What is a bridging course?
In short: it is where students study for the ABC Diploma qualification at an AoR accredited centre, but where any relevant previous learning or assessment that meets ABC standards is taken into account.
We have been running bridging courses by some AoR centres for several years. It is where a person, who has already qualified on another reflexology course, either wants access to full AoR membership or they wish to pass the recognised qualification (now the ABC Level 3 Diploma in Reflexology). Doing a bridging course means that you will do the ABC Level 3 Diploma in Reflexology. However, bridging can allow that person to spend less time training or to carry out fewer assessments. This is possible if you have demonstrated to the tutor that you have the knowledge required, and/or can show evidence of assessed work that meets ABC standards.
Bridging enables a person who has already achieved a reflexology qualification to achieve the ABC qualification in less time or with less work. This process is known in the education sector as Accredited Prior Learning (APL) or Accredited Prior Achievement (APA). It recognises what students have done before (where it meets required standards). It is part of any students’ equal opportunities rights to have prior learning or achievement recognised.
Who gets referred to attend a bridging course?
You do not need to do a bridging course if you have achieved a substantial Reflexology qualification. You would have to provide evidence that you have achieved100 hours contact teaching, at least 9 months duration and have an external theory exam. Applicants do need to do bridging if they have achieved a reflexology qualification which does not meet all of the criteria above. A typical example would be someone has achieved the VTCT Diploma in Reflexology. This course does not meet the above criteria because there is not an external exam. They therefore need to achieve the AoR qualification.
What assessments are required?
Bridging students need to pass the ABC Level 3 Diploma in Reflexology course. They need to pass all assessment components of the course including the theory exam. For example if the student has already completed 3 very good case studies on their previous course, these can be re-assessed by the tutor against the ABC case study assessment criteria. If those case studies pass then there will be 3 further case studies to do to make up the minimum ABC requirement of 6 case studies. The student will also need to complete the quota of 60 treatments. If the case studies did not quite meet ABC standards the tutor can ask the student to do further work on them, or if the case studies are clearly below standards the tutor may ask the student to write them again or to start some fresh case studies. That decision is at the discretion of the tutor who needs to guide and support the student to meet all standards in the same way as any other student. These students will also need to do the First Aid course for eligibility for full AoR membership.
What teaching is required?
Students doing the ABC course need to complete at least 100 hours of tutor contact. If on initial assessment it is clear that the student has good knowledge of all or certain parts of the course, such as A&P, then the tutor at their discretion may allow the student to miss certain lessons. In this case the 100 hour requirement will have been contributed to by some of the hours of the previous course.
If on initial assessment it is clear to the tutor that the student’s knowledge in all areas is insufficient then the student will have to attend all the lessons. If having marked some case studies or other set work it is clear that the students knowledge is not as comprehensive or deep as was originally thought then the tutor may ask the student to attend further sessions. It will need to be made clear to the student from the outset that their progress is being monitored and the attendance that is agreed at the start may need to be revised.
Do they become Student Members?
Bridging students need to become student members of the AoR in the same way as full course students. When they pass the qualification they can upgrade to Full membership. As student members they can enjoy the many benefits of AoR membership, including receiving Reflexions journal; access to the member’s area on the web site; attendance at Seminars, conferences and Area Groups.
How long does a bridging course last?
This is not a fixed duration. Many students that do bridging at the Central London College of Reflexology in a short space of time. Very often they need to (and are happy to) do the full course
Do the bridging students receive a qualification?
Yes the students study and achieve the ABC qualification. They have to meet all the assessment requirements of the qualification including the theory exam.
The student has passed their bridging course - how do they become a full member?
People that do a bridging course must become student members and be registered for the ABC qualification in the same way as students doing the full course. So they receive their ABC certificate and apply for full membership in the same way.
What happens next?
In short: it is where students study for the ABC Diploma qualification at an AoR accredited centre, but where any relevant previous learning or assessment that meets ABC standards is taken into account.
We have been running bridging courses by some AoR centres for several years. It is where a person, who has already qualified on another reflexology course, either wants access to full AoR membership or they wish to pass the recognised qualification (now the ABC Level 3 Diploma in Reflexology). Doing a bridging course means that you will do the ABC Level 3 Diploma in Reflexology. However, bridging can allow that person to spend less time training or to carry out fewer assessments. This is possible if you have demonstrated to the tutor that you have the knowledge required, and/or can show evidence of assessed work that meets ABC standards.
Bridging enables a person who has already achieved a reflexology qualification to achieve the ABC qualification in less time or with less work. This process is known in the education sector as Accredited Prior Learning (APL) or Accredited Prior Achievement (APA). It recognises what students have done before (where it meets required standards). It is part of any students’ equal opportunities rights to have prior learning or achievement recognised.
Who gets referred to attend a bridging course?
You do not need to do a bridging course if you have achieved a substantial Reflexology qualification. You would have to provide evidence that you have achieved100 hours contact teaching, at least 9 months duration and have an external theory exam. Applicants do need to do bridging if they have achieved a reflexology qualification which does not meet all of the criteria above. A typical example would be someone has achieved the VTCT Diploma in Reflexology. This course does not meet the above criteria because there is not an external exam. They therefore need to achieve the AoR qualification.
What assessments are required?
Bridging students need to pass the ABC Level 3 Diploma in Reflexology course. They need to pass all assessment components of the course including the theory exam. For example if the student has already completed 3 very good case studies on their previous course, these can be re-assessed by the tutor against the ABC case study assessment criteria. If those case studies pass then there will be 3 further case studies to do to make up the minimum ABC requirement of 6 case studies. The student will also need to complete the quota of 60 treatments. If the case studies did not quite meet ABC standards the tutor can ask the student to do further work on them, or if the case studies are clearly below standards the tutor may ask the student to write them again or to start some fresh case studies. That decision is at the discretion of the tutor who needs to guide and support the student to meet all standards in the same way as any other student. These students will also need to do the First Aid course for eligibility for full AoR membership.
What teaching is required?
Students doing the ABC course need to complete at least 100 hours of tutor contact. If on initial assessment it is clear that the student has good knowledge of all or certain parts of the course, such as A&P, then the tutor at their discretion may allow the student to miss certain lessons. In this case the 100 hour requirement will have been contributed to by some of the hours of the previous course.
If on initial assessment it is clear to the tutor that the student’s knowledge in all areas is insufficient then the student will have to attend all the lessons. If having marked some case studies or other set work it is clear that the students knowledge is not as comprehensive or deep as was originally thought then the tutor may ask the student to attend further sessions. It will need to be made clear to the student from the outset that their progress is being monitored and the attendance that is agreed at the start may need to be revised.
Do they become Student Members?
Bridging students need to become student members of the AoR in the same way as full course students. When they pass the qualification they can upgrade to Full membership. As student members they can enjoy the many benefits of AoR membership, including receiving Reflexions journal; access to the member’s area on the web site; attendance at Seminars, conferences and Area Groups.
How long does a bridging course last?
This is not a fixed duration. Many students that do bridging at the Central London College of Reflexology in a short space of time. Very often they need to (and are happy to) do the full course
Do the bridging students receive a qualification?
Yes the students study and achieve the ABC qualification. They have to meet all the assessment requirements of the qualification including the theory exam.
The student has passed their bridging course - how do they become a full member?
People that do a bridging course must become student members and be registered for the ABC qualification in the same way as students doing the full course. So they receive their ABC certificate and apply for full membership in the same way.
What happens next?
- Our main Course Tutor would need to carry out an initial assessment of the student. This could involve interview; an initial review of case studies; a practical assessment
- Determine whether the student can be exempt from any teaching or assessment or whether they actually need to do the full ABC programme.
- Agree with the student what attendance they need to do
- Agree with the student the fees that they need to pay, including ABC registration fees
- Fees range from 100 GBP per class and 175 GBP for the written examination
- Register the student with ABC, and enter them for an exam
- Take students through all of the training and assessment that is needed to enable them to pass the ABC course
- Advise students of their exam date
You will also need to do the following;
- Minimum case studies – 30 treatments comprising of at least 3 case studies and evidence of a total of 60 treatments.
- A minimum of 1 supervised clinical reflexology practical session using non-students.
- A minimum of 1 client study based on an assessed reflexology practical session using non-students.
- Final examination to take place after completion of minimum course requirements.
- Minimum hours – 40 hours and a total contact teaching of all certificated reflexology study of 100 hours minimum.
- Minimum length of course – 3 months and a total contact teaching time of all certified reflexology study of 9 months
- Recognised current 1st Aid Certificate to be attained outside of the minimum 40 hours contact teaching. This is for AoR membership purposes only, and is not a prerequisite for qualifying.
- Student Membership – as a student they will each need to become student member in the same way as those doing the full course.
The total price of this course is £600 and includes
v
Initial assessment (1.5 hours)
v
Membership to the Association
of Reflexologists
v
5 lessons at the college (7
hours per lesson)
v
2 Client Studies ( 1.5 hours
each )
v
Written examination
