A Physiotherapy student from South Gloucestershire has issued a stark warning to others who are studying to make sure courses undertaken are regulated by industry bodies relevant to the profession.
Katie (Kate) Nicols, 45, is planning to set up a practice in Veterinary Physiotherapy after having a career epiphany following the tragic early deaths of her mother and father. As a result, the commercial manager enrolled on a course where she was planning to qualify in the subject so that she could help rehabilitate animals following injury or surgery.
However, as the industry moves increasingly towards regulation, Kate became concerned that the course she was enrolled on was not a regulated qualification, and was not accredited by RAMP, a voluntary Industry Regulating Body (IRB) recognised by DEFRA. She then realised that this could potentially have a significant impact on her future ability to be registered, be referred to by vets, and be recognised by insurance companies.
Kate, who has now changed courses has said: “I realised that without being accredited by RAMP and the course not actually being a regulated qualification, my studies would not allow me to take on insurance work and vet referrals and that really scared me. Especially when doing this course is such a huge step for me.
“It meant everything to know I was doing a high-quality course as when I qualify I have to compete with established physios and have a proper career in the industry. I need to have the knowledge and skills to stand my ground.”
Kate is now studying at the Academy of Veterinary Physiotherapy which is accredited by RAMP and offers regulated qualifications that are listed on the Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF), and hopes to qualify within two years, alongside her ongoing job commitments.
Kate’s Story
A lifelong animal lover, Kate, who lives with her partner Karl, 47 and three dogs Max, Jess and Ollie, has always dreamed of working with animals, and studied for an Equine Studies degree at the University of Aberystwyth in the late 1990s.
Kate also cares for three horses, one retired, one companion pony and a warmblood who she competes in dressage with and is currently riding at advanced medium and training towards PSG. Kate is also a listed British Dressage list 4 judge.
But then life took over, and she ended up in a sales role, rising through the ranks to the position she is now at a medical packaging company.
However, Kate’s outlook changed completely when in 2016 her mum died suddenly, a shock which set Kate on the path to fulfilling her ambitions of a new life.
She said: “My mum died sadly which was a huge shock, she wasn’t even retired and was 61. I had already lost my dad ten years before, and it all really made me think about where my heart lay and what I wanted to do with my time.
“I’ve always had horses, cats and dogs and I knew that if I was going to make a change I needed to stop thinking about it and start doing it. Moving away for university wasn’t an option so I looked for courses that I could do alongside work which offered distance learning and practical training.”
Physiotherapy student Kate is now thriving on her course, under the stewardship of leading Animal Physiotherapist Wendy Vaughan who founded the Academy, an approved training provider of the award winning, Ofqual regulated Awarding Organisation, iPET Network, offering regulated qualifications that are also RAMP recognised and accredited.
These new qualifications ensure that the dream job of Veterinary Physiotherapist for students is made available via a flexible, accessible and achievable pathway to all those wishing to work within the animal care sector.
Wendy said: “This is the course that I wish I had been able to do, we offer study skills, personal and professional development and all the necessary technical skills, delivered with flexibility and with a real drive to get people into the industry operating at a high level.”
Kate added: “I’m really looking forward to working for myself, and now for someone else to get their whopping big bonus. Being with animals and helping them is amazing, and this is my dream come true.”
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Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.