Who are the SHTC?
Membership Criteria.
Why Choose our Members?
What are NOS?
What are appropriate Nationally accredited Standards?
Types of Therapy and Coaching Offered.
Finding a Therapist.
Approved Training Providers.
Links.
Homepage.
Contact Us
The SHTC only accepts members with an appropriate standard of professional training, to nationally accredited standards. We do not accept members with independently accredited awards.
Many training bodies and associations in the UK and abroad claim to "accredit" courses and therapists. Most of these are themselves independent organisations. Some are of a high standard, but the consumer has no guarantee of this.
Full practitioner membership is only available to members with awards accredited by QCA / SQA approved awarding bodies. Ordinary membership is available to those members who can not meet these standards.
- Some Qualifications are themselves directly
recognised
according to national standards. These include University Degrees and
NVQ (SNVQ in Scotland) awards.
- Some qualifications are awarded by independent colleges, but are subject to accreditation by awarding bodies who are themselves approved by the QCA (Qualification Curriculum Authority) / SQA (Scottish Curriculum Authority). Thus although provided by an independent provider, that provider meets the standards required for the award to be equivalent to a specified standard on the National Qualifications Framework.
It is generally accepted that Level 3 is equivalent to basic competence, therefore appropriate for carefully supported practice. Levels 4 and 5, and University Degrees are considered professional level qualifications.
Levels 1 and 2, and university accredited "introduction" or "basic foundation" courses may be accredited, but are not of a sufficiently high standard for membership.
Only qualifications directly related to the practice of the therapy or coaching in question are considered valid for membership. Being highly qualified in a non related field is not relevant to applications.
Associate members of the SHTC (ASHTC) have Level 3 awards, and are offered additional support to ensure competent service provision.
NEW: If you are a a graduate of a course that since your time of graduation has received accreditation at level 3 or 4, you will be accepted as an associate member. For example graduates of a course that since that time, and without substantial course change has now attained an ASET level 3 or 4 award, will be accepted as if they have an ASET level 3 award. This only applies where the course is essentially the same course pre and post accreditation.
Full members of the SHTC (MSHTC) have Level 4 or 5 awards or appropriate degrees, or have Level 3 awards with five years of post qualification experience.
Fellows of the SHTC (FSHTC) have level 4 or 5 awards or appropriate degrees, and over five years experience (those with initially level 3 awards, this is in addition to the five years to gain full membership). They must also be recommended by a Fellow of the SHTC or appropriately qualified health professional at equivalent level.
If your award is not accredited in the above ways, then you may still apply for "ordinary grade" membership. You may practice with this level membership, but you will not be able to advance in membership grade unless you complete additional accreditation.
Unsure if your award is to the required standard? Check whether the awarding body is accredited: Complete list of QCA approved awarding bodies HERE
Further information can be found off site, via our "links" section.