Do You Need A Professional Qualification To Operate As An Image Consultant?
There are no laws in the UK that say you have to have any qualification to set up as an image consultant. The Federation of Image Consultants (TFIC) in the UK will encourage you to spend money on a City & Guilds qualification but this is absolutely not a legal requirement.
You could just read books, surf the internet, and conjure up your own methods of analysis but then you'd be missing out on the oceans of experience available to you from professionals.
The fees for training with a reputable company may seem expensive initially but trainers are seasoned professionals passing on their extremely valuable knowledge gained over a long period of time that will then enable you to go out and earn good money for yourself.
The fees and time are an investment in your business, and will give you the confidence to know that you are providing the absolute best for your clients.
Personally, I go on at least three training courses every year so that I make sure I am giving my clients (and trainees) the most up-to-date service I can. One course I have been on this year has cost me around twice as much as I charge for the same time investment but it will be well worth it in the long run.
Professional training is an investment in your future. As with any equipment you need to buy, training can be offset against tax in your books.
Also consider your personality - would it help your confidence levels to display a training course diploma?
Will There Be A Certificate At The End Of The Course?
The Improvability Diploma is our own certificate to say that you have successfully completed our training course in Colour Analysis, Ladies' Style, etc.
All Improvability course certificates are absolutely nothing to do with GNVQ or City & Guilds or such like. There's no way we would ever want to meet the restrictions imposed by either of these bodies (or any other, for that matter). If it is important to you then I suggest you take a look at the courses offered by other companies who subscribe to these qualifications.
Who Should You Train With?
Get on to Google or Yahoo and investigate every single company to find the kind of training YOU are looking for:
- If you need a system then don't train with me
- If you would like a system to follow which might make it easier for you to start off, then choose one of the colour companies that offer a franchise or franchise-style approach where they will teach you their own system
- If you don't like franchises then don't train with a franchise because they will expect you to meet their sales targets or you won't be able to trade under their banner
- If you really can't stand being told what to do (like me) then choose an independent company to train with
