Foot Health Diploma - have you heard of it?

Will_d

Hi folks,

A relative of mine is thinking of enrolling on a foot health diploma course as they want a change of career. It's £2,000 upfront, and the course provider seems legit.

However, as the provider - the SMAE Institute - isn't an NHS affiliate, I want to be doubly sure it's a reputable organization. Moreover, that the qualifications it dispenses are reputable.

Has anybody heard of the SMAE Institute and its operations?

I appreciate this is a stab in the dark, but the forum users here offer a wealth of knowledge, so it's worth picking the brain of the hive mind.

Many thanks in advance.

InsideInsurance

They've been going, as a legal entity at least, since 1992 and so whilst the 1919 in their company name feels a little disingenuous it may be they had a prior legal structure and even if they didnt they have clearly been going for over 20 years.

They do however have a couple of years recently of the company being dormant which would ring alarm bells

The site says their qualifications are accredited by Queen Margaret University, have you checked with them that this is true?

There does seem to be a fair range of people and places where SMAE Institute is mentioned and so the odds are it is legitimate

Will_d

Thanks very much for that response.

I'll get in touch with QMU to check out if the accreditation claims are true.

:beer:

FBaby

What career are they looking for? Podiatry? If so, have they checked that it is recognised by the institute of podiatry?

collingbone614

You need to look at the person specifications that are found in job adverts.

Look at job adverts in the foot health sector and see whether or not they require a Foot Health Diploma.

If many of them say that it is a desirable or esential criteria, it seems that having the diploma might help him/her.

If most of them don't mention the diploma, it seems it might not be a good way for him/her to spend their time and money.

missbiggles1

FBaby wrote: »

What career are they looking for? Podiatry? If so, have they checked that it is recognised by the institute of podiatry?

Proper Podiatry courses are honours degrees.

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/allied-health-professions/careers-in-the-allied-health-professions/chiropodistpodiatrist/entry-and-training/

Will_d

FBaby wrote: »

What career are they looking for? Podiatry? If so, have they checked that it is recognised by the institute of podiatry?

I didn't think of that. I'll check it out this afternoon.

The link with QMU proved legitimate after doing further research.

collingbone614 wrote: »

You need to look at the person specifications that are found in job adverts.

Look at job adverts in the foot health sector and see whether or not they require a Foot Health Diploma.

If many of them say that it is a desirable or esential criteria, it seems that having the diploma might help him/her.

Good point. I looked for local podiatry assistant jobs, but couldn't find any. I'll do another, wider search with that particular criterion in mind.

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Proper Podiatry courses are honours degrees.

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/allied-health-professions/careers-in-the-allied-health-professions/chiropodistpodiatrist/entry-and-training/

Yes. They originally wanted to train up as a podiatrist, until I told them that it's a three year undertaking. The diploma is the next best thing.

As for the diploma's career-enhancing powers, that's another matter…

:undecided

skintpaul

£2k seems A LOT, for any course.