Q: I'D like to find out how to become and electrician. I'm in fifth year in school. I have very good grades in the Leaving Cert and what else must I have to qualify? What training will I get and how long will it be?

- Co Clare Reader

A: YOU must be 16 years old and have at least five Ds in the Junior Cert or the equivalent in another exam to become an electrician. You don't need Leaving Cert to meet the minimum requirements. You would also need to have a colour vision test approved by FAS.

First of all, you must get a job as an apprentice and your employer must register you as an apprentice with FAS. Many employers look for higher entry requirements to meet their particular needs, so check beforehand.

I suggest you stay in school and do the Leaving Cert because there is a huge selection of candidates most of whom have good Leaving Certs. It's as difficult to get an apprenticeship now as it is to get into college.

Talk to your school guidance counsellor who will have contact with local employers. You should keep an eye on advertisements in the papers. Talk to FAS so that your name can be put on a list which is made available to employers seeking apprentices.

FAS runs a preapprenticeship course to help young people acquire technical skills. It also helps them to identify and develop their abilities so that they can get an apprenticeship. This course lasts 46 weeks and covers areas such as electrical, engineering and bench fitting, plumbing, computer appreciation, technical drawing, woodwork etc as well as job-seeking skills.

Before you start your apprenticeship, you should ensure that your employer recognises the responsibility to register you with FAS and is willing to take on the training and assessments involved, to release you for off-the-job training and provide you with adequate conditions and pay.

Since 1993 apprenticeships are standards-based and not time-based as previously. This means that you will do tests and assessments to ensure that you achieve preset standards over seven phases of training. You will have on-the-job training for the first, third, fifth and seventh phases which initially introduce you to the world of work and the basic skills of the occupation and later on involve the practice and further development of these skills.

Phases two, four and six are off-the-job and provide full-time training with related education and time to practise these skills. The total time involved here is 40 weeks - phase two runs to 20 weeks, the other two being 10 weeks each. These off-the-job phases are held in FAS training centres or in various colleges throughout the country.

The total amount of time required to qualify as an electrician is generally four years. When you have completed your studies, you will get a national craft certificate which is recognised in Ireland as well as in other EU and non-EU countries. This certificate will also entitle you to go on to further training and education.

Your assessment will take place at a number of stages during your apprenticeship. On-the-job assessment will check your skill, knowledge and attitude in performing specific tasks to required standards while the off-the-job assessment is based on exercises and projects as well as standardised practical and theory tests.

Q: I'M 23 years old and running my own catering business. I have completed three years of third-level education in an unrelated area and now realise that I need a qualification and more experience to develop my business further. I live and work in Dublin. Where could I find a course to help me in this? I would prefer something part-time as I can't afford to study full-time

- Young Dublin Caterer

A: YOU'RE quite right in looking for part-time courses because you have already invested quite a lot of energy, commitment and cash in developing your business and could easily lose the goodwill of your clients if you disappear for some time. There are a few options in the Dublin area.

Since you have no professional training in cooking and catering, I think you would be best to start at the beginning and take the skills development for cooks (part one) course at DIT Cathal Brugha Street. This will give you the basic concepts, skills and cookery techniques for the hotel and catering industry. You will study basic ingredients, cookery theory, practical cookery principles and procedures.

This course runs over two evenings a week for one and a £330. Applications are usually accepted from mid-August and you may have to go for an interview. Once you have completed to proceed to part which will give you the National Tourism Certification Board (NTCB) certificate in professional cookery. Subjects studied on this include kitchen larder pastry, cookery theory, food costing and control planning, kitchen organisation, menu design, French and computer applications. This course involves the same time commitment and approximately the same fee.

This would certainly give you a terrific training for your business. DIT Cathal Brugha Street also offers many other evening courses in cookery, bakery and beverage studies.

Tallaght RTC has a one-day-a-week NTCB certificate course in advanced kitchen (pastry) but you would need to be seven years in the business if you do not have a catering qualification. Again, applications must be in by mid-August. There are also many course available in PLC colleges in Dublin. Full information is available from City of Dublin VEC, Town Hall, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 and from Co Dublin VEC, Main Road, Tallaght, Co Dublin, and Dun Laoghaire VEC, Pearse St, Sallynoggin, Co Dublin and CERT, Amiens St, Dublin 1.

Q: WHAT kind of courses are available for mature students who would like to re-enter the education system? I'm living in Dublin and would like to go to third level but I need help to prepare myself for study.

- Co Dublin reader

A: THERE are Access/Foundation courses available in some Dublin colleges to help mature students prepare for entry to courses in those particular colleges or in any others. Such colleges are UCD, Pearse College, Tallaght RTC, St Patrick's College, Maynooth, and NCIR (which also has outreach centres). The subjects vary quite a lot within the general studies, ranging over languages, history, geography, science, art, maths, psychology, politics, cultural studies, business studies and computers. Some courses offer guidance, educational counselling, study and exam skills, advice on financial problems and help with particular course requirements.

The length of time varies from nine weeks for study skills courses which cost about £45 to 20 weeks (with classes twice a week) for the broader return to learning type courses which cost between £130 and £220.