Does anyone understand post-nominal letters

[Swirlyceiling]

Posting for traffic.

I hold a level 5 accredited qualification with an organisation who say they don't approve post-nominal letters as they are gimmicky (to quote the director of studies).

There is another industry provider who run another level 5 accredited course, accredited by the same regulatory body, except they have an approved set of nominal letters for graduates to use. The course content is the same, just two different providers, both with the same accreditation.

....do the post-nominals need to be approved by the organisation you study with for you to use anything? I'm slightly irritated that a personal opinion (that post nominal letters are a gimmick), will now mean that it appears that I am less qualified than others in my field, when that is not the case.

Anyone know? I've not heard back from the accrediting body when asking the question there.

The Apprenticeship Scheme runs up to L7 including quals from accredited bodies su h as CIPD and the Institute of Management.

*You can’t use them.

You really, really can’t.*

I won't if people don't think I can, as that wouldn't sit right with me as a professional. I just can't work out why two courses of the same level and same accredation don't carry the same post-nominals.

OhTheRoses oh I see. Either way, this is unrelated to apprenticeships.

Forgive the skepticism, but your provider doesn't sound like an accredited llama grooming centre. Are you able to contact the National Head of Llama Groomers to discuss?

I mean, if there are actual post-nominals in play, there must be some kind of monitoring, so people must be able to contact the National Head of Llama Groomers to verify this (e.g. for work screening purposes). I would start there, and give up on getting any straight answers out of your training centre.

PS Enjoy your progression in the field of llamas. Post-nominal confusion aside, it sounds like you've put in some hard work to get here.

PS One last thought - is there an admission fee that the other provider pays to the Llama Grooming Society that isn't included in the seemingly identical but cheaper course...?

Well it is usually up to the institution itself that awards the post nominals, for example the Open Uni awards post nominals for post grad certificates and diplomas, which not all unis and colleges do. In degree course handbooks, universities specify the post nominals that you’re allowed to use after completing the course, which would again indicate it is up to the awarding body.

Some professional bodies also award post nominals eg MBPsS although this is more rare.

The only thing that’s a bit odd is you’re saying the course director isn’t a fan of them - but really it should be a college wife decision.

Anyway. You can’t use them if they’re not awarding to you on the course.

College WIDE!!

OP,

I think the decision ultimately stands with the accrediting body rather than the College. If the accrediting body refuses to respond and you are based in England, may I suggest a Data Subject Access request under Data Protection legislation, suitably worded to explain what you are trying to confirm, to which they have to respond within a set period. They will need to confirm what records they hold on you which would hopefully confirm tangentially what you are entitled to and will give you the ability to respond if any of your competitors stir up trouble.

Good luck.

Forgive the skepticism, but your provider doesn'tsoundlike an accredited llama grooming centre. Are you able to contact the National Head of Llama Groomers to discuss?

They are, I can assure you. They're one of only a handful of learning providers who are part of a charter of particular ethics and practise, that any decent professional in the industry will be signed up to, and any others should be dodged at all costs. I am very lucky that I started with them just for a bit of fun years ago and my passion developed in to a career, and their courses developed alongside this enabling me to become a genuine professional in the industry.

PS One last thought - is there an admission fee that the other provider pays to the Llama Grooming Society that isn't included in the seemingly identical but cheaper course...?

No. Completion of both courses can help you become a member of membership organisations with quite extensive criteria, but neither includes this as a given.

The issue with my industry is that it is unregulated. Anyone could decide to set-up a business tomorrow, with no prior study, and not many clients know the red flags of a bad practitioner. There are a few very good membership organisations you can join (I'm already part of one) which reflect that you have reached a certain level of study and scientific understanding, as well as having a certain level of hands on experience.

If it wasn't an unregulated industry, this would be a lot easier.

Zilla1 this is helpful and I hadn't considered that. Thank-you.

I think you need to talk to the accrediting body. If you're lucky they might have some assessment you can do to become a member. If you're unlucky, there will be more course content for you to complete.

After a bit more research today, it looks like the nominal letters the one provider says you can use are just something they've plucked out of thin air and attributed to themselves.

Why can't she use them @Puzzld?

It's up to the accreditation body not the course provider. Wikipedia has a useful page on post nominals.

Sorry didn't see your further explanation puzzld. In the examples you cite those organisations are also the awarding body. That isn't the case here.