Hi Jenny

I was an AoR member for many years, but I don't do that much reflex anymore so didn't bother renewing 12 months ago.

I have looked at the latest news of the AoR site and I don't think it's their problem. There is many changes to qualifications and there is going to be a greater level of standardisation throughout. It's just life. I may increase the average standard of the reflexology graduate and this is for everyones benefit.

Whenever I hear the term "centre of excellence" I reach for the sick bucket. Courses are only as good as the tutor who teaches it, and the student who studies hard. For example I training with a AoR accredited centre, a colleague training with a ITEC accredited centre with the same tutor and learned the same stuff. A former student of the same AoR accredited centre teaches at a VTCT accredited centre and uses the same techniques. But one thing I will say I have noticed how a lot of VTCT reflexology graduates I have met over the years seem to be very vague about the subject and lack confidence unless they take their studies further. So upping the overall standard in reflexology has got to be a good thing.

As for AoR "swelling of their coffers", I couldn't possibly say not being a member. When I was a member I wasn't too happy at the commerical direction they heading in.

Best Wishes

RP

Hi Jenny

It is a shame that the AoR isn't accrediting centres anymore - but it wasn't the AoR's decision - and they haven't "dumped" the schools.

The AoR ceased to be a training organisation years ago, but still accredited schools - it seems to me that Skills for Health (a government organisation) has forced the AoR to cease accrediting schools, being as it wasn't responsible for training anymore.

The new training standards coming out in 2011 are going to be quite an upheaval, as the standards are going to be massively increased – training going from 100 contact hours to 360 guided learning hours…. And this is for ALL the awarding bodies – ITEC, City & Guilds and ABC Awards. Even VTCT is having to up it’s level of training to comply with new minimum standards in Reflexology training. This is a good thing!

How do I know this? It’s because I run one of the training schools, soon not to be AoR accredited.

Just one other thing – the website is a huge problem for the AoR at the moment – I know that Carolyn Storey is ‘spitting feathers’ about the company that is upgrading the members area – and is well aware of the rumors that the website has been ‘taken down’. Unfortunately, it’s all an unfortunate co-incidence – even if it does look like a great conspiracy theory.

The new training standards coming out in 2011 are going to be quite an upheaval, as the standards are going to be massively increased – training going from 100 contact hours to 360 guided learning hours…. And this is for ALL the awarding bodies – ITEC, City & Guilds and ABC Awards. Even VTCT is having to up it’s level of training to comply with new minimum standards in Reflexology training. This is a good thing!

Sorry for hijacking your thread with a question. Do you know if this will apply to other modalities... or just Reflexology? If your 'training school' teaches other modalities then you might know if the standards are changing for those, as well as for Reflexology?

Ava x

i totally agree with reki pixie it depends on your tudor and how committed you are as a student to the quality of your work. unfortunatley not everyone can afford some of the prices of courses or timings arent right but they feel passinote about the subject and will go out there way to learn as much as they can.
Ps can i ask what does MAR stand for

x

Hi Daisy, MAR stands for Member of the Association of Reflexologists. The AoR promotes the initials MAR as a sign of a properly training reflexologist, which in some respects it did. Having such a title never got me any work, in fact no title every got me work. Doing a good job gets me work.

Hi Ava, I think you will find that many bodywork modalites are going this way not just reflexology.

Best Wishes

RP

Hi Ava

Reiki Pixie is right - Body massage, aromatherapy, and reflexology are all included in these changes.

Unfortunately, these changes are not going to stop unscrupulous schools from still offering a short course in any of these therapies (and telling students they can call themselves an Aromatherapist or Reflexologist). It’s only going to effect the schools that are offering quality courses that are properly recognized by government and the best member organizations.

RP and Waywood - thanks very much for clarifying.

Ava x

Hi Jenny

The new training standards coming out in 2011 are going to be quite an upheaval, as the standards are going to be massively increased – training going from 100 contact hours to 360 guided learning hours…. And this is for ALL the awarding bodies – ITEC, City & Guilds and ABC Awards. Even VTCT is having to up it’s level of training to comply with new minimum standards in Reflexology training. This is a good thing!

hi david (and all)

contact hours and guided training are slightly different though, yes? mind you, 360 hours from 100 is quite a hike! just how more in depth do they want to go?!

things have certainly changed over the years. when i first did my massage course, we didnt even have to do case studies! but reflexology, case studies were 64 [hours at least] (10 x 4 treatments including all the write ups etc and then 24 one offs, incl. consultations).

its all very well have the standards, and yes, i think its an absolute must to have initial good training, but i'm not sure how the standards will be enforced when the public are probably more confused than us about qualifications!

a "friend" the other day was offering her beauty services - after only a weeks "intensive" training :eek:, and at a salon who'd given her a few hours work! i was horrified and "politely" rejected the offer of some waxing!! jeeez!

i sometimes cant help feeling that in order to comply with "standards", we are having to learn and teach waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy more than is ever ever necessary in practise. and i know, that even more will be doubled up and repeated in order to then comply.

at the end of the day, the market is saturated with therapists - just how many more do we need when clients dont have the money for the treatments anyway, and still view them as luxuries?

Hi Rosie

Haven't seen you on here for a while. The 360 hour GLH possibly includes personal study. I agree the market is saturated with therapists and in a recession as well, not a good combo. You can of course say that about most careers and industries. As for beauty therapy, now that is scary. All those potions, chemicals and electricity. But the powers-that-be don't care so much about the cosmetic industry as it doesn't step on the toes of the medical profession.

Best Wishes

RP

It is disappointing but I'm not quite sure what the AoR could do now that reflexology qualifications are going to be standardised.

As for the members' pages -the AoR hasn't closed them, they're waiting for a new website which should have been finished in April. I don't understand why the old site had to be taken down as usually an existing system would be kept in place until the new one is ready, but I do believe that's the reason rather than them trying to stifle discussion.

Hi Rosie :wave:

So good to see you on HP - not seen you here for a while (mind you, I disappeared for quite a while too).

Yes, you are right, contact hours are different to guided hours – but some of the awarding bodies are saying they classify guided as not including homework or case studies – so it’s going to be really interesting how that’s going to impact the schools. I think some schools are going to have to extend the course over two years – and that’s going to have an impact on costs!... Guess who’s going to have to pay for all this – yes, it’s going to be the poor old students.

Interestingly, therapies have all but dissapeered from FE colleges, as they have had their funding withdrawn, as well as being totally gobsmacked by the extra work that’s now involved.

I think qualifications are just getting harder and harder – it seems to be this way in all sectors of the marketplace…. However, if Reflexology, or any of the Complementary Therapies are going to get the recognition they deserve, driving standards upwards is a good way to go. The only caveat I would add is that these short courses (and distant learning) need banning. All the while we have these, there will still be therapists who don’t have the knowledge or practical expertise, and they will continue to drag down the reputation of good therapists that have worked hard and are doing a good job.

In answer to your statement on too many therapists in the marketplace - Maybe down in Surrey that’s the case – but up here (in the sunny east midlands) there is plenty of demand. Marie and I have plenty of work, with new clients every month. Long may it continue J

However, if Reflexology, or any of the Complementary Therapies are going to get the recognition they deserve, driving standards upwards is a good way to go. The only caveat I would add is that these short courses (and distant learning) need banning. All the while we have these, there will still be therapists who don’t have the knowledge or practical expertise, and they will continue to drag down the reputation of good therapists that have worked hard and are doing a good job.

Hi there,
I fully agree with what you are saying here....funny though, every time I say this on the forum, I get a telling off from the mods.

Thank you

Hi everyone and thank you all for the interesting and open minded debate.

I have had contact from Carolyn Storey at the AoR who clarified my confusion by explaining the minimum 360 guided learning hours that they will require as a measure of keeping standards high.

They did not, however, deny relinquishing their carefully monitored accredited training centres.

Jury is out as to how this will pan out in reality as some of you have already mentioned regarding the variations in standards of training and learning.

As an association, I can imagine that it is very challenging to introduce changes that are felt necessary in order to keep up with an ever moving target audience. Especially when it was so important to have clear communication through their website…. which was interrupted due to techie issues.

My take on it is that the cream will always rise to the top no matter what.

I too have worked with VTCT and ITEC trained practitioners who realised that their learning fell well short of “enough”, have then gone onto accredited training and their confidence as practitioners has risen with their competence.

Decent training and dedicated learning usually produces results that will always speak for themselves.

Thanks again one and all for the clarifications and comments.

Jenny

Hi there,
I fully agree with what you are saying here....funny though, every time I say this on the forum, I get a telling off from the mods.

Maybe they (forum owners, not mods, who let's face it are doing what they are told) are protecting any revenue received by advertising "fly by night" courses displayed to the right of the forum.

Still's, nae law agin it :rolleyes:

Maybe soon there will be.

"Patchouli awaits total ban now"!!!

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