Further training and Continuous Professional Development

Further training and Continuous Professional Development Further training and Continuous
Professional Development

by Samantha Taylor

Part 1

All professional therapists need to be aware of new treatments, and changing practice.

Continuing Professional Development - Who Needs It? Everyone!

Until recently the abbreviation CPD was familiar only to Therapists working in education and nursing; normally, a certain number of hours of on-going learning would be required in order to keep your job. But now this is not the case, although CPD is currently only mandatory for assessors and verifiers of courses it is considered good practice for everyone to develop and increase their skills on a regular basis.

Assessors and Verifiers of standards are expected to keep in touch with consumer and industry expectations by spending time each year working in a salon or spa. Imagine if a Doctor had taught medical students for 10 years but had not treated a patient in all that time, well that's the theory behind it!

Why is lifelong learning important to Therapists?

Although there are some excellent basic qualification courses available out there no one can learn everything at College. Many things need to be learnt through experience and years in practice.

This is especially true in industries like Hairdressing and Beauty therapy, where new techniques, products and equipment mean constant updating is essential for consistent and improving standards. Beauty Therapy is a rapidly changing Industry; practitioners need to keep up to date with the latest techniques and information and to continue the process of lifelong learning.

The Government has undertaken a huge commitment to encourage everyone to continue to learn during his or her lifetime. If Beauty and Complementary Therapy is finally regulated it is likely that there will be a need to show evidence of continuing learning. There is no reason for anyone to wait until this becomes compulsory. Start now and be ahead of the game.

Not all courses are suitable for CPD as they are would take too long to study for. The idea is that this type of study can be done over a few days, a weekend, within the salon etc. without the need to take extended time off from work. The courses are short and targeted and are designed for existing specialists; not trainees.

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Courses suitable would be in subjects such as:

* Baby Massage
* Eye Lash Perming
* Ear Piercing
* Certificate in Thermal Auricular Therapy
* Nail Technology
* Nail Art
* Indian Head Massage
* Mendhi Skin Dcor
* Semi permanent henna tattooing
* Advanced Facial Techniques
* Depilatory Threading

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You've graduated - What Next?

Spend every possible moment to develop your knowledge and practise your skills. Don't relax, just because you have a qualification.
Read every book, magazine, and trade journal you can lay your hands on to get the latest beauty buzz word on everyone's lips. Clients expect you to know about what they might have read in an article - they look to you as the expert in the field of beauty.
Attend trade shows and exhibitions; workshops for professional developments; never think you know it all just because you have qualified; because you don't. Join professional organisations to keep you informed about new developments and in contact with other Therapists that you can share knowledge, advice and good practice with.

Continuous Professional Development in the Industry is good practice, it will set you apart from the complacent comfortable existence of those who sit back and expect jobs and business to fall into their lap once they have the basic training. So, register for your next course now, map out a 5 year learning plan to extend your talents and flair and get a head start.

Trade Journals - keep informed

The trade journals listed below are written exclusively for everyone involved in the Health and Beauty Industry and are an authoritative source of professional information. The journals are essential reading for keeping up-to-date with treatment techniques, new products, cosmetic trends, trade events and personalities influencing the trade.
Editorial coverage of news, technical articles and step-by-step instructional features combine with advertisements for the latest equipment, products, treatments and jobs in the salon and spa, to keep readers well informed.

Journals include:

Health and Beauty Salon - 12 issues pa
Subscription Reed Business Information, Subscriptions Department, PO Box 302, Haywards
Heath, West Sussex RH16 3YY
T: 01444 445566

Professional Beauty - 10 issues pa
Professional Tanning free every quarter with Professional Beauty
Warpaint - 6 issues pa
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Professional Nails - 10 issues pa
Professional Spa - 6 issues pa
Subscriptions www.professionalbeauty.co.uk
T: 01371 810 433

International Therapist - Bi monthly; only available to members of FHT
Vitality - Bi monthly: available to members of BABTAC
Scratch - 12 issues pa
Subscription www.creativenailplace.com

Salon Today - quarterly issues
Subscription Sanderson Publishing Limited, 49,Fernleigh Road, London, N21 3AN
T: 020 8882 6064
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Guild News - 11 issues pa
Tanning world - 6 issues pa
Subscriptions www.beautyserve.co.uk

Todays Therapist - Bi monthly
Subscription Topaz Publications, 1, Granville Walk, Chadderton, Lancs, OL9 6SR UK.
T: Call 08707 42 50 69
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
W: www.todaystherapist.com

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