Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
As I always say in class, there’s no such thing as a silly question. The same applies to any questions you may have about training with us on the Level 5 Diploma in Applied Reflexology for Integrated Medicine too!
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions when I’m talking with prospective students…let me know if you have others and I’ll add them to the list!
What are the attendance hours on the course?
Attendance hours on all the training days at any of our training centres are 9.30am to 5.30pm. There are 24 training days, usually arranged as 12 full weekends of training. This makes up 168 hours of face to face training (excluding lunch hours!)
What if I can’t make all the training days?
100% attendance is the ideal as there is a lot of content on each of the training days; however, we understand that this isn’t always possible.
Ideally, you’ll plan for full attendance, and if you’re ill or can’t attend for another reason, you will let your tutor know and they will advise you on how to catch up for the missed content. This will vary depending on exactly what was missed.
What will I learn?
If you enrol on the Level 5 Diploma in Applied Reflexology for Integrated Medicine at one of our venues, you’ll learn the CAREA Matrix, unique to this qualification. The CAREA Matrix includes Duopody, CALM Technique and NEPIP, which are covered in this post.
You’ll also learn a wide range of additional techniques, including light touch, subtle energy techniques through to deeper touch using the knuckles; you’ll learn about meridians and chakras; and you’ll learn how to use your reflexology in treatments for palliative care, fertility, maternity, menopause, male health and all stages of life from babies through to older adults.
Is the course regulated?
The Level 5 Diploma in Applied Reflexology for Integrated Medicine is awarded by OTHM and regulated by OFQUAL. Regulation is important because it means that the course is always taught and assessed at Level 5. If you choose an unregulated course, nobody is checking on the quality of the teaching you’ll receive…whereas if you choose to study with us, you can be sure that there is a stringent quality assurance process in place!
Do I need experience?
The short answer is no! Although some of our students have already trained in reflexology and then choose to deepen their knowledge and enhance their skills by enrolling on the Level 5 Diploma in Applied Reflexology for Integrated Medicine, the vast majority of our students are completely new to reflexology.
Some students come from a medical background or already practice other complementary therapies – but again this is not necessary to join the course.
Which membership bodies can I join?
By studying a regulated qualification, you will be able to gain full practitioner insurance on completion, and this is all you need to be a professional reflexologist in the UK. However, many students and practitioners like to join a professional organisation, and we recommend the new CAREA Register as well as The Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT), a respected international organisation.
How many credits will I gain if I complete the Level 5 Diploma in Applied Reflexology for Integrated Medicine?
The diploma carries 120 UK credits, which is equivalent to a full year of a degree course at university. These credits translate to 60 ECTS credits which are recognised globally.
I’d like to work abroad after I complete my reflexology training – will my qualification be recognised in other countries?
Because OTHM are an international awarding body, and the course carries 60 ECTS credits recognised globally, you should be able to work wherever you choose post-qualification.
How many students are there in each class?
We take a maximum of 8 students in each group. By keeping each group small, we ensure that each learner receives the tuition and time that they need in class. Groups also tend to become a close-knit group which can be more difficult with larger numbers.
What is the support like between classes?
Learning a new skill like reflexology, let alone keeping up with all the coursework, can be challenging. So we like to make sure that the support is ongoing between classes as well as in class time. Each group of learners have a WhatsApp chat group where they can ask questions, share successes, and support each other. Your tutor will also check in regularly and answer questions as needed.
Of course, you can also contact your tutor directly as needed – they will always respond as quickly as possible. Over the years, some students have needed additional 1:1 support, whether over the phone, Zoom or face to face.
We do of course encourage you to use the group chat in many instances, as peer support is also a wonderful thing! And usually, someone else is wondering the same thing about their coursework as you are!
Alongside individual and group support, we also have a Facebook community group which you are welcome to join as a student. Here you can join the wider Wye Reflexology Academy community, with students across our different venues and our graduates too.
What about after I qualify? Is there support available after that?
Yes, when you train with Wye Reflexology Academy, you can be assured that ongoing support will be available for you post-qualification.
Firstly, we have the Facebook community group mentioned above. Your group’s individual WhatsApp chat group will remain open as long as it’s active, so you can easily keep in touch with your peers. And in addition, once you complete your studies, you can be added to our graduate WhatsApp group which is often a hive of activity!
Of course you can also continue to contact your tutor directly with specific questions as needed.
We’re also working on ways to showcase our amazing students and practitioners further, and are hoping to add a mentoring / buddy system very soon.
We also offer graduate days for those who’d like to learn new skills. In the past year, we have rolled out updates to Duopody for previous graduates, and taught new aspects of the Level 5 Diploma we now teach, to graduates of the older qualification.
The best part about all of this support is that all our graduates are trained in the same way, using techniques from the CAREA Matrix, and so they all understand where you are coming from when you are looking for treatment plan ideas for specific clients, for example.
Are business skills included in the training?
The Level 5 Diploma in Applied Reflexology for Integrated Medicine includes a whole unit on business skills, called Business Fundamentals for Reflexology Practice.
You’ll learn the basics of setting up and running your business, and you’ll plan your pricing structure with the help of a (simple!) spreadsheet to complete a financial forecast. As well as the financials, we’ll also do a bit of thinking about the bigger picture – what are your hopes and dreams for your reflexology business? What do you want to achieve? We’ll encourage you to think big!
How much work is there?
This is a Level 5 reflexology diploma, so there is a reasonable amount of coursework! We estimate that you should allow around 10 hours per week, outside of class teaching, to complete your reading, case studies and written work. Of course, everyone has their own natural pace so you may need more than this.
There will also be fluctuation throughout the course, with the biggest workload around the middle of the course. At the Academy, we have structured our hand in dates to allow for a bit of ease at this time. Unlike the previous qualification we taught, where the largest workload was at the end of the course, we can proudly say that on this new Level 5 diploma, 100% of our students have completed their studies by the end of their training – even if they were ‘behind’ in the middle of the course.
What if I do fall behind and can’t catch up?
Of course we understand that sometimes things don’t work out the way you intended – and life gets in the way of your studies. If you can’t complete your coursework and in class assessments by the end of your official training, you can continue to work towards your qualification for longer. We claim for certification twice a year, so this means that if you don’t complete your studies with your group, your claim will likely be 6 months later.
Is there a final exam?
There is no final exam for the Level 5 Diploma in Applied Reflexology for Integrated Medicine. The course is assessed continuously, with all coursework and in class assessments carrying a certain amount of credits towards your final qualification.
There are a very small number of in class written tests, and 12 in class practical assessments. Only two of the practical assessments require you to treat a client who you have not previously met. The remaining assessments are carried out on one of your peers. Although there are usually some nerves for some of these assessments, we find that once students are treating, they are absolutely fine!
The most important thing to remember is that, by the time each assessment happens, you will be ready for it because of the case studies you have carried out at home!
How many case studies are there and where will I find all the clients?!
Over the course of your studies with us, you’ll complete 104 evidenced treatments. Of these, 12 are the in class practical assessments mentioned above.
The remaining 92 treatments are your case study treatments. Yes, this can sound like a lot, but the case studies are structured over several ‘sets’ of studies, and this number of treatments equates to around 12 study clients. Most learners are inundated with friends and family wanting to have reflexology treatments and manage this easily.
If you struggle to find enough clients, we might be able to offer some suggestions, so do ask!
I want to study the Level 5 Diploma in Applied Reflexology for Integrated Medicine at Wye Reflexology Academy – can I spread the cost?
We understand that funding your training isn’t always easy. Therefore, all our Level 5 courses, wherever you choose to study, have payment plans available, with payments by instalment over 12 months.
To secure your space, you need to pay your deposit, and then pay the remaining course fees over 12 months, starting in the month your course commences.
There are also professional fees that are payable on or before the first day of training – you can see these here.
