Professional Forum - BPA Course

[»PureParty]

I could tell within five minutes of working with you that I would rather have you on my crew than some people I've met with more experience and a bit of paper

aaaaah, isn't that nice

[sultanbrown]

Originally Posted by PureParty

aaaaah, isn't that nice

Yeah, I still think he's a dick, just a dick with basic competence.

[Signum]

Originally Posted by sultanbrown

It all boils down to basic competence and other's faith that you have it. Some may get reassurance by a certificate, some may not. I could tell within five minutes of working with you that I would rather have you on my crew than some people I've met with more experience and a bit of paper.

I'm firmly in the "couldn't give a rat's arse about the BPA" camp, as it stands.

I understand what ya saying chap - and kind words Sultan (well almost ) - thank you very much

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Im glad i asked the question, i had seen various BPA threads pop up over the forum, and its good to get an overall (not saying complete, but general) view of what peoples thoughts are on it.

Cheers chaps

[»PureParty]

you're welcome, pretty certain to get an answer of some sorts on this forum

[Masterchief]

Link to get onto UKPS IC course

CAT 4 course coodinated by UKPS - UK Pyrotechnics Society Forums - Page 8

[sultanbrown]

Originally Posted by Masterchief

Link to get onto UKPS IC course

CAT 4 course coodinated by UKPS - UK Pyrotechnics Society Forums - Page 8

Has Arthur got you on the take as well?

[Masterchief]

No mate! Not at all, had my name down for a while, one of those things i thought would be worth doing. As you know im pretty established firer and not really one for the BPA, going to see what all the fuss is about with IC and feed back to y'all.

Simples

[dogsbody]

like me, I got my name down for it as well

[ambientskies]

Save your money unless the company you want to bitch for requires it, but why would they?

If someone comes up to me waving a BPA card, I just think that's another one taken for their money!

I only took it myself as I was helping out Flashpoint & thought that it would help solve any "competence" issues on my part, if anything happened that would involve a claim on their insurance.

Your better off getting cold, wet, tired, hungry & without reward with someone like Stu or Flash than sitting in a room trying to work-out the wording on a poorly put-together exam paper after sucking eggs all day.

Just my view

[RocketRev]

This forum is the only place where having BPA level whatever status would have been useful to me! It's been irrelevant, so far, out in the big wide world of doing actual displays!

When the Professional forum was set up here, there was discussion about what qualifications we'd use to recognise someone as a genuine Pro-firer. The BPA qualification was considered clear proof of status. In my case I was firing for a BPA member company, a big company at that, but it was one that didn't bother with the BPA exams. Thankfully I was on the company payroll, with proper staff number, tax & NI stuff in place and so on.... and that was enough to prove that I earned money from firing and could be considered a "Pro-firer".

For me, there might one day be some value in taking the BPA exams. Like if having a BPA exam pass becomes an essential requirement for the company I fire for get display contracts. Then I'd expect the company to put us all through the exams pretty quickly. I have considered doing it for personal interest and satisfaction. But for as long as it's only value to me is as a status symbol in here, why bother?