Wallace,
The Core course is a pre-requisite for taking the TRI, its not type specific. Once youve finished the core course (5 days and a test) you can move on to the TRI. Doing the core course on its own dosnt give you anything except allowance to proceed to a TRI. The TRI (type specific) is a further 8 day course with a test conducted by a CAA authorised examiner. Only holders of a valid TRI can then go on to the TRE Standardisation Course; following this you can then apply for a test for the type you want to examine on.
The core course, TRI and TRE can be done by CAA approved schools; the only test you have with a CAA Training Inspector is during the TRE Standardisation course and then on the actual sim that you will be running as a TRE.
It sounds a long and complex process but if you choose to do it all with one school then they should help you through.
CTC have been first class in running these courses for me as they have ex-CAA and senior airline trainers on the staff. I've now completed the core course and TRI on the 737 and hope to become a TRE quite soon.
Hope it helps, if not let me know.
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