Who Is iPET Network & What Is An iPet Network Qualification?
iPET Network - Awarding Body, Approved Trainers & Bone Idol Academy.
The iPET Network was founded by dog groomers for dog groomers to provide industry leading canine related qualifications. As employers, the iPet Network team recognise the need for quality tuition in the animal sectors in the UK.
The business experience within the team include running and managing successful pet services include doggie day-care, pet grooming (dogs & cats), home hoarding, pet taxi, boarding kennels, grooming training courses, behaviour training and obedience training.
This wealth of knowledge and experienced in the pet sector means iPet has its finger on the industries pulse. This has allowed them to create training programmes that are hugely beneficial to all individuals in developing their career in the dog grooming and animal care business.
The courses are designed to be practical and accessible with a real focus in developing real skills and vocational knowledge.
The iPET Network deliver courses across the UK and Ireland with consistency, care and quality.
The iPet Network has a Clear Mission Statement:
iPET Network is an Ofqual Regulated Awarding Organisation specialising in qualifications in the Canine and Feline sector.
Led By Industry Experts.
Driven By Passion.
Bounded By Animals.
Guided By Learners.
United By Ipet Network.
iPET Network is unique in its approach being a sector specific Awarding Organisation and are constantly developing NEW Canine and Feline qualifications in the industry.
The iPet commitments include:
We are dedicated to animal welfare.
We are focused on people development.
We are current in the market.
We are ground-breaking in our approach.
We are working in the pet industry, for the pet industry, fuelled by industry experts.
iPet Qualifications Mission Statements
We demand the highest standard of practice to ensure our suite of qualifications work.
They work for pets, who deserve the best care.
They work for learners, giving valuable skills.
They work for training providers, with strong market appeal.
iPet Training Providers
iPet approved Training Providers are a collection of schools, trainers, coaches and mentors specialising in a range of pet related topics. All iPet training providers are industry experts, instilling confidence, and skills in learners from all backgrounds with quality at the heart of all we do.
"Education For People, For Pets, For The Future."
Some Education Terms Explained
OFQUAL:
OFQUAL - The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation is a non-ministerial government department that regulates qualifications, exams and tests in England and who regulate qualifications on the national register. This register is of all Awarding Organisations that meet the standard required to offer regulated qualifications.
Awarding Organisations:
An Awarding Organisation writes a qualification that demonstrates a learner’s ability in the subject matter. They set a criteria for the qualification that must be achieved in order for a person to gain it. In the grooming industry, City & Guilds, OCNWM and now iPET Network are Awarding Organisations with grooming qualifications.
Qualifications:
Qualification is a very generic term used by many training providers. However, to be a recognised qualification of a certain level in the UK, the Awarding Organisation must be OFQUAL regulated. In short, if there isn’t an Awarding Organisation, the qualification is not of a regulated standard. That doesn’t mean the training course is no good, but it does mean the writers have not faced scrutiny to ensure it is fair for all to achieve and meets quality assurance standards.
Qualification Levels:
Each qualification on the national register is given a level depending on the difficulty of the subject and the how the qualification is assessed.
Assessment Methods:
A learner has to be assessed to prove they have met the qualification criteria. Assessment can take many different forms but can include formal exams, online tests, oral questioning, practical demonstration, coursework or portfolio building. Awarding Organisations choose the best assessment methods for their qualifications, ensuring the process is fair to everyone doing their qualification.
Qualification Criteria:
Each qualification will have a different set of criteria which must be achieved in order to obtain the qualification. Each Awarding Organisation writes their qualification with the needs of their learners in mind. iPET Network has consulted with a panel of industry experts to write a criteria that we feel best prepares learners for a career as a commercial dog groomer.
Comparing Qualifications:
Although two training providers maybe offering the same qualification from the same Awarding Organisation, their qualification may differ considerably. If the training providers are meeting the Qualification Criteria, they can deliver the training how they find best. So one learner may start on a Spaniel and another on a Westie, another may train full time for 5 weeks and another may do 1 day a week over a year etc. Costs can also differ depending on how many students are in the class and the tutors profile or business model.
We hope that this helps you understand the range of courses, training providers and qualifications out there, giving you clarity on how to compare them effectively.
What Are Level 3 Qualifications?
Qualification Levels
Each qualification on the national register is given a level depending on the difficulty of the subject and the criteria of how the qualification is assessed e.g. Level 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. You may also have heard of the terms Award, Certificate and Diploma, these words relate to the number of credits the qualification is worth and indicates the amount of learning hours a person has studied.
Award = 1-12 Credits
Certificate = 13-26 Credits
Diploma = 37 or more Credits
If 2 different Awarding Organisations offer a regulated Level 3 Diploma, they are recognised as the same level of learning even if the content differs as long as the credit value meets the above. Credits are based on a suggested 10 hours of study, as such, to obtain a certificate worth 13 credits, you would be expected to undertake training with a time duration of around 130 hours.
There are two aspects to classifying qualifications in the UK, time of study and the difficulty level. The higher the level, the more difficult the qualification is. The longer the course in the more information and detail covered in the qualification.
For example, AS levels and A levels are both level 3 difficulty, but you study AS levels over 1 year and A levels over 2 years. So you learn more about the subject at A level as the duration of study is longer.
The graph here shows how the three qualifications build up to the level 3 Diploma from iPet Network, taught by the Bone Idol Academy.
