what was the point?

[anony]

Hello, glad to have found this forum!

However my first post is rather miserable.. I have been studying at college full and part time for over three years getting various ITEC and VTCT diplomas. The colleges I've been in have usually run their practical side like a salon, sometimes resulting in 4 clients a day. I have had many exams in strict conditions, over 30 6- 10 week case studies and counting so far. I've had mountains of essays, the hideous M1 that took a lifetime and 4 ring binders full. Presentations in front of the class, etc etc. Extremely hard work.

I'm not knocking it, loved it and wouldn't have had it any other way - I wanted the best tuition I could get, I learnt so much and feel confident in my treatments.

However..I met a couple of girls on a night out last week, they are both setting up in business. It has taken them several months to gain diplomas in Reflex, Aroma, Nutrition, crystal healing, herbalism etc. They did this via a home study course. They have insurance from the people who run the courses. They had exams (at home) and got A's. No case studies, no essays, but the most shocking thing of all to my mind - no practical experience!

Now, I understand that home study can be good for folk who can't get to college in some cases, and if you have a good grounding in massage etc, doing some additional courses seems ok to me.. However I basically feel that I've wasted three years of my life, when I could have the same diplomas on my wall after a few months, and much less work!

I realise my diplomas are from a recognisable body, but at the end of the day it doesn't seem to matter does it? There is no regulation! The average person going for a treatment isn't going to care if your diplomas was from ITEC or a Home Study centre!

I guess what really upsets me is that people will class what I've done as exactly the same. I want to scream and shout that it isn't!

Am I just being silly?

 

[gnezpuvcixkitcerp]

No, you're not being silly IMHO.

 

[jmetaudhiiniqvegf]

Wolfsbane,

Congratulations on finding this forum. NO you havent wasted three years of your life.

The only way to improve your skills was the practical application of it. Your hands on experience will be priceless.

The true test for your colleagues will be whether they get repeat business. With your skills, research, application, you can be confident that you are a true professional.

Additionally your studies will have provided you with the strength and confidence that you can work through pressure, pressure of exams, studying, sacrifices you may have made.

So it's a personal journey you are on as well.

Anyway enough waffle, yep be disappointed, but pick yourself up and open your own business too!

good luck

 

[Midnight_Song]

hi wolfsbane,

i was on the student/ teaching forum saying about this.

i have just done a home study kinesiology course and i am not that impressed. i am an experienced bodyworker and at this point i would not have a clue how to apply what i learnt in kinesiology.

i am about to do aromatherapy but then all i need for that is the theory. i think its quite worrying that home study with no practical element is available to complete beginners on this career path.

i still think basic massage with the A & P should be done in classrooms. and thinking about it, reflexology too. there is more to it than prodding feet!

 

[sydn?y??]

Hi Wolfbane,

Hope that you enjoy using the site and get a lot out of it., I certanly have.

With respect to home study...........

As topcat said, you haven't wasted the three years, it has enabled you to develop as a preofessional practioner.

I agree with you that homestudy is a useful medium for learning, but not for a practical course. I think that you will find it easier to attract clients with your recognised qualification. In ythe past people have asked me about my qualification and have recognised the various ITEC, BTEC and VCTC qualification. I am not shore if they would have the same response if my quals were from a given college.

Again good luck with your practise and remeber that yuo have both qualifications and experience, unlie those indiduals that completed the home study course.

Cheers

Armandii

 

[Samantha Adams]

There is nothing wrong with home study courses as long as they are supplemented with practical hands on instructions and hands on examinations.

At the end of the day the training is to give us a safe start in our chosen therapies and no mater how long the training is the one thing we can only gain after qualifying is the experience of doing the therapy in the real world.

It is IMO the making of informative judgments on the appropriate treatment based on the knowledge we received during the training and the experience we acquire over the years of applying that knowledge that makes us competent therapists not the bits of paper on the wall.

 

[apascalgawtip]

Hi Woldsbane

I guess what you need to consider is, would you personaly have been happy to have done a course that had no practical element to it - I guess from your post - you wouldn't. (I certienly wouldn't!).

So, if you would have still done the courses you chose, be happy with what you have done, knowing you have selected for yourself the training you wanted, and the confidence it has given you as a practitioner.

I think you made the right decisions

Health & happiness

Waywood

 

[Stommisee]

Hi Woldsbane
Well you said it yourself, you wouldnt have had it any other way....now lets see, how many recall clients do you think these two girls will have, its is screamingly obvious when ones hands are untrained so dont fear....you will get your clients and you have the knowledge you have done what you can to the best of your ability and are serving your clients in the right way.
Hugs
T
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