Copyright is something that is automatically attributed to the original owner of a work, you don't have to do anything special like register with a central body or anything. All you'd need to be able to do is to prove that the work is your own should it ever be disputed in court (or if you are disputing someone elses work because they've copied your stuff).
There are various ways to do it, but one way would be to take your finished work and have an independant 'responsible' person (or preferably persons) sign and date it. Whilst they are not testifying that what they are signing and dating is your original work, they are proving that that piece of work was in existence at that date, so anyone else claiming the same as their own would have to likewise prove that their work was produced before yours.
If your therapy has a name and/or logo then you can seek to trademark those, which doesn't necessarily cost a lot to do, but can involve you ensuring that nobody else is using the name already, or limiting your trademark to a certain sector of marketplace e.g. if someone else is using that name already to market stationary products, then you could still trademark it under the sections of healthcare and health products (unless they've already trademarked it under those sections too). There's lots of info on the web for trademarking.
As for accrediting your course, that would depend what it is and who would be qualified to accredit it. If it's something completely new then there may be nobody who can do that, and it's going to likely be down to yourself to set the standards and principles required to perform your therapy, and to ensure it fits in with legal standards of practice such as trading standards, advertising standards etc. and the National Occupation Standards (especially if you want it to eventually be accepted in mainstream healthcare).
wow! thank you so energlz much for the fantastic reply. so much more comprehensive than i expected!
one of my concerns about proper accreditation is also about insurance. so i guess that would have to be my next question. as this is not (yet) a recognised therapy, how would i get insurance cover to practice?
this is all so new to me and i want to make sure i get everything properly in place.
Some insurance companies have umbrella terms they use for covering some therapies, so if you had developed a new energy healing technique along the lines of Reiki or Spiritual Healing, they would likely allow you to have insurance under those sections, just so long as you have made it clear to them what your therapy is called and that is recorded with them so that they have made it clear to you that you are covered for your therapy (if that makes sense hehe!)
Of course insurance companies are out to make money, so if they don't already insure for something, some may be able to add it to their list of things they insure for, though they would likely need to know what is involved in it, as insuring for a therapy that is hands on, will likely involve a higher policy price than something that is hands off (you're not so likely to physically injure somebody doing Reiki as you are Massage). Somebody like TowerGate insurance offer Professional Liability Insurance for a wide range of complementary therapies...
thank you again energylz. i am so glad to have you here to help guide me on this. i have a bit more work to do but then i shall be ringing the insurance companies for a chat! thanks to your guidance i now feel confident to crack on with my plans. you are a star!
Sorry to hijack......
Just reading this thread and was wondering what you have to do to make the move from therapist to tutor. Do you have to get teaching qualifications? And what is involved in getting your course accredited?
Love
Crystal elf
If you want to become a qualified teacher, you could take the PTTLS qualfication (Preparing to teach in the lifelong service)
This can be done in roughly 48 hours and can be started straight away through a Virtual Learning Environment from your own home - this is a the recognised qualifation in starting to teach and is QTS. (qualified teacher status)
If you want to become a qualified teacher, you could take the PTTLS qualfication (Preparing to teach in the lifelong service) This can be done in roughly 48 hours and can be started straight away through a Virtual Learning Environment from your own home - this is a the recognised qualifation in starting to teach and is QTS. (qualified teacher status) Karen
Hi Karen - I was approached to teach a comp therapy course, but was told I needed to have a TQFE, as I had no prior teaching qualifications. When I investigated the course, I wasn't eligible as I do not have any A Levels (although I live in Scotland, so had no 'Highers') - so I cannot apply to do the training. I'm not about to go back to night school at age 57 to start from scratch! The Scottish education system doesn't appear to recognise PTLLS. Having looked into this, I thought the PTLLS course gave you access to further training courses, and not teacher qualifications automatically? Have I been given the wrong information?
Hi Karen - I was approached to teach a comp therapy course, but was told I needed to have a TQFE, as I had no prior teaching qualifications. When I investigated the course, I wasn't eligible as I do not have any A Levels (although I live in Scotland, so had no 'Highers') - so I cannot apply to do the training. I'm not about to go back to night school at age 57 to start from scratch! The Scottish education system doesn't appear to recognise PTLLS. Having looked into this, I thought the PTLLS course gave you access to further training courses, and not teacher qualifications automatically? Have I been given the wrong information?
PTLLS was introduced in 2007. I was on the pilot course, it is the prerequisite of CTLLS and DTLLS, which are for working in FE. It was designed as a route for those without formal degrees who then completed the PGCE.
PTLLS is delivered in many formats ranging from 6-12 weeks, FE colleges and private companies, it entitles you to teach as an associate teacher, the CTLLS has higher status and you can teach with autonomy.
The DTLLS, (c&g 7305 i think) has also an assessment module and can be used in places where D32 and A1 were desirable. It was supposed to replace the PGCE but seems not to have done, although they are very similar
Sorry to hijack......
Just reading this thread and was wondering what you have to do to make the move from therapist to tutor. Do you have to get teaching qualifications? And what is involved in getting your course accredited?
Love
Crystal elf
Hi Crystal
How about the PTLLS qualifcation?
An Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector covers the basics of teaching in continuing and adult education - including how to plan sessions, motivate learners and use a variety of assessment methods.
It's a first step towards official practitioner status - a full licence to teach in the lifelong learning sector.
Have you looked at the VTCT?
VTCT offers the largest range of qualifications in the Hair and Beauty sector in the UK and is committed to continuous innovation and development of new qualifications that meet the needs of the sectors, training providers and their clients - from entry level to advanced techniques in support of continuous professional development.
As a specialist awarding organisation they develop, award and certificate professional qualifications in hairdressing, beauty therapy, nails, complementary therapies, fitness and sports therapies.
If you need any further help or information on teacher training and acceditation.
PTLLS was introduced in 2007. I was on the pilot course, it is the prerequisite of CTLLS and DTLLS, which are for working in FE. It was designed as a route for those without formal degrees who then completed the PGCE.
PTLLS is delivered in many formats ranging from 6-12 weeks, FE colleges and private companies, it entitles you to teach as an associate teacher, the CTLLS has higher status and you can teach with autonomy.
The DTLLS, (c&g 7305 i think) has also an assessment module and can be used in places where D32 and A1 were desirable. It was supposed to replace the PGCE but seems not to have done, although they are very similar
Im not sure about Scotland though,
HTH
The new PTLLS are now a 12 credit as opposed to the 6 credit and has a module that maps into the TAQA Award - which was the d32 and then the A1 and has a guided learning hours of 48 hours now instead of the 30 hours as was - with regards to the SQV, am just getting clarity of how this maps into the NVQ framework.... watch this space!
Just checked it out with our examining board - yes Scotland does run a differnet system than England, Wales and Ireland - --- only a few people recognise the PTLLS qualification....
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