I'm Completely New. Where Do I Begin?
Laying The Foundations: Where to begin?
To make properly informed decisions about training and education in these fields, you should first understand the legal and regulatory background in the UK.
On this page, we will explain these so that you can make the decision that suits your particular needs, and also point you to alternative sources of reliable independent information for a deeper understanding.
Understanding Common Terminology
Protected titles: In UK the title or qualification Electrologist is not protected. However, in healthcare, there are many legally protected titles that only appropriately registered practitioners can use. Examples of these are a Medical Doctor. GP. Dentist. Surgeon. Veterinary Surgeon. Nurse. Physiotherapist. Podiatrist. Clinical Scientist. Optician. Osteopath. Chiropractor. Radiographer, etc. These have statutory bodies that regulate them, such as the General Medical Council. Nursing and Midwifery Council. The Health and Care Professions Council. The General Chiropractic Council. To name just a few.
Many professional titles aren't legally protected, such as Electrologist. Animal Physiotherapist. Naturopath. Naprapath. Doctor. Aromatherapist. Sports Therapist. Beauty Therapist. Aesthetics Practitioner. These professions are voluntarily regulated by private professional organisations, the majority of which do an excellent job of holding their relevant profession to high standards and accountability. Providing governance, ethics and discipline that protect the practitioner and the public.
Regulated/Unregulated Qualifications: In the UK there are many regulated qualifications in a wide variety of subjects. These are government-recognised and accredited in accordance with accepted national occupational standards. Some examples are in subjects such as Health. Aesthetics. Beauty. Business. Law. Admin, etc. These are commonly awarded S/NVQs. HNC/D. Even degrees from UK Universities. These are usually occupationally practical skills-focused, and the government has deemed that there is no need for statutory regulation in these professions, so there are no state organisations apart from a regulated qualification. This also means that there is no need to have a regulated qualification to practice unless it is required by a voluntary professional organisation such as the B.I.A.H.A. and the SNND. There is also no need to become a member of any such voluntary professional organisation. Additionally, legally, there are no requirements to hold professional indemnity insurance. With all this in mind and knowing that the UCHSc are accredited by the B.I.A.H.A. and the SNND, which are both voluntary professional organisations. The quality of teaching and assessment is of a high standard, and graduates are of high quality. There are regulated qualifications in subjects such as Remedial Massage. Teaching & Assessing. Alternative Therapies. Beauty Therapy. Hairdressing. Business & Admin, and lots more. But there is no requirement under current law to possess one or join a government regulatory body.
Accredited Qualifications: There are two groups here. Accredited by statutory awarding organisations e.g. those that offer a Quality License Scheme (QLS). And private accreditation e.g. CPD or other voluntary organisations. Sometimes professions are so new, or the government just isn't interested in regulating them, that they have to go this route. Because there is no other route available to them.
All regulated qualifications have a difficulty level and points or credits. From level 1 - 8. 1 being the foundational level and 8 being the doctoral level.
The courses we offer are not yet regulated, but may become regulated in the future. Which means the organisations that accredit us are non-governmental voluntary organisations. This is because the government aren't yet interested in regulating us, and some professions like our Naprapathic Medicine are completely new to the UK. So there is no framework.
We have designed our courses, mapped them to difficulty levels and credit/points. We have done this so that students can understand difficulty levels and effort required, and also to prepare for the future if a subject becomes available as a regulated qualification. Our qualifications can be easily mapped over, and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can be applied if needed to upgrade the RQF.
Additionally ALL of our tutors who teach our courses have a regulated teaching qualification. Assessors have a regulated assessing qualification. We voluntarily undertake internal and external quality assurance through the B.I.A.H.A. and the SNND, and have regulated quality assurance qualifications, as well as occupational qualifications and experience. Where there aren't regulated qualifications or professional registrations, the best we can do is mimic them voluntarily until there are.
Where To Begin
This really depends on you and what you want to do.
If you are unsure, we recommend that you undertake a short course such as an Anatomy, Physiology and Body Massage Diploma.
This is a relatively short course, yet it equips you to enter into professional practice as a Massage Therapist and diversify into other health, beauty and aesthetics fields should you wish to. This course is equivalent to one of the industry's foundational qualifications e.g. the ITEC. VTCT, CIDESCO, CIBTAC, HNC/D, S/NVQ, etc. It is quicker to obtain, because there are less hoops to jump through, but the quality is still very high. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can be obtained to gain a regulated qualification later on, should you wish to. After obtaining this, you can either just practice as a therapist or use it to gain access to further training in subjects that you find interesting, such as Sports Therapy. Medical Cupping. Naturopathy. Naprapathy. Beauty. Aesthetics. Foot Health Practitioner. Trichologist. ACE.
As explained above, there are regulated and unregulated qualifications in this subject, but there are no statutory registrations or protected titles. Having a regulated qualification has the advantage that it is of high quality. Unregulated ones can be of lower quality, and this is where you need to choose your provider carefully. Unregulated courses are a lot cheaper, because they are less bureaucratic and have less administration (hoops to jump through). This is good if you have a good-quality provider like the UCHSc. They can tailor the courses to the requirements of the student, and add as much to them as they like to make their graduates the best. This is what we do. We overtrain our graduates and it shows when they decide the go for RPL. But providers can also leave a lot of essential syllabus out, and leave the graduates to struggle with basic problems. So you should always question your provider. If they avoid questions, then this is a big red flag. They should be transparent and open about everything and help you understand things fully. We always recommend visiting us and having an interview; it's a way for you to identify if we are the right fit for you. Education is a two-way street. Education is expensive, time and energy-consuming, so you want the best support possible, and the UCHSc understand this.
Diploma in Anatomy, Physiology and Remedial Massage
Mapped to Level 4 for 600 credit hours
The industry standard, including regulated qualifications e.g. ITEC, VTCT, IHBC, C&G etc is level 3 for approx 500 credits.
Entry Requirements: A good standard of literacy, numeracy, computer skills, and motivation in order to succeed. This course will also enhance a graduate's literacy, numeracy, computer skills, time management, communication, confidence and negotiation skills.
What does this course allow me to do when I graduate: (Learning Outcomes).
1. Professional Practice
Demonstrate professional conduct, communication skills, and ethical practice when providing therapeutic body massage treatments.
2. Health, Safety and Hygiene
Understand and apply health, safety, hygiene, and infection control procedures within a professional massage therapy environment.
3. Anatomy and Physiology
Understand the basic anatomy and physiology of the human body, particularly the musculoskeletal and circulatory systems, and their relevance to therapeutic massage.
4. Consultation and Client Assessment
Conduct professional client consultations, gather relevant medical information, and assess client needs before performing a massage treatment.
5. Contra-indications and Contra-actions
Identify common contraindications to massage treatment and recognise possible contra-actions that may occur following treatment, taking appropriate action where necessary.
6. Massage Techniques
Demonstrate the safe and effective application of core massage techniques including effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, friction, and vibration.
7. Treatment Planning
Plan and deliver a structured full-body massage treatment tailored to individual client needs and wellbeing goals.
8. Client Care and Aftercare
Provide appropriate aftercare advice and recommendations to support client wellbeing following treatment.
9. First Aid Awareness
Demonstrate awareness of basic first aid principles and appropriate responses in the event of an emergency within a professional practice environment.
10. Professional Development
Understand the importance of ongoing professional development and maintaining professional standards within the massage and complementary therapy professions.
11. Practice Management
Understand basic principles of professional practice management, including record keeping, client confidentiality, and professional boundaries.
This course is accredited by the British and International Association of Health and Aesthetics for Full Registration Membership.
It is also accredited by the Society of Naturopathic and Naprapathic Doctors (Level 1) Registration and Licensure if you intend to advance and pursue the advanced route.
Delivery & Assessment: The theory element of this course is delivered and assessed 100% online. Making it flexible and designed to fit in around your current commitments. Practical/Clinical is via a combination of Live Zoom classes and face-to-face practicals, workshops, etc. Which are assessed in an ongoing manner by your tutor. You will build a portfolio of evidence and a training log book. This can be used in the future for RPL if needed.
When can I start? You can enrol at any time. There is no particular date.
How long will it take me to complete the course? This depends on you. Theory can be completed as fast as you like. Practicals are available throughout the year on a timetable. Booking is recommended. Students take between 6 - 12 months to complete this course, depending on how many hours they study each week.
Course Fee £949.00 in full or Deposit of £600.00 plus 3 monthly payments of £120.00 = £960.00 total.
If you require additional guidence please contact us.
T&Cs apply.
We No Longer Use ANY CPD
Accreditation Company.
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