You will probably have lots of questions before you enrol and we have tried to answer the most common ones below.
If your question isn't here or you would like to speak with someone please call our dedicated and knowledgeable team of advisors
Monday to Wednesday 9.00am to 8.00pm
Thursdays 9.00am to 5.30pm
Fridays 9.00am to 5.00pm.
01395 279968
Can I get insurance after the course?
Is the CIBT diploma enough to get a job?
What should I consider when choosing a Training School?
Why should I enter for qualifications?
What is the difference between NVQ and IHBC?
Which is the best qualification to do?
How long will it take to get my qualifications?
How do I achieve my qualifications?
How much extra will it cost to do the qualifications?
What happens if I fail an assessment - do I have to pay again?
How much is the course deposit and when is the balance due?
Can I pay by installments?
Where can I go to get help with grants or funding?
Why are the courses so much shorter than at colleges of further education?
Will I get plenty of practice on the course?
Are the course lecturers fully qualified?
What is in the starter kits?
I live a long way from the college - where will I stay?
How do I get to Windsor?
How do I get to Exmouth?
What time do the courses start and finish?
What should I wear to the course?
English is not my first language. Will I be able to take the course?
I have special needs. Will I be able to take the course?
Is there a recommended reading list?
What does the lunch include?
What happens if I have to cancel or postpone my course?
Can I get insurance after the course?
Our courses are recognised by all the leading industry associations such as BABTAC, The Guild and FHT. You will have no problem arranging inexpensive insurance and we will send you full details in your enrolment pack.
Is the CIBT diploma enough to get a job?
Many owners of beauty salons, nail bars and spas our aware of our excellent reputation and are happy to employ therapists holding our diploma. In fact every year hundreds of salons send their own therapists to us for training.
What should I consider when choosing a training school?
* Check that the school offers recognised external qualifications such as NVQ or IHBC. If it doesn't then it has not been independantly verified and the training will not be to National or International standards.
* Ensure that all teaching staff have teaching qualifications, not just health & beauty qualifications.
* Ask whether the course will enable you to obtain membership and insurance with one of the therapy associations.
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Will the course still run if there are not enough students?
* Does the course include a starter kit or will you also have to purchase a kit in order to do the course?
* What kind of support does the school give to students after they have taken the course?
Why should I enter for qualifications?
If you have put time and money into taking a course it seems a shame not to go on to receive national and/or international recognition for this in the form of professional qualifications. After the course your next step anyway is to practice and make sure that you have really learnt everything by reading your manual. You will also need to complete client records for each of the friends that you practice on.
If you are doing all this then you are well on your way to gaining your qualifications anyway so you might as well register for them!
Clients and Employers will expect you to have qualifications. Some local authorities will require it.
Qualifications are a mark of your professionalism and provide evidence that you take your occupation seriously.
What is the difference between NVQ and IHBC?
Our awarding body is VTCT (Vocational Training Charitable Trust) who have approved us as an assessment centre for their qualifications. Click here for further details
Which is the best qualification to do?
Employers and clients generally like their therapists to hold as many qualifications as possible. Some employers may favour a particular qualification. Both qualifications require exactly the same amount of study and if you register to do both you will still only do the same amount of work. Most of our students therefore register to do both the NVQ and the International qualification (i.e. IHBC or IIHHT)
How long will it take to get my qualifications?
This depends on the individual student and the courses she/he is taking. If you are a fast learner, have people to practice on straight away and can therefore put your portfolio together quickly, then we would hope to see you for your assessment in a couple of months. The majority of students like to take a little longer than this and our team in the office are happy to help and guide you as much as you need (If you need it you actually have 3 years to complete, depending on the qualification!)
How do I achieve my qualifications?
CASE STUDIES : You will need to give treatments on as many clients as it takes to complete the “range” specified for the particular module. For some modules this may be 4 or 5 clients but for some this may be more. You will complete records for each client which will go into your portfolio.
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE: We will send you questions to test your knowledge which you may complete at home using your Manual or text book. These must go into your portfolio.
PORTFOLIO: We will send you everything you need to build your portfolio with clear instructions on how to put it together. Help is also at hand by calling the office.
ASSESSMENT: Once you have had plenty of practice, have completed your portfolio and feel ready, you will need to return to us for assessment.
How much extra will it cost to do the qualifications?
It is about £66 per module or a little more if you are doing both NVQ and IHBC/IIHHT. There is a 20% discount
if you register before your course. The fee covers everything you need:
* Study notes and/or assignments
* Stationery for your case studies and portfolio
* Guidance on portfolio building
* Further training as required
* Marking and assessing your portfolio
* Use of our equipment and products during your assessments
* Posting your marked portfolio back to you
* VAT at 17.5%
* The Registration fee we pay to awarding body (VTCT) on your behalf
What happens if I fail an assessment - do I have to pay again?
No - retakes are completely free of charge.
Our pass rate is around 97%
How much is the course deposit and when is the balance due?
One, two or three day courses = £100. Earpiercing = £10
Evening or 1/2 day courses = £50. Combined courses = £200
The balance is due 14 days before commencement of the course.
Can I pay by installments?
Although we don't offer installments, you can stagger your payments by enrolling on one course at a time. If you are doing a combined course we can help by allowing you to spread the modules out over a couple of months and paying as you go.
Where can I go to get help with grants or funding?
There are discretionary grants available but eligibility will depend on individual circumstances. Some of our students living in Wales who have been made redundant have received grants of up to £2500. For useful links click here.
Why are the courses so much shorter than at colleges of further education?
Fast-track training in small groups of students who really want to learn speeds things up considerably.
Although we cover the essential theory for safety & hygiene reasons, most of the training is practical.
At home you are expected to undertake further study by reading your manual and/or recommended text books which you would otherwise do during your college time.
If you are continuing on to external qualifications you will be completing your case studies at home rather than at college.
Will I get plenty of practice on the course?
Yes - clients/models are brought in for most courses and you will also be expected to experience treatments from fellow students.
Are the course lecturers fully qualified?
All our lecturers hold teaching qualifications, are registered assessors and have professional qualifications in all the subject areas that they teach.
What is in the starter kits?
Included in the price of most courses is a starter kit of all the items needed to enable you to start practising as soon as you leave us. We have taken the guesswork out of choosing the right products and only the highest quality professional products and equipment are supplied to our students. The kits contain enough product for you to recoup the cost of your training before you need to buy further supplies. Click here for full details
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I live a long way from the college - where will I stay?
You will receive our Accommodation List in your enrolment pack. It has details of B & Bs, Guest Houses
and hotels within 5 - 25 minutes walking distance. Prices start at £25 per night.
How do I get to Windsor?
* A location map is included in your enrolment pack.
* By road Click here - choose Route Planner "get a route".
* By rail Click here - choose "planning your journey".
Both stations are a 2 minute walk.
* Heathrow airport is 20 minutes by road.
How do I get to Exmouth?
* A location map is included in your enrolment pack.
* By road Click here - choose Route Planner "get a route".
* By rail Click here - choose "planning your journey".
Exmouth station is a 2 minute walk.
* Exeter airport is 20 minutes by road.
What time do the courses start and finish?
Most daytime courses start at 9.30am and finish at 4.30pm except Make-up and Manicure/pedicure which start at 9.00am. Registration is 15 minutes before the start of the course. Evening courses start at 4.45pm and finish at 6.30pm (Sugaring or Body wrap), 7.15 (Spray Tanning), 7.30pm (Henna or Facial), 8.00pm (Lash/Brows or Lash Perm), 8.45pm (Cosmetic tanning or Brazilian Waxing).
Times are approximate
What should I wear to the course?
We do not insist that our students wear uniform, however, if you already have a therapist’s dress or tunic please wear it. Clothing should be comfortable with short sleeves or sleeves that can be rolled up and a cardigan is useful. Jewellery (except wedding rings) must be removed, so for safekeeping we recommend that you leave most jewellery at home. Hair must be secured away from the face. Nails should be short, without varnish or extensions.
English is not my first language. Will I be able to take the course?
If English is not your first language and you feel that you may have difficulties understanding parts of the course, please discuss this with us prior to the course so that we can help to make it as beneficial as possible for you.
If a student is unable to answer written or oral questions to show a satisfactory understanding of the safety and hygiene principles taught, we reserve the right not to award our certificate which states that students have “successfully attained the required standard”.
I have special needs. Will I be able to take the course?
Naturally we would recommend that you discuss your needs with us and we will do our utmost to help you gain your qualifications. For example, we have many students for whom English is not their first language and are able to help them by allowing them to bring an interpreter or by asking them oral questions.
Is there a recommended reading list?
Yes - you will receive it in your enrolment pack. Text books start at £14.99 and are available from most good book shops. If you are studying for external qualifications they will be very useful.
What does the lunch include?
A light sandwich lunch is provided on all day courses which includes a vegetarian selection. A full range of refreshments are also available throughout the day.
What happens if I have to cancel or postpone my course?
Deposits and course payments are non refundable and non transferable. Failure to attend a confirmed course will result in the loss of all payments made for that course.
In the event of a genuine reason for cancellation (proof of which may be required) a request for transfer to a later course will be considered at the discretion of The Carlton Institute. If the request is successful an administration fee of £15 per course will be charged.
