How to Find a Good Course

Congratulations!  You’ve decided you want to branch out and learn a new skill or start a new career!  Now what?

Searching for education in the field of personal enhancement can seem very easy as you’ll find courses on Google, Facebook, Groupon and more.  Are these all valid courses?  No, they aren’t!

You will find many will be with fantastic and experienced educators that are accredited through legitimate bodies, however, in today’s world of get rich quick schemes and multi-level marketing (MLM) or pyramid selling, there are many that are offering 1-day courses to be “qualified” in the chosen skill and the only person getting rich quick will be the person behind the course.

This can lead to students being at the mercy of poor education providers as they realise that this style of training has been ineffective, and they didn’t learn anything and just lost their hard-earned cash.

Learning Point: Google and Facebook may not be the friend you think they are – look beyond the advert. 

You need to know what you are looking for and as a new entrant to the industry it is an Aladdin’s cave of glittering prizes.

Course Checklist

• Who is the provider? Are they an established and recommended provider?  Do they have industry accreditation?  (See Awarding Bodies & Accreditation).  Can you speak to previous students or see legitimate testimonials?  Our providers are all reviewable, allowing you to make a decision based on previous students’ experiences

• Pre-requisites These are prior qualifications and, for many courses, you may need a foundation level qualification in the skill you want to learn.  For example, for Gel Polish education, industry standards require a Manicure qualification prior to learning this Nail Enhancement skill.

• Course length How much time will you be having contact with your educator for?  1-day courses are not appropriate for all skills and if you want to be a nail technician or beauty therapist it takes longer to acquire the skills.  If it’s something you’d spend a year doing in a further education college, consider how the education provider is going to get all that knowledge and practice into 1 day.

• Cost Is it a bargain?  If it is, ask why?  Ask how many learners will be present, where it’s held, who’s educating and for their credentials.  There are reasons thing are too good to be true.  Good quality education has a cost attached to it.  Further education colleges both private and public can provide free or funded education for many with qualifications through major awarding bodies.  If you want to learn at a speedier pace you can find private academies, product companies and independent educators providing good, value for money education with accredited intensive short courses, but look for quality pointers – experience, accreditation provider, certification, testimonials.  It won’t be cheap, but it will give you a solid foundation.

• Payment Quality training costs and good providers know this can be difficult when you are trying to retrain or even add to your skill base.  Ask about payment plans, credit and finance options.  Many providers will consider staged payments.  Ask!  You can take Adult Learning Loans for qualifications at Level 3 and above for over 19’s and some national and local agencies or charities offer funding for business start ups or retraining.

• Theory What supporting material and theoretical education will you receive?  Quality providers will support you with full theoretical training as well as the practical skill.  Receiving a photocopied sheet on the day is not a sign of quality education.  You should be looking for accompanying course books, manuals or downloadable material.  Many providers now offer online theory courses for areas such as Anatomy & Physiology. There is more to learning a skill that just the practical element.

• Home Study & Case Studies Is there a requirement for you to continue your studies at home?  Some courses have pre-course homework whilst some have homework from the lessons you attend.  Case studies are an important learning opportunity and courses that have this requirement recognise this.  This is a requirement with Awarding body education and for many Accredited foundation or entry level courses.

• Assessment How are you assessed, by whom and when?  For any quality course you should be assessed in the skills you have been taught.  This can be ongoing through some courses and should be carried out as a last point prior to certification for any quality accredited

• Certification Is there a certificate?  Is it an attendance certificate?  Is it an accredited certificate?  To proceed in industry, you need accredited education or qualification with an Awarding body.   Attendance certificates for entry to industry will not allow you to gain insurance which means you will not be able to work on paying clients.  Attendance certificates will only allow you to work on family and friends.

• Insurance Will your new skill be insurable with a wide range of insurers?  Even some accredited training is limited in this regard.  Insurers have their own accrediting providers and may restrict you to remain within their organisation for insurance.  This can lead to you having to consider who you train with in future to have one insurance provider or you would need to have separate insurance policies.

Learning Point: Education should be an investment in your future – don’t sell yourself short.