Manchester School of Massage. VTCT Qualifications - NVQ based and VTCT International Qualifications


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VOCATIONAL TRAINING CHARITABLE TRUST
WHAT MAKES VTCT QUALIFICATIONS SPECIAL?	VTCT qualifications are concerned with quality Internationally. Therapists qualify for the lowest cost, widest cover employment liability insurance. This is because over the years they have shown they are the safest. VTCT International qualifications are now available everywhere. They have been brought into line, so that the same qualifications are offered around the World. It has taken years to achieve this, but as the World gets smaller it is an important factor for success.

I'M INTERESTED IN HOLISTIC THERAPIES. WHAT DO VTCT PROVIDE?	VTCT is the largest provider of qualifications in massage, aromatherapy and reflexology. This sector is growing very rapidly and new qualifications for skills like Reiki and Crystal Therapy are added to meet practitioners demands.

THERE ARE MANY AWARDING BODIES IN THE UK. IS THERE REALLY ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM?	Yes. VTCT qualifications meet the highest quality standards and are offered throughout the country. Mostly VTCT Centres are Colleges on Further Education and the better independent schools. As a charity, VTCT charges low fees and the qualifications are those meeting the needs of the workplace. VTCT do not give single school 'mickey mouse' certificates just for profit. To get on the pathway to success you need quality qualifications proving you can give effective and safe treatments.

WHAT IS MEANT BY COMPETENCE BASED QUALIFICATIONS?	A competence based qualification is one which confirms that the holder is fully competent to perform the stated skills to the level required by industry. It is not academic, as is a degree and only incorporates the theory that is essential to the application of specific skills. This is called a vocational qualification.

WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS?	VTCT incorporates the Awarding Body titles, International Institute of Health and Holistic Therapies (IIHHT) and International Institute of Sports Therapy (IIST). Some certificates therefore have this extra badging which are well known Internationally and the qualifications are assessed to the same competence standards as S/NVQ's. International qualifications originated and produced by VTCT are divided into Units which can also be taken separately.

ARE THERE ANY AGE LIMITS FOR VTCT INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS?	No. You can take qualifications at any age. VTCT International qualifications, like S/NVQ's, can be offered flexibly, full-time or part time, depending on the Centre. However, you may complete individual Units as you wish and work towards a full qualification over your lifetime.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS WILL I GET?	S/NVQ's and VTCT International Qualifications are provided at a number of different levels. Levels do not relate to academic status as in many old examined qualifications. They are a way of indicating the complexity of the tasks that they cover and your training Centre will advise you on this. All qualifications are widely recognised as being of high quality and enabling the candidate to readily obtain professional indemnity insurance and employment.

WHAT ARE THE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS?	Most qualifications have completely open access. However, for the sake of administrative convenience, specific Centres may try to get together class groups of people who can work through the course together.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE QUALIFIED?	To be qualified means that you have achieved full competence in particular skill areas. For VTCT International qualifications, you will be issued with a Diploma or Certificate, which may also carry the badging of IIHHT or IIST, or a Certificate of Unit Credit if you have not completed a full qualification.

WHAT IS THE PASS MARK FOR VTCT QUALIFICATIONS?	All VTCT qualifications are competence based and to obtain one it is necessary to achieve 100% competence. This gives clients and employers the confidence that you can safely and effectively apply the skills covered by your qualifications.

WHAT DOES 'ASSESSED' AND 'VERIFIED' MEAN?	Old type qualifications had examinations, usually at the end of the course. This either gave you a grade, or if you failed, you would arrange to take it again and usually at specific times in the year. Because VTCT International qualifications are based primarily upon practical performance, they use a system in which you are assessed (checked) continuously against the requirements as laid down in the Award documents. If you take a formal assessment and the Assessor believes you are not yet competent, you will be told what it is you have to do and advised how to do it before re-assessment. The idea is not to "catch you out", but to help you to achieve 100% competence in a particular skill and at a particular level. You will understand that as with everything in life, you have to achieve a certain standard before you are able to apply a skill effectively and safely. Verification is the process used by VTCT to check that the assessments have been undertaken properly and in accordance with our requirements. It is only when our External Verifier is satisfied that all the proper procedures have been undertaken, that a certificate can be issued.

HOW MANY ASSESSMENTS DO I HAVE TO DO?	This is a matter for your Assessor to decide. You can have as many assessments as necessary until you have satisfied the Assessor that competence has been achieved. This allows those who pick up something faster than others to move ahead more quickly. Equally, any assessment where competence is not fully achieved allows the Assessor to tell you why, so that you know what it is that you have got to do and you can be re-assessed shortly after.

WHAT IS A PORTFOLIO?	This is a record of supporting information to confirm that you have the skills you claim. A full explanation is included in the course workbook detailing all that you have to do and know to obtain the qualification concerned.

I WANT TO GO ABROAD WHEN I'M QUALIFIED. WILL THE VTCT INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATION BE RECOGNISED?	Some countries have very specific regulations regarding qualifications that are recognised for work purposes. In some an employer cannot take you on unless you have a specific qualification. In others, Professional Indemnity Insurance isn't obtainable unless you have a specifically recognised qualification. This is part of safety legislation. VTCT and its predecessors have been established since 1962 and their qualifications are well recognised in many countries. Because it will take years before there is harmonisation of qualifications, even within the EU, qualification acceptability is something that you must take up with the Embassy of the country in which you intend to go to work. Going to a country like the USA produces even more problems, for many States have their own regional requirements.

I'M MOVING. CAN I GO TO A DIFFERENT COLLEGE TO WHERE I STARTED MY COURSE?	Yes. That is provided you go to another VTCT Centre approved to offer our qualifications. You may be asked to prove your ability in the areas you have already studied and the Centre will discuss this with you.

CAN I JOIN VTCT AFTER QUALIFYING?	No. VTCT is purely an Awarding Body issuing qualifications and has no members. If you become a member of the FHT, then you get all those benefits of membership and letters after your name. If you Join whilst still a student, then for your first year FHT will accept you as a full member after qualifying at half the normal fee.

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