Frequently Asked Questions
The government and different agencies can offer funding for individuals to complete qualifications that will improve their skills or employment opportunities. The schemes that these are offered under vary over time, however, iPET Network are committed to ensuring our qualifications are accessible to all which includes being registered for funding options. As such, a range of our qualifications are registered for funding with the EFSA and eligible for the Advanced Learner Loan and 16-19 funding.
However, most funding is reliant on the Training Provider meeting criteria, not the Awarding Organisation. To find out if the Training Provider you wish to train with is registered for funding, please contact them directly.
In short, yes! iPET Network, City and Guilds and Open College Network West Midlands (OCNWM) are all Awarding Organisations that offer qualifications covering the Animal Care and Veterinary Science Sector. Each has a Level 3 Diploma covering the skills and knowledge required for dog grooming and as such are often directly compared. The qualification levels may match but credit value, learning hours, content and units do not and neither does the assessment method.
To be sure any qualification is Ofqual regulated, you can find and check qualifications on the Ofqual register via their website https://register.ofqual.gov.uk/
Currently, iPET Network only offers regulated qualifications and all our qualifications are on the register.
Each Training Provider sets their own price for each qualification. This price takes into account many variables such as the type of qualification, the number of students on a course, the delivery materials used, the learning environment and the experience level of the business and tutors etc. With so many factors the prices can be quite different so it is important you choose the right Training Provider for you who will teach in a style that most suits your learning style.
Contact your chosen Training Provider directly to enrol on any qualification. They will ensure you complete the essential registration documents and start your learning journey.
To find your nearest Training Provider or to view the full list of our Training Providers click on link below:
iPET Network: International Pet Education and Training Network | Find your nearest Training Provider
Training Providers all set their own start dates for qualifications but many are available on a rolling programme. Contact your chosen Training Provider for more details.
Training Providers are individual businesses that all have different set ups. Some maybe exclusively a grooming school catering for 5/6 learners at a time with multiple tutors, another maybe a lone groomer who also offers training on a 1 to 1 basis, others maybe mobile tutors offering courses in village halls or in other business premises and some are large colleges. The differences can be vast in how qualifications are delivered, the environments they are taught in and funding which can be accessed. However, all learners can be assured that every iPET Network Training Provider has undergone a vigorous auditing process to ensure they meet our exacting standards. They all agree to maintain the integrity of our qualifications which means those who study with them can be confident they will cover the full syllabus. iPET Network continues to quality assure throughout a learner's course and continually assesses our practices to improve and develop
We want you to choose the right Training Provider and qualification courses for you and we find that questioning Training Providers directly gives you a good understanding of the qualification you have chosen and how the course will be delivered.
Questions you may want to ask:
Who is the tutor/ teacher? Is there 1 or several?
What are their qualifications? For example, do they hold a teaching qualification and have professional competence?
How do they assess prior experience or entry requirements for the qualification?
Do they offer other courses or qualifications that maybe suitable for your needs?
Where are they based and do you need to attend a physical location?
How do they complete assessments and what are the teaching hours or Guided Learning Hours (GLH) for the qualification?
What makes them unique versus another Training Provider?
Can you see reviews or testimonials from recent students?
Disability shouldn’t be a barrier to your learning and iPET Network is committed to equality. However, we do recognise that for some qualifications a disability could prevent successful completion of a qualification assessment criteria and be unsafe practice. Therefore, we recommend you speak directly to your chosen Training Provider to see if any reasonable adjustments can be made and to ensure safety can be maintained throughout your training.
Funding is available for a number of iPET Network qualifications but can only be accessed by Training Providers who are registered for the scheme or meet the criteria. Therefore, if you want to check funding for a specific qualification and Training Provider, we recommend you speak directly to your Training Provider.
Candidates also need to meet criteria for certain funding options and we therefore recommend you check your eligibility.
More details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/qualifications-approved-for-public-funding
Qualifications and courses are to be paid directly with your chosen Training Provider. Your Training Provider will register you with iPET Network and complete the admin processes on your behalf.
Some Training Providers offer accommodation, especially for practical training courses that require you to attend a specific location. Most locations will have nearby facilities and your Training Provider can advise of local places to stay which meet your requirements.
Depending on which qualification you choose, there may be practical and theory based elements to your training. For example, our dog grooming qualifications are practical based and require practical assessment as part of the course but also contain a healthy balance of theory knowledge too.
In order to qualify for the fast-track route to any qualification, you will need to provide evidence of prior learning, often called RPL or Record of Prior Learning.
For the iPET Network Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming and Salon Management, RPL can include a level 2 Ofqual regulated qualification with another Awarding Organisation plus evidence of the time you have spent grooming since, for example, working in a grooming salon. RPL could also include a Level 3 Certificate in Dog Grooming with similar experience evidence. RPL is possible without previous qualification and could include customer reviews, employer references, seminar attendance and more. Each application is judged on individual merit and a case is built to evidence the RPL.
iPET Network has a bespoke E-Portfolio system which many of our Training Providers choose to use to deliver our courses. A range of our courses are available online but most include some practical element or assessment. However, these assessments can be performed remotely in some cases and we again advise you to discuss your needs directly with your chosen Training Provider.
When looking at Vocational Qualifications, there are usually 2 ways to indicate the standard of the qualification. These are in Difficulty (Level) or Size (Award, Certificate or Diploma).
The level is linked to the level of skills, knowledge and ability to be successful in achieving the qualification. For example, level 2 is a lower level than level 3.
The difference in Award, Certificate and Diploma qualifications is the size. This is measured in the amount of Guided Learning Hours (GLH) and Total Qualification Time (TQT) is takes to achieve.
As a guide:
Awards are up to 130 hours of training.
Certificates are between 130-370 hours of training.
Diplomas are over 370 hours of training.
As such a Level 2 Diploma is achieved by studying for more hours than a Level 3 Award but is a lower overall indicator of the skill, knowledge needed to achieve.
In the UK there are four regulators – Ofqual (England), Qualifications Wales (Wales), CCEA (Northern Ireland) and SQA (Scotland) – These regulators all have statutory powers under Acts of Parliament. Qualifications regulated by these regulators are recognised worldwide.
Regulated courses must be written in accordance with UK statutory legislation and be delivered to a high standard, this is moderated, and quality controlled by an Awarding Organisation. iPET Network is one such body as is City and Guilds or Open College Network West Midlands.
In contrast, non-accredited, unregulated courses are not regulated by an external third party or accreditation body. The qualification or certificate may not be accepted worldwide and in some cases by a UK employer. This does not mean that the course is of a sub-standard or lacks the information needed to achieve the learning outcome but simply the process for achievement has not be approved by one of the recognised education regulators.
Guided Learning Hours (GLH) and Total Qualification Time (TQT) are terms commonly used when looking at qualifications.
Guided Learning Hours (GLH) are the number of hours within a qualification that the Candidate is guided in their study. For example, this maybe attending seminars, professional discussions with a tutor and practical skills training in a school. It can also include study that a Tutor has told a Candidate to do such as guiding them to read a book or listen to a Podcast.
The Total Qualification Time (TQT) includes all of the Guided Learning Hours plus additional time that a Candidate would be expected to need to complete the qualification such as sitting assessments, further study and independent research.
Regulated courses must be written in accordance with UK statutory legislation and be delivered to a high standard, this is moderated, and quality controlled by an accredited body or Awarding Organisation. iPET Network is one such body as is City and Guilds or Open College Network West Midlands.
To be sure any qualification is Ofqual regulated, you can find and check qualifications on the Ofqual register via their website https://register.ofqual.gov.uk/
Currently, iPET Network only offers regulated qualifications and all our qualifications are on the register.
iPET Network and it’s approved Training Providers aim to provide nothing but an excellent service for their learners and conduct all assessments fairly. In the event of a learner being unsatisfied with a service received they must first exhaust their Training Providers Complaints or Appeals Procedure. Should the Training Provider fail to resolve the appeal or complaint then the appeal or complaint can be raised with the Awarding Organisation.
If a learner suspects Malpractice or Maladministration at their place of training, they can report their concerns directly to iPET Network. Please visit iPET Network: International Pet Education and Training Network | Useful Downloads and download the ‘Malpractice and Maladministration Report Form’. An independent panel of investigators may investigate the allegations and have further questions to ask you.
iPET Network is an Awarding Organisation dedicated to Animal Care and Veterinary Science. We have been born from a desire to improve the lives of animals through education and our Directors have many years of experience in the sector. As a new Awarding Organisation, we have shaken the mould and introduced new ways of working which streamline the registration and quality assurance process of our Ofqual regulated qualifications. We are nimble and able to react to trends and demands in a way some larger organisations are not, meaning we are accessible to those who are best placed to advise – the people working directly with the animals we serve.
As an organisation we are built on a solid foundation of experienced people, all working towards the same goal: to be the Awarding Organisation of choice for Candidates and Training Providers in the UK for all qualifications in the Animal Care and Veterinary Science Sector. Our team is unique as we all come from backgrounds similar to our Training Providers, so we understand the hurdles and can truly celebrate in the successes of learners. We are real people, with real businesses and real desire to be the best we can be.
We maybe small but we have a big heart that sets us apart.