Who is your training accredited by?

So, you’ve decided to gain some new qualifications and when searching, so many of the courses state they are “fully accredited” or “fully insurable” but what does that actually mean?  

Previously we discussed the differences between NVQ and VTCT training compared to private training providers in a blog which can be read here Qualifications – Are you confused about the right route to take? (professionalbeautydirect.co.uk).  Accreditation usually applies to private courses and are a great way to identify if the course you are studying is valid.  However, “fully accredited” doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be universally recognised and accepted.

 
When choosing a training course, it is vital you make sure that you can obtain insurance once you have gained your qualification.  It is difficult to decide which training course is the right one for you, but it is also important to make sure the qualification you achieve is insurable too.  If you can’t get insurance, you cannot work.

Most, but not all, trainers use an insurance company logo on their qualification certificates and website which means that once you have successfully completed your training you can obtain insurance with that company.  

For example, if a course is accredited by XYZ insurance company, their accreditation means that they will insure it.  But if you happen to not be insured with XYZ Insurance company, your insurer may not recognise the qualification and may only accept their own accredited courses which can mean you have to train again or switch insurer.

Sometimes the logo on the qualification certificate is not an insurance company’s logo. If this is the case, you should check with the potential trainer who they recommend you get insurance with.  We have seen cases where the logo or name provided is similar to a well-established insurance company but is not actually an insurance company at all so you may want to check this carefully.

If you find a course that is accredited by several different insurance companies, it will be well recognised and give you the most choice of insurers. Sometimes however, there is no logo on the trainer’s website or certificate, so you need to make sure their training is insurable.

It’s always best to check with your trainer before enrolling on your course. Ask them who they recommend you take out insurance with and call the insurance company to check you meet their requirements.  For example, some qualifications may require you to hold an NVQ in beauty at a level 3 as a prerequisite to go on to learn the advanced treatments.  If you pay for training and then cannot get insurance upon completion, you have wasted your time and money.

Any reputable trainer will be happy to discuss insurance options with you and be fully transparent about what you can do with the qualification you gain through them.

At Professional Beauty Direct all our accredited trainers are listed on the accredited trainers page on our website in alphabetical order so you can check immediately if a trainer is accredited by us to give you peace of mind.
 

01/11/2022