My advantages and disadvantages

In trying to meet my objectives I have some strengths and weaknesses. If I think about them now, I can start thinking about solutions to the weaknesses.

Advantages

1. I am a trained and experienced teacher which means I know how the education system works. Namely I know that I will need syllabus guides, curriculum notes, past exam papers, test papers, worksheets etc.
2. I know how to search the Internet and where to look for things.
   
3. Once I start something I usually finish it
4. I have the resources of the other schools in Bangkok Thailand, from the people I know
5. I have a degree in electronics and computer science and so I should be able to understand everything I need to learn
6. I have most evenings, and school holidays, to study
7. I don't have Cable or Satellite TV, and Thai TV is crap (plus I don't understand it) so less distractions
8. I planned and wired the house that we built in Phuket myself, and read up for that. Also, I have one big construction book with electrical info in it. I hope it will be useful as it cost me about 60 quid when I bought it.
   

Disadvantages

1. I will not be able to get hold of anything electrical from the UK easily
2. I will not be able to gain practical experience (apart from perhaps re-wiring or fixing problems in Thai built and wired homes - always a mess believe me)
3. By studying alone I will miss out on the extras (motivation, information) that working with others always brings
4. I will need a forum for asking questions when I don't understand something
5. I will probably need to return to the UK to sit exams
6. It will be hard to get a job without any "real" / recognised experience.
   

There are probably more of each but that is all I can think of at the moment.

Possible solutions to the Disadvantages

1. Maybe there is a supplier in BKK or Singapore. Maybe I don't need to get hold of physical UK stuff/parts but can find a near equivalent here. Thailand does have standards. For example, even though I have no idea what they are the guy from the electricity company inspected the electrics in our house and passed them okay (and we didn't even need to bribe him).
2. To gain practical experience I could contact the company that built our house and work for free to learn from them. I am going to have to play this one by ear as and when I get to practical sections to see if I can get around them by theory alone.
3. I expect there are loads of chat and help forums out there run by very experienced electricians who will be willing to help/answer my questions. I wonder if any of my relatives have a family friend who is an electrician. I studied for a load of industry networking qualifications on my own so have an ability, and possibly a preference, for studying alone. I know I can do it.
4. I've answered this one in 3 above.
   
5. To cut costs I really need to use the air tickets my school gives me. I will investigate other options or places I could sit the exams. As I mentioned before, it might be possible to find, or even set up a school as a registered exam center if it doesn't cost anything. British Council might be an option. Otherwise exams will have to wait until the next trip to the Uk in 2013.
6. In the end I would rather work for myself since I am fed up with working for someone else and having them dictate to me conditions and salary. This is probably a major reason for taking on this self study and goal. However, later on, given the large number of electrician firms I am sure there must be one out there willing to hire a newly qualified electrician with no formal experience. I will just have to play to my strengths when the time comes. Or failing that, I am not adverse to "cash in hand" work [fully disclosed to the tax man of course]. Given that I don't reside in the UK, I should be able to claim back any tax as my yearly earnings will be so low.