Online Access to HE Diploma any good?

[BecauseThatsHowYouGetAnts]

I have had my kids and I now have the urge and want to go to University. I have realised I would really want to be a radiographer/sonographer.
I do have A levels from years ago at grades BDD, im 32 now. I also did an extended photography diploma 10 years ago but I would need to do something science based to get into Uni.
Im thinking of buying a Radiography Access to HE course through the Distance Learning Centre. Or maybe Learn Direct. Does anyone have any experience of these providers? If you did a Radiography course how was it? I've had mixed reviews so far and its a lot of work any money to throw away.

Following because I'm in a similar boat. I was a nurse before I deregistered for the children. I've decided not to do an Access to Radiography course because there's a lot of social science and I have a degree in Social Studies and a nursing qualification, so I think I need to concentrate on the physical science aspect, which is better served by an Access to Science course.

Online is tempting but I worry that family life will squeeze out time in a way that it couldn't if I physically went to a building. Also, I always think that teaching staff are more invested in people they actually know, so I think there will probably be less support on the online course. The fee for the ones in looking at is the same either way.

I have heard that the job market is bad at the moment. But I'm discounting that largely because the NHS goes in cycles. Plus there are other job opportunities outside the NHS if necessary. I saw a job for a post mortem radiographer and thought that would be very cool!

I have heard that the job market is good and the nhs is always actively looking for radiographers and sonographers, which matches with my own research in job hunting. But it can be hard to get your foot in the door after graduating and especially a placement for sonography training.

Learn direct are awful in my experience, haven't done an Access Course with them but found very little help and despite leaving fairly quickly I still had to pay for the full course. Plus they charged me for forgetting to complete a payment plan in time and 'defaulting' .

I've heard good reports about Mediprospects, not used them personally, but check them out! They do access courses.

I would be cautious, is it licenced? If it isn't then it is not worth anything.

https://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/access-to-he/regulation-and-licensing/avas/ava-profiles#

I would start by contacting the local universities that do radiography courses and ask about entry requirements. They should be able to give you guidance.

It might be worth reading some Reddit threads on the r/radiographyUK sub. This year's grads are struggling to get jobs.

Right now there are 4 jobs matching the keyword Radiography within 20 miles of me. 1 is a reporting radiographer post (so senior), one is band 6 equivalent in a private hospital and needs a post-grad qualification, one is a band 5 but needs experience, and the other is a medical post.

It doesn't mean that it won't change, but right now the NHS has a hiring freeze, the job market is oversaturated because apparently we're training more radiographers than there are jobs, and then there's a lot of overseas recruitment, too.

I'm prepared to take the risk because, worst case scenario, I can do a RTP course and register as a nurse if I need to. But you do have to consider what your plan B is if there are no jobs when you qualify.

What Science qualifications do you already have? You would need Double Science GCSEs at grades C or above for a level 3 Access course.
Some online providers do not have a great reputation to be honest.
You do not say if you are already working or not. I would suggest that you contact your local FE college about a more general Access to Health professions course rather than just homing on on radiography at this stage.