Foot Health Practitioner Course

There is no greater satisfaction than to care for others, and our Foot Health Care Course gives you the opportunity to do just that in your own practice. The human foot is one of the most complex and neglected of body parts. Every step we take places two and a half times our body weight on the 26 bones that make up each foot, and it has been estimated that we walk 3 times around the planet in a lifetime. However, the foot is highly sensitive and like any machine part suffers wear or damage when injured or stressed beyond its capability.

Here's where you come in. Though there may be little wrong with their feet, circumstances may prevent people looking after them. Arthritis, painful hip joints or stiff knees may put their feet out of reach or prevent use of scissors or nippers. However, others do have problems with their feet, from corns, calluses, verrucas, flat-foot and bunions to nail conditions and structural defects, many of which can be treated without surgery or medical intervention. Some just enjoy being pampered or are concerned to maintain their bodies in optimum condition. All of these people need the help of a Foot Health Practitioner, a professional trained to deliver care and advice either in a private surgery or in the home.

Stonebridge's Foot Health Care not only gives you a complete grounding in foot anatomy, care and diagnosis but provides the information and support you need to establish a successful practice. Completion of the course gains you the SAC Dip. (Foot Health Care), the qualification that says that you are trained to a good working standard.

This course is made up of twelve lessons of theory training, which you complete from the comfort of your own home, and one week’s practical training, which is completed at our state-of-the-art Foot Health Training Centre. For more information on the practical training, please visit our dedicated Foot Health website at www.foothealthschool.com

If you would prefer to study the theory element of the course plus two week’s practical training please click here.

Please click here for important information relating to this course.

Lesson 1:

Intro/ organisation/ tissues/ cartilage/ ligament/ tendon/ bone/ fractures/ skeletal development/ the human skeleton/ leg skeleton/ foot skeleton/ anatomical planes/ terms of reference/ foot arches

Normal stance and posture/ pes planus/ articulations/ tendons/ retinaculae/ movement/ pes plano-valgus

Lesson 2:

Muscle tissues/ structure/ groups/ muscles of the leg and foot, HAV limitus/ rigidus/ metatarsalgia/ arthritis/ gout/ sprains/ treatment of pes plano-valgus

Lesson 3:

Blood structure/ heart/ vessels/ circulation/ arteries/veins/ capillaries/ respiration/ circulatory disorders/ atherosclerosis/ stenosis/thrombosis/ ulceration/ varicosity/ pulses/ blood borne disease/ pathogens/ fungi/ viruses/ bacteria/ exercise and the cardiovascular system/ disinfection and sterilisation

Lesson 4:

Integumentary system/ skin hair and nails/ normal function and growth mechanisms/ homeostasis/ instruments / skin pathologies-corns, callus, etc/ nail dystrophies/ peripheral perfusion/ tissue viability/ gangrene/ malignancies

Lesson 5:

Materia medica/ antiseptics/ styptics/ varnishes/ creams/ pre and post ops/ cleanliness and personal hygiene/ self-presentation/ diagnosis/ prognosis/ records and book-keeping/ styles of practise

Lesson 6:

Lymphatic circulation/ relationship to blood circulation/ lymphoedema/ path of infection/ route of metastasis/ when and how to refer

Lesson 7:

CNS/ ANS/ nerve supply to foot sensation and pain/ areas served by individual nerves/ peripheral circulation examination/ Raynauds syndrome/ neuropathy/ neurological examination

Lesson 8:

Endocrine system and hormones/ diabetes mellitus and its significance/ neuropathy/ paddings and dressings

Lesson 9:

External respiration/ gaseous exchange in the lungs/ internal respiration/ measurement of blood pressure/ the ankle brachial pressure index/ varicose veins/ skin disorders and conditions/ differential diagnosis/ fungal infections/ yeast infections/ sweating disorders/ instuments/

Lesson 10:

Pathology/ organ changes/ factors causing hypertrophy and hyperplasia/ factors causing atrophy/ neoplasms/ elements of nutrition/ setting up a practice

Lesson 11:

Starting Your Own Business

Lesson 12:

Marketing Your Business

For a more detailed syllabus on this course, click here

On completion of your course, you will receive two qualifications:

Qualification 1: Foot Health Practitioner Diploma

Foot Health Practitioner Diploma issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, entitling you to use the letters SAC Dip after your name.

Qualification 2: ASET Level 4 Foot Health Practitioner Award

This Course leads to an ASET Level 4 Award Certificate for successful learners. That means that it is independantly accredited at a level of learning equivalent to level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework (NFQ) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (in which case GCSE's are at levels 1 and 2 and A Levels are at level 3).

The Award has been designed by a learning provider to meet specific learners' or employers' requirements and as such is not listed as a qualification on NQF. While the duration, content or assessment may vary from similar national qualifications, in accrediting the programme at level 4, ASET attests that its learning outcomes are at an equivalent level to a level 4 national qualification.

In order to offer our students the most convenient and flexible distance learning courses, Stonebridge Associated College offers you the option to study for your course via two methods:

• 1. Via the traditional paper-based method.
• 2. Through the online method via ElearnUK.

When you study through ElearnUK you can quickly access your course material online and submit all of your question papers to your tutor online, using your unique student account. You have access to all of your course material immediately, and when you submit question papers, your tutor sends you an email containing your results and feedback.

At the end of the course you will receive an award issued by Stonebridge Associated College, and also gain full ASET accreditation for the course.

With this course you will have unlimited access to your own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutor's role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to telephone, fax or email your personal tutor.

You will also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice when you need it. This ensures that you will never feel neglected and that you will always succeed!

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 180 hrs.

Practical Training

This course is made up of twelve lessons of theory training, which you complete from the comfort of your own home, and one week’s practical training, which is completed at our state-of-the-art Foot Health Training Centre. For more information on the practical training, please visit our dedicated Foot Health website at www.foothealthschool.com

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

What's Included

• All study materials
• Study Guide
• Full Tutor and Admin support
• One Week's Practical Training
• The course fee includes the ASET registration and certification fee (valued at upto £30.00)
• Business start up advice and excellent discount rates from the College's approved supplier of Foot Health equipment
• FREE Patient diagnosis pocket handbook worth £15.99
• FREE Practitioner's Toolkit worth £100.00

What is ASET

ASET is a recognised National Awarding Body.

Our Foot Health Practitioner Diploma is accredited by ASET. ASET are a leading National Awarding Body, recognised in the U.K by the Department for Education and Skills (DfEs), Learning Skills Council (LSC) and the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority (QCA). ASET specialise in providing, quality-assuring and certificating vocational learning programmes.

For more information on this award, click here

Professional Membership

This qualification has been fully accredited by the R.F.H.P for Full Membership.

On successful completion of the course, students may join the Register for Foot Health Professional (RFHP). The RFHP is a non-profit professional association for Foot Health Practitioners, who places practitioners on a register, making the public aware that the practitioner is trained to a high standard.

The RFHP campaigns for, promotes and supports those who work and practice in the Foot Health Practitioner Industry.

For more information on the RFHP, please click here

Stonebridge Associated College's Foot Health Centre

Below you will see a few pictures of what the Foot Health campus looks like, it is a modern, state-of-the-art training facility that is full equiped to deal with the needs of our clients and our students. If you would like to book an appointment to view the clinic, please fee free to contact us and we will be happy to arrange a viewing.

Please Note

Students wishing to practise in the UK need to complete practical training. This can be done on campus at the College's Foot Health Centre. The cost of the course above, includes one weeks full practical training at the Foot Health Centre.

For more information, please visit our dedicated Foot Health website at www.foothealthschool.com