ITEC qualifications are the best way to start your career in the complementary and sports industries.
》ITEC qualifications are recognised in over 39 countries worldwide
》The ITEC qualifications we offer are mapped to UK Government standards (RQF) and regulated by Ofqual, meaning you know that your qualification will be well recognised as a professional qualification in the UK and will stand the test of time as regulations become stricter on unregulated qualifications.
》An ITEC qualification proves you have:
• full knowledge and understanding of your subject
• the highest level of practical skills
• certainty that you are a professional therapist able to work internationally
》ITEC Registers and inspects all colleges delivering ITEC programmes
• This ensures rigorous standards for training
• External exam invigilators ensure your underpinning knowledge and skills are assessed without bias and to the highest standard
》ITEC Graduates work:
As self employed therapists working from home or mobile
In spas, clinics, salons and health farms
In the Health Service
At sports centres, clubs and leisure centres
On cruise liners
+WHY CHOOSE AN FHT ACCREDITED CPD/SHORT COURSE?
FHT accreditation ensures that training providers and prospective students can be sure that qualifications and short courses have been independently and externally assessed, meeting the highest standards.
The Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) is the largest and leading professional association for therapists in the UK and Ireland. With thousands of members offering a broad range of specialisms - from sports and remedial therapies, to complementary healthcare and holistic beauty treatments – the FHT is the association of choice for professional therapists.
+WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DIPLOMA AND A CERTIFICATE ?
The main difference between a Diploma and a Certificate is the amount of guided learning hours. A Certificate requires fewer reccommended guided learning hours. All our ITEC Level 3 courses are Diplomas. We offer a Level 4 and Level 5 Certificate in Sports Massage - this is the next level up from a Level 3 Diploma.
+WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEVEL 3 AND LEVEL 4 SPORTS MASSAGE?
Level 3 will give you your basic hand skills and ability to perform a competent postural assessment to asses any imbalances in the body. We have also included Trigger Point therapy on our L3 course (usually reserved for L4) as we feel this is a really important tool to aid your treatments as a L3 therapist. By the end of the Level 3 course, you will be able to perform a pre and post event massage, and assess and give a sports massage treatment based on your findings.
The Level 4 will push your skills further, teaching you special tests (used by osteopaths, physios etc) to more thoroughly assess a client’s condition, allowing you to be more specific to which muscle/joint might be dysfunctional. You will also learn a variety of techniques to aid their recovery including Soft Tissue Release and Muscular Energy Techniques.
To be competitive in the industry, the Level 4 is really essential but lots of people choose to take some time between them to go away and practice/earn some money as a L3 therapist before returning to study the L4.
+WHY TRAIN WITH THE COTSWOLD ACADEMY ?
Here at the Academy, we are passionate about delivering quality training in Complementary Therapies to ensure each student gains a professional qualification of the highest level. We believe the combination of expertly trained, passionate tutors, quality assured certification, and our on-going support for students, helps grow our students into highly successful therapists.
What set's us apart from the rest...?
Guaranteed small group tuition (max 10 per tutor) for maximum individual support.
Passionate, experienced tutors committed to the highest standards in the industry
Private therapy rooms can be used free of charge whilst training with us to complete your case studies and treatment logs
Free Thursday evening support - available throughout your training and when qualified
ITEC & FHT certified courses - quality assured
Option to apply for an NUS student discount card!
A fun, friendly environment to study and meet like minded people
+IS THERE PARKING AT THE COTSWOLD ACADEMY?
Unfortunately, we have limited parking reserved for tutors and staff members only during week day courses. There is free on street parking within 5 minutes walk (Barton Lane, The Mead & up by the Cirencester Rugby Club on The Whiteway are good spots). If your course is in the evening or on weekends, you are able to use this parking as we can overflow into the next door business carpark. Under special circumstances such as disability, we can pre-arrange for you to park at the Academy. Please call us to discuss this. Alternatively, there is also paid parking very close. For more information, check Parkopedia
+WHERE WILL TRAINING BE HELD?
All your class tuition and exams will be held in our beautiful Grade 11 listed building based in Cirencester. Our address is:
24 Thomas Street Cirencester Gloucestershire GL72BD
You are also welcome to book our therapy rooms to use during your time studying with us to complete your case studies and treatment logs free of charge!
+CAN I WORK AS A THERAPIST ONCE I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE?
Once you have taken your final exams and successfully passed, you will be able to apply for appropriate insurance and practice professionally. Your ITEC qualification will show you have been trained to a level of excellence.
It can take up to 6 weeks for your certificate to come through from ITEC after you have taken your exams. If you would like to begin practicing straight away, we can arrange to send you a letter that will allow you to gain insurance before your certificate arrives.
+HOW CAN I PAY FOR MY COURSE?
Diploma Courses:
Normal Terms: A 25% deposit is payable immediately to secure your place when booking online, with the remaining balance due at least 4 weeks prior to the start of your course.
Instalment Plans: We are able to offer an instalment plan to help spread to course cost over 6 or 12 months. A fee will apply for this. When on your chosen course, if an instalment plan option is available, it will show you the breakdown of payments.
CPD/Short Courses:
The full balance for 1 day courses will be payable on booking. For all 2 day courses, a 25% deposit is due on booking, with the remaining balance due 4 weeks before your course start date. Payment can be made by credit/debit card online when booking your course. To pay by bank transfer or cheque, please call the Academy to book your course manually.
+I'M A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES. CAN I USE ELC (ENHANCED LEARNING CREDITS) TO PAY FOR MY COURSE?
Yes! We are pleased to be a part of ELCAS. All our Diploma courses can be paid for by ELCAS. You can visit our course page here
We can however offer instalment plans to help spread course fees. Do get in touch to discuss payment options; we are always looking to support students in starting their journey and will do what we can to make it possible.
+HOW DO I ENROL AND SECURE MY PLACE ON A COURSE?
Online: To book your place, go to the course you are interested in, select the date you wish to attend and "add course to basket". When you are ready to proceed, click on the basket at the top of the website and click "checkout". Please then follow the prompts through the checkout to make payment via credit or debit card to confirm your booking.
Over the Phone: Please feel free to call us on 01285 885 122 and we can take the details of your booking over the phone.
+HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ON EACH COURSE?
We have a maximum of 8-10 students on each course at the Academy. Occasionally we will go up to 12; in this instance, there will be 2 Tutors in the class with you. We believe that in order to deliver excellent training, class numbers must remain small to allow the tutors to give each student maximum support in their learning. All our courses are very practical; this is essential to give our students the hands on experience they need to go into the world as first class practitioners.
+WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN (HOLISTIC) MASSAGE & SPORTS MASSAGE?
Sports Massage (Level 3 Dip. in Sports Massage)
Sports massage is designed to assist in correcting problems and imbalances in soft tissue that are caused from repetitive and strenuous physical activity and trauma; from sporting activities, to doing the gardening! The application of sports massage, prior to and after exercise, may enhance performance, aid recovery and prevent injury. Quite often a treatment will include a postural assessment, range of movement testing, following by a treatment designed for your specific needs.
Swedish/Holistic Massage (Level 3 Dip. in Massage)
As the best-known type of bodywork performed today, one of the primary goals of the Swedish/holistic massage technique is to relax the entire body. This is accomplished by massaging the muscles with long gliding strokes in the direction of blood returning to the heart. But Swedish/Holistic therapy goes far beyond relaxation, it is exceptionally beneficial for increasing the level of oxygen in the blood, decreasing muscle toxins, improving circulation and flexibility while easing tension, supporting homeostasis of the body.
