Am I too old to retrain?

[ChineseSue]

My background is in banking and then recruitment.

However, I haven't worked for the last 10years.
Only educated to O'level, I'm 55 years old.

Marriage not great and I need to think about my future.

A few years ok I had a complete breakdown and a 3 month hospital stay. The help I received made me very interested in mental health.

I am in the position that I don't have to work straight away and I'm thinking that this is my opportunity to retrain?

My thoughts were training to be a therapist, however I would love to gain a degree in psychology or something similar.

I know I could do an access to uni course but not sure if I'm capable of the studying?

I would really like a job that is meaningful but also something I can carry on with as I get older.

Any advise please?

Not too old to retrain, no, but if working with clients in a therapeutic capacity is your aim, at 55 I’d be thinking about the longevity of the training. I believe (someone may come along who is sure) to be a clinical/counselling psychologist can take 6 yrs, and certainly for clinical psychologists it’s very competitive. Might be a harder route without A Levels.

Might be much quicker to take the counselling or psychotherapy training route which is 3 to 4 yrs. I think some courses will not require academic qualifications past o level. Lots of mature students do these courses as the training benefits from life experience. Although, if doing the latter, make sure it’s a course accredited by a reputable body, BACP or UKCP. There’s lots of courses promising to train you in 5 minutes as counselling/psychotherapy is unregulated, but these won’t get you very far, as a lot of the sites you’d need to advertise your services on privately require BACP/UKCP membership, and any NHS job would require the same, and you only qualify for that membership with a reputable training.

Not too old at all I’m 54 and started a new role in Hr in Jan this year and am studying too. What about mental health nursing? In Australia you can be an EN in 12 months is thrr a similar option where you are?

Thank you for your reply. Yes I would want to go down the correct route and do things properly.

With the degree, I understand you can't get funding passed 60 years so it made me think it would be my last chance. I am also very interested in psychology. Lots to think about.

No, I would need to get a degree. That would be something I could look into. Due to my experience I met some amazing mental health nurses (and some awful ones too.)

I am the same age and have thought about retraining.

however I’d need a degree for the field I want.

so 3 years out of work, fees, loans etc, to go in at entry level when I’m 58. Would be less money than I’m on now, although could be more within a few years. Then my nhs pension will kick in at 60, so wages + pension means most of the pension will go to the 40% tax.

it’s just not worth it. I could retire instead.

if your financially comfortable enough that you can afford the degree and no wages for that time, and the loans/fees etc. go for it.

I’m nearly your age and studying mental health science with the ou. 20 years ago I studied psychology while also working full time (pre kids) so it is possible. Look at free courses through The Skills Network or similar. Open Learn courses are free. This will give you some insight into where your interests lie and into whether or not you want to commit to something more costly.