Help I want to do a reflexology course, any advice?

[Lilac]

Hello !! I'm new here and wondered if you could give me some advice.

I'm currently a beauty therapist and do Indian Head and Swedish Massage too; but I am getting very bored. The reason being is we are due to relocate soon so I can'tpromote myself that much as I have a little boy and also people phone a lot when I'veleft.

I'd like to expand my mind and learn a new area. Iknow several reflexologists who advised me this is the way to go. Another associate said I'd be good asIam good withpeople.

I'm very interested in learning the subject; my questions are

[ul][*]is £1100 a lot to pay for a course[*]is level 3 diploma the best you can do (the tutor says it is)[*]is it all biology? Istruggled alittle with A & Pbut managed to pass- it will all be gone over again[*]is it a busy therapy; is there a lot of demand for it - I won't be wasting my money doing this will I?
[/ul]
Understandibly I'm nervous in investing a lot of money as I keep doing courses and only work part time. However I'd like to expand into a whole new area; and reflexology is the way I want to go.

Your advice is greatly appreciated xx

 

[DarwingotnastyontheBeagle]

Hi Beauty Queen,
Reflexology is great and I find it is a therapy that always holds my interest. I paid around £1100 for my course which was AOR (Association of Reflexologists) acredited and I have never looked back. Don't worry, it is not all biology - I would say that less than 50% of my course was A&P, it was mostly learning about the reflexes and practical work. I can understand you are nervous about spending this amount of money on a course but it has truly changed my life - after a couple of years working part time I was finally able to give up my full time office job last year so yes, it is a busy therapy I would say (though of course you need to market yourself continously).
Good luck!
Jx

 

[zmeyzujuibcivsegj]

It is a lovely therapy, but as a business, it does take time to build up.

I think in your situation, I would be checking how many people in your local area are already carrying it out as I know in my area the market is saturated and the colleges are still churning out more and more therapists every year.

Lesley

 

[ADMINm]

Hi Beauty Queen,

I have just completed an AOR course (level 3 diploma) at my local adult college (still waiting exam result with fingers crossed). The course cost was £460 so it might be worth looking to see whether this could be an option. The course took 9 months, which apparently is the minimum amount of time you can do this in. As regards to the A&P involved, it is not too bad and if you can find the ABC awarding body (examiners) website they have a definitive list of what you will need to know with regards to the A&P and reflexology.You will have to dig about on this site though, they seem to keep things hidden !My tutor told us that the actual paper works out at 40% A&P, 40% Reflexology, 10% history and 10 % business .Personally I didnt find the written work or the A&P too much of a problem, it was finding the time to do the case studies and fitting all the treatments in that showed me how unorganised I was!

Hope this helps and good luck

 

[uqngbqnd]

[Deleted by Admins]

 

[make it or break it :)]

I can only speak for VTCT level 3 courses run in the FE Colleges in Northern Ireland - the course runs on 1 evening a week over about 30 weeks and is around £200 if I recall correctly - those who do not have A+P are expected to attend one afternoon each week to study that module

Anxious

PS I am only a part-timer in this and other therapies

 

[awesome1]

I paid about £1200 for the AOR Level 3 Diploma in reflexology, but it works out at much more than this when you consider you have to buy books and study materials. I also bought a Lafuma recliner to carry out my case studies and this worked out at about £115 for the chair and the carry case (i think they have gone down in price since then). I also bought files/dividers/coloured pencils and pens. You need to remember to take all of these things into consideration when you enroll, and find out from the tutor what you will need.

I would recommend the AOR course 100%
Its good value for money and very thorough.

Also, if you do the AOR copurse you will need to keep some funds for membership fees and insurance when you qualify(can't remember how much the student fee is......you can check their website)

Hope this helps!
Let us know how you get on.

Kate

 

[Exio]

Thanks everyone. I'd love to do it although I have some hesitation. I'm 31 nearly & would like a second child. I'm worried when I sign up I'll fall pregnant and it'll all go wrong. When I took my final year of my degree after finishing a good job to go finish it off; I ended up pregnant after 3 weeks of enroling! Managed to get through it but it was tough. Anyway thinK I'll just sign up, I'm not catching on so I could put of my future for no reason.

Thanks everyone again xx

 

[ME!.]

hello just wanted to add, I'm also going to start a reflexology course in September. I'm doing it at my local college and it's only £200 pound. it's withITEC Level 3 Diploma in reflexology. i have a daughter and would no way be able to pay £1200. the only thing is it that it is one day a week and it's over a year. that is the only down side. but a better wayof learn 4 me. GOOD LUCK in what ever you do.
elainexx

 

[imilsbem]

I hope you don't mind me asking a question on this thread.

I'm considering starting on a Reflexology course in the new year and was interested to know how many reflexologists you would consider to be saturating the market.

I had read this thread a few weeks ago but could't find it again until just now, so I posted a new topic, I hope it links up. It explains a little of what I want to achieve.

http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=369622

Peppermint

 

[SIR]

It's quite difficult to quantify, I know, but if you look in your local yellow pages, not only under reflexologists, but also complementary therapies, the number of practitioners advertising there is probably just the tip of the iceberg as most don't advertise there.

Also, take into account that many beauty clinics, complementary centres, osteopaths and chiropractors may also employ reflexologists on a freelance basis, you can get an idea of the number of these in the area. You could also conduct your own research on the pretext of wanting to book a treatment, by calling local clinics.

Another indicator is the number of courses running on a yearly basis in your local area.

Lesley

 

[Mopar Muscle Gal]

Many thanks Lesley,

I know there are a few reflexologists, within a few miles from here from the AoR website. The area I live in, is an affluent area and quite well populated.
I'll compare numbers with another area like this one and see what I can find.

The closest college were Reflexology is taught is Guildford 7 miles away but the classes start to early in the evening for me to attend. The next is the Raworth International College, I would love to go there but the fee is too expensive at £2,700, although it's probably a very good course. I have found one in London, that once I have finally made up my mind, I would like to attend.

My husband feels I need to do something new and it would be good to train to be a Reflexologist as that is where I have an interest, but treat it as a hobby, in that case it doesn't matter how others many there are in the area. I would like however, like to practice part-time and earn some money as well.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Peppermint