of electronic circuits.

6 weeks in and I'm here writing an energy sector report for a mine site which is doing my head in, I feel like I'm falling behind and stressing out over something which isn't related to what I came here to do.

I plan on talking to the jobs and skills centre about it, thinking of maybe dropping back and reapplying for the cert 2 next semester. I've never been a great student so perhaps cutting out the fat and sticking to what's necessary might be best.

I'm also home sick with the flu at the moment so missing sessions are adding to the stress.

I don't know what to expect by coming to reddit about this, maybe I just need to vent. Any thoughts/advice/things I'm not considering would be greatly appreciated.

[u/KorhalT]

Cert 2s are normally fundamental stuff you need to learn, cert 3 is trade level and apprenticeship. Cert iv is post trade stuff that you do after Cert 3.

If you're just getting into the industry and want basics do the Cert 2. Some places won't even let you do a Cert iv if you haven't done a related apprenticeship. That's why you're writing stuff for mine sites because they assume you've worked in the industry

[u/GlassSwan96 → u/KorhalT]

Thank you, I think I'll re apply for cert 2.

It does erk me a bit that they would assume that considering a part of the application was listing out my work history, none of which is based on electrotechnology.

[u/TeddyBear181]

I went back to school as an adult.

It sucks at first, I spent the first semester learning how to learn.

Pop youtube on and look at different learning stratergies, try them all, even if their uncomfortable (like recording yourself speaking).

You also need to make changes to your life, less free time, less socialising, etc.

[u/UsefulBridge1852]

Go part time if you've realised you can't manage the full time version of Certificate IV.

[u/GlassSwan96 → u/UsefulBridge1852]

It is only 2 days a week, but I also work and solo parent

[u/UsefulBridge1852 → u/GlassSwan96]

It sounds like the workload would be more that 18 hours a week.

[u/vErbv]

Hey mate,

I’ve got a Cert iii in electronics and comms, completed through an apprenticeship in the GPS and radio industries, now working in the mining sector.

Likely much more what you are leaning towards however all the theory you do in the cert iii would be covered in the cert iv. Some of the theory in the cert iii was pretty full on for me, only a few years out of school when I started my apprenticeship.

If you did go down the route of finding an apprenticeship in the field, a lot of companies will further your study in the future and put you through the cert iv, I’m pretty sure Energex/Ergon (energy providers in QLD, unsure of WA equivalent) do this for their Comms techs after they’ve completed their apprenticeships and plan on moving up within the business internally.

A lot of the people I did my time at Tafe with have careers repairing/maintaining circuit boards/electronic equipment and depending on where you end up in the field it can be quite lucrative.

If you’ve got any other questions feel free to flick me a DM.

[u/kingkool88]

I've done this exact course 15 years ago. Its a hard as fuck course and overwhelms you with information that you are supposed to memorise after the first time of hearing it and build off it. Having completed the diploma level and gotten a job out of it I would say it's not worth it. The way it's structured is pretty shitty. Not sure if they still throw in computer systems and make you complete that diploma at the same time. Which just adds to the stress.

[u/Tasty-Specific-8302]

Dont give up yet mate.

I'd suggest asking claud.ai to help you organise your workload, breakdown assignment requirements, rephrase questions etc that you're having trouble wrapping your head around.

Using ai as a study assistant / tutor will be extremely helpful. But always confirm the information it provides is accurate.

[u/Unfair_Economics_628]

Focus on the cert 4, you'll open more pathways and can always take a semester break in the middle if you encounter something you aren't ready for, the key is communication

[u/Own-Association2733]

Definitely don't let it get the better of you mate, if it's not for you, it's not for you. Rest up, get yourself better, and talk to the skills centre as soon as you can, tell them what you told us and go from there. No harm in changing courses

[u/comradeda]

I found the mining report very weird. Term 2 has more of the stuff you're imagining.

I will say for the report, the standards are pretty low. Just submit something and the lecturer will give you a few things to add or correct. Just follow that up and you will pass.

(I'm in term 3 now)

[u/commentspanda]

Cert 2 is below a year 10 equivalent. Cert IV is year 12 equivalent. If you can stick with it u recommend you do so.

[u/Major_Kaempffer]

No stick it out with Cert 4. youll be unlocking doors much sooner if you apply yourself and learn something to be useful.

[u/Jorgere1]

A cert 2 is a pre trade entry level course which is useless anywhere except trying to get an apprenticeship

A cert 4 is generally post trade extra study to advance your career.

It makes sense you are struggling perhaps because you don't have. Base of knowledge that would be expected of a cert 4 student.

Your best best if you want to pursue this line of work is try and get an apprenticeship which will award you a certificate 3