If you've been thinking about studying natural therapy, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the number of courses and qualifications available to you. And with complementary medicine gaining popularity in Australia, many more courses are likely to launch in coming years. This article aims to reduce the overwhelm and explain the various qualifications available to you.
What Course Should I Study?
Before talking about qualifications, it's important to think about the course of study you might like to undertake. A course is the study of a particular subject at school, college or university. Students assimilate a body of knowledge to meet the minimum requirement for a job or to satisfy the academic entry requirements for a particular field of study through courses in higher education.
You may take a six-month certification course or a one-year diploma program to hone your technical skills for a specific job. Undergraduate courses take longer to finish, and most students who take this pathway proceed to earning a postgraduate qualification, which requires another few years.
There are many undergraduate courses in a variety of natural therapies that you may find useful if you enjoy helping people achieve their health and wellness goals. From life coaching and counselling to nutrition, naturopathy, massage, aromatherapy and kinesiology, there is sure to be a course to pique your interest.
The Natural Therapy Pages' complete list of complementary medicine courses is a convenient way to find accredited tertiary courses and educational institutions in Australia. You can search for courses, training packages and academic institutions that match your requirements.
Online or On Campus?
The next question is whether you want to study on campus or online. Many schools now provide external, correspondence and online courses, to help you fit study around your other commitments.
Other courses are only available on campus due to the college's preferences or the practical training requirements of the course. Before choosing a course or school, you must determine how you want to study, whether you prefer full-time study or part-time study, and how much time you can dedicate to your studies each week.
Qualification Types
A professional qualification is a title or award given to someone who has completed significant amounts of training and education for professional engagement in a specialised field of study.
Completing a qualification means that you have met certain academic requirements and standards as compared with others in your field. Your qualification level, whether it's a certificate, diploma or degree, gives you an edge over other applicants for jobs that require specific academic qualifications such as massage therapists, chiropractors, homoeopaths, dietitians, personal trainers and psychologists, among others.
There are several benefits of having qualifications, including job security, faster promotions and higher income. In addition to specialised knowledge, employers prefer to hire employees with advanced technical skills and soft skills, such as intermediate communication skills and advanced leadership skills.
There are different ways to earn a qualification; you can do it through a vocational education, undergraduate degree, postgraduate degree or other advanced degrees. Your level of qualification determines the
The Australia Qualifications Framework sets out the various qualification levels for a range of courses. It's administered by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Australia's accredited education qualifications are as follows:
- Certificate I: takes 6 – 12 months
- Certificate II: takes 6 – 12 months
- Certificate III: takes 1 – 2 years
- Certificate IV: takes 6 months – 2 years
- Diploma: takes 1 to 2 years
- Advanced Diploma/Associate Degree: takes 1.5 – 2 years
- Bachelor Degree: takes 3 – 4 years
- Bachelor Honours Degree: takes 1 year
- Graduate and Vocational Graduate Certificate: takes 6 months – 1 year
- Graduate and Vocational Graduate Diploma: takes 1 – 2 years
- Master's Degree: takes 1 – 4 years
- Doctoral Degree: takes 3 – 4 years
Of course, not all courses are available at all qualification levels. The minimum level of qualification required for each type of therapy varies. For instance, a certificate or diploma in aromatherapy will equip you with the necessary skills to practice. On the other hand, a nutritionist seeking to become a qualified dietitian must complete a postgraduate diploma after earning a bachelor's degree in nutrition and dietetics.
After choosing a college, you should speak with them about the qualification levels they offer and the difference between training packages. By doing so, you will know what qualification level will allow you to practice as a professional.
Starting Out
If choosing a professional qualification is a challenge, you can take a short course to find out which level of qualification works best for you. It is an inexpensive way of weighing your options before enrolling in an advanced diploma or degree program after completing secondary school. For instance, you might try a short massage course and realise kinesiology is more your style. You could then apply to colleges for a nationally accredited Certificate IV or Diploma course.
Whichever course or professional qualification you choose, you're bound to enjoy the wonderful world of natural therapies and all the things it can teach you. Taking a course that resonates with your interests, whether or not you have professional experience as a natural therapist, is a great way to enhance your resume skills and attract employers. Visit our course listing page to browse the academic degrees and training packages offered by the most reputable providers in complementary medicine in Australia.
Originally published on Jan 23, 2013
