For reasons of now-dried up loyalty to ITEC, I joined the IGPP, and also the BCMA. As I am abroad, it is more respectable to be able to show that I am a member of a respected professional body from the country where my qualifications were from. When I moved to the USA, I joined the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, the ABMP here, one of 3 major massage/bodywork associations. That's when I noticed the real difference between the UK bodies, and the US bodies.
For the money I've given to IGPP, (GBP60) I get a website that has not very much except ways to spend more money on getting my CPD, or paying to have my CPD recognised. I get the occassional magazine of interest to me, but does this really mean my interests are represented? Oh, by the way, I'm not renewing my membership of IGPP next year...
For the money I've given to the BCMA, (GBP50) I get a website that has information that is of interest to me, but more importantly, through e-mails, I get news of what is happening on the legislative front, and at least I get a sense that they are doing something for me, trying to represent the many sub-bodies that come under their umbrella.
For the money I've given to the ABMP (USD200/GBO110) , not only do I get a journal every two months full of articles of interest to me (and advertisements, most not of interest, but this is America!) and my development, I get insurance, I get an association's website that is full of advice on how to market myself. Not only that, I get a book on how to start up, and where to get my equipment, and I can download ready-made business cards and stationery off the website. The website also has ready-prepared client information material ("What to expect in a massage session", "What is massage therapy" etc) with space to customise it with my address and details. I only need to download, print and fold.
What more, I have my own professional e-mail address, and webspace to set up a website. I also have the facility to prepare client newsletters by selecting which articles I want from an article bank of short articles that have appeared in the journal, and just adding my name, selecting a font - and the website will generate a PDF file, that I can download. I can then send the file to a colour printer, or somewhere that can print that newlsetter for me. The ABMP also lobbies state governments, and keeps me up to date with developments in all the states.
Thanks to the in-fighting, we seem to have a plethora of little groups in the UK, I do not know if we will ever have an association as helpful as that of the ABMP in the UK.
What do you guys think - do you think our associations in the UK are doing enough to represent us? Or are they really just places for us to get insurance, in which case, why don't I just get my insurance directly as opposed to getting it through these bodies? (In the USA, many people go direct to the insurers because it is cheaper.)
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
that certainly sounds like a good organisation.
i didnt join ITEC on getting the qualifications, because i too felt that for my £90 odd, i wanted more than a quarterly newsletter that is mostly about how great ITEC are, insurance (i can get it cheaper), a badge, stickers for my car and not much more.
no i dont think they are doing enough and i dont like the idea of them insisting on folk spending more on CPD's... that should be totally up to you as a therapist. i am sure that many do indeed do further training, if its an area of interest, but it should not be because you have got to. funnily enough, we dont actuall make a fortune at what we do, to spend more on training that is not necessarily going to secure more business.
maybe i will move to the states! ;o)
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
I too am a memeber of IGPP, and I hate the way that you have to get the CPD credits every year.
As a part time, self employed therapist, with 3 young children one of whom is severley mentally and physically disabled, I just do not have the time or the vast amounts of money necessary every year to fulfill the 10 credit criteria.
I have this year done a workshop - for my own interest - which will cover my CPD, and am soon to do Reiki I - but next year, I am not sure I will be able to do any courses. Not because I am not interested in furthering myself, I read countless useful texts when I have spare moments, but can only count 5 credits per year for this.
I agree that the magazine every 3 months isnot alot for our money, the USA organisation sounds fantastic - i do receive emails from AMTA which are informative, but not much use to UK therapists!
Karen
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
Hi,
I LOVE the ABMP idea! If only we had that in the UK.
As the prorietor of a growing company, I know from experience that when the time is right for me to find other people, they will most probably belong to the IGPP. This is mainly because of the CPD requirement. As the Central London Local Group co-ordinator, I know that all you need for the CPD credits is to attend 3 Local Group meetings and read on your subject of interest. My Local Group meetings are only £5.00 for members, and I would happily charge £4.00 for concessions, and that is only because the events are run at commercial premises. Some Local Groups charge the same and some charge less, so I hope this helps you, Karen. The time needed is only about 1 hour, and you may be able to take the children along, no harm in asking.
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
Don't get me wrong about CPD - I do believe we all should continually update our skills. It's just IGPP's way of insisting you have to do their approved courses, or pay to have them verify the course is approved. We are professionals.... and the other bodies like BCMA do have CPD requirements, but they don't have to be from an "approved" course. I mean - I'm in the USA. I'll use my aromatherapy course as my continuing professions developement, but it's a bit of a laugh because my aromatherapy certificate took me 340 hours, which is a darn sight more than my ITEC AP&M, my Indian Head Massage, Rwo-Shr reflexology, and Lymphatic Drainage combined!!!
The only problem with moving to the US is that our massage qualifications are not recognised in most states the regulate massage (38 of 50) and alot of energy from AMBP is spent trying to fight over-regulation. I am fortunate in that the state of Ohio only regulates medical massage, so massage for relaxation (which is what I claim to do) is fine. As Karen mentions the AMTA, the lead massage therapy body, is the main body that sets the standards, and works the regulations for the profession. Very active in trying to make massage respectable to the medical community. Or as some would say, too active in that channel, in that the ABMP people would say it makes massage an adjunct to medicine, losing out on the holistic aspects of it.
I have yet to see any strong lobbying or other activity among our UK bodies. For instance, have you heard of any research work being commissioned by the professional bodies?
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
couldn't agree more as a member of the IGPP. What got me this time when I flicked through the list of accredited CPD courses was a course something like 'Meet your Angels'!!!! I mean! How can they expect to be taken seriously when they accredit courses like that? What a joke.
I'm moving this thread to therapies, it'll get a lot more hits there.
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
i'd be interested to know what other members of associations think... do they get a good deal for their money? most have got to be upwards of £75 or so, i'd think.
another of my objections is their reluctance to accept each others qualifications without giving more time and evidence. i.e. you do ITEC massage but AoR reflexology... i dont think ITEC will accept an AoR qualification without you doing something else to *prove* you had worthy testing, and certainly vice versa... so then, do you join both????
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
Good point Rosie. The AOR won't accept the ITEC qualification either unless you do it at an approved AOR school. I therefore have an ITEC qualification but would need to do more to satisfy the AOR that I was good enough! ie provide info to them on my work and sit an exam to get in and pay for it all. How daft is that? Seems they work together when it suits them only.
VTCT genuinely seem to care more from what I see. They provide better back up and training and information and have a good website, but I can't access most of it! Got the wrong badge!
I will be looking elsewhere next year. I sent the IGPP my reflexology certificate last time and also my NAET stuff and paid extra for them to look into the NAET course (which is attended by doctors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, osteos etc) so there shouldn't be a problem, though I realise they wouldn't know what it was) but they didn't even do it and didn't even put my reflexology on my insurance! How bad is that!
I'll get my insurance somewhere else then.[:@]
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
Oh and if you think it is bad now, wait till we all get regulated. We will all need to pay for our separate therapies then![:@]
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
Anyone any views on IPTI? - Was under the impression (from my colleges) that I HAD to join either IGPP or IPTI - is this not true? Can I get insurance without having to belong to one of these professional bodies or do I have to be a member of a body?
Confused
Seeker
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
I'm with the IPTI. I have to say that as with all of them you dont get much for your money. The usual 6 monthly newsletter etc , but as a small 'family' organisation, they do seem put themselves out for you if you have any queeries and emails etc are always answered promptly.
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
yes you can get independant insurance... and maybe should! the more people that *object* to being fleeced by these organisations the better. professional beauty direct will insure you... and accept the major qualifications and may even look into other ones.
candie, i thought your reflex was ITEC... how come IGPP wont accept it?
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
Having started this mess, perhaps I shouldn't ask.. but...
What can we do about this? The ABMP started out as a means to get insurance and is for-profit, so is driven to get as many people as possible under its umbrella.
Most of our associations are in-theory, not-for-profit but you know what, I'm not exactly sure as to their status.
Having said that, what I meant to say was that, unless we agree that some of our subscriptions are to be creamed off to provide the back-up services that the ABMP can do, then really, an association is only as good as the people are willing to put in it.
How many of us are willing to volunteer our time and effort to help the association? Or do we want a for profit organisation that will spend part of the money we give it to pay the officers, staff and administration, and use the leftover for our association's purpose?
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
Hi Rosie, confused? You should be?! ha ha.... if you mean my comments about IGPP not putting my reflexology on insurance, they simply overlooked it. It isn't that it isn't recognsied, it is simply that they cannot do a simple admin job.
ie you send them your latest certificate and they don't add your details to your insurance. Value for money eh?
I actually thought (fooooool that I am) that you had to be a member to get insurance, but if this is not true, then stuff it. Until we actually have to be a member then what on earth is the point?
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
I suppose Candie, the point of being a member of a professional association was to demonstrate:
(i) Competence - we have received training
(ii) Integrity - we abide by an ethical code
(iii) Interest of the public - it is there to ensure that the services we provide are in the interest of the public
(iv) Interest of the professsion - to help me develop in the profession, to ensure there will be one after the current lot leave.
If I look at this, then providing insurance should not be a part of the association's role. Neither the Bar, nor the Institute of Chartered Accountants nor the Chartered Institute of Taxation provide insurance - they mandate it for certain categories of members (those in public practice) but they don't sell it.
I see the all 3 of those bodies making sure that the voice of the profession is heard, and that they defend the interests of the professional (or self-interest, one could say.) They also have schemes to help new people start up.
At least the ABMP, which is a commercial body, is taking steps by providing materials etc to help new starters or other members who wants new ideas on how to promote themselves. I just don't see that happening with IGPP...
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
I'm doing an ITEC Holistic course, qualifying at the end of year (and in the meantime doing Reiki course) then starting BTEC sports in Jan. Because of IPTIs 'renewal in March' set up, and the fact they charge to add therapies to the policy it all works out very expensive. As far as I can see membership of an professional organisation seems to mean nothing in practical terms, so I've gone through an insurance company I met at the Comp. Health Expo - and its worked out at half the price IPTI quoted.
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
candie, i believe you do have to be a member to get their insurance, you cant just have their insurance.. you can, however, have independant insurance and they will accept you as a member BUT the insurance you have has to be similiar to theirs (i.e. £2m). at the time of my enquiry, not many independant insurers did £2m, but now they do but i thought, sod it anyway!
i cant be doing with it. i do not, for one minute, believe these companies are not turning a pretty good profit.
dazza... yes, i like your ideas for why we should be members. unfortunately i dont see ITEC promoting themselves very well... i.e. magazine articles on reflexology for instance always tell the readers to find therapists from AoR or BRA. i wonder if ITEC contact the editors and ask how come the journalists arent doing a thorough job and mention either all the organisations or none! its misleading otherwise. (lol this is my personal soapbox!... and i have called mags on it!).
what do you suggest? that those of us not members should perhaps write to the organisations and express our reasons for not joining?
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
ORIGINAL: Steppa
I'm doing an ITEC Holistic course, qualifying at the end of year (and in the meantime doing Reiki course) then starting BTEC sports in Jan. Because of IPTIs 'renewal in March' set up, and the fact they charge to add therapies to the policy it all works out very expensive. As far as I can see membership of an professional organisation seems to mean nothing in practical terms, so I've gone through an insurance company I met at the Comp. Health Expo - and its worked out at half the price IPTI quoted.
I'm with the IPTI and they dont charge to add therapies. However, I agree you dont get much for your money and their web site is pants.
You can also get independent insurance directly from H&L Balen, as well as professional beauty. I think its about £50.
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
ORIGINAL: Vatika
I'm with the IPTI and they dont charge to add therapies.
Hey Vatika...they told me last Thursday it costs around £10 per therapy..not a lot, but it all adds up. I went with Towergate SMG in the end but Balens looks good too..Shame we havent got something like in the States mentioned before..I'm all for paying a little extra to support organisations that offer support in return
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
IPTI now charge to add new training in which you undertake case studies.
So it will cost me a tenner for my itec aromatherapy.
RE: Professional Associations: IGPP/BCMA/ITPI/FHT etc
I had also heard Balen's were good for independent insurance.