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How long does it usually take to complete the course?
The course can take nine months to complete. But you can do it as quickly
or slowly as you want. That's the great advantage of distance learning.
Do I need to finish the course within a certain
time?
You can take as long as you want. Unlike other organizations, we don't
set any time limits.
What does the course cost?
You can find the cost, and sign up online, by clicking
here.
Does the cost include everything I need? Or are there
any extra fees?
There are no other costs or fees.
Can I spread the cost over a period of time?
Yes, you can pay over five months. But that costs 20% more. Click
here for more information.
Can I get my money back if I don't like the course?
Just notify us within 30 days, and we'll refund your
course fees.
Also, if after seeking
work at the end of the course, you don't earn at least the cost of
the course within three months, we'll also refund your fees.
Can I start the course at any time?
Yes. You can start today. Or tomorrow. Or next week. Whenever you want.
Is the course all from home, or do I have to go somewhere to sit
tests?
It's all from home.
I live in the USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada etc. Is the course
suitable for me?
Yes. We have students all over the world, in 28 countries. And we have
two editions of the course. One is for North America and those who
want to pay in US dollars. The other edition is for the UK and Europe,
and people who want to pay in sterling. But we welcome payment in any
currency.
How can I contact my tutor or the Institute?
There have two types of people you can contact - your tutor and a course
advisor.
The tutor marks your work,
and helps you with any problems. You can fax, email or post assignments
to your tutor, whenever you want.
We don't give out the tutor's
phone number, because a few people would spend all day talking to
their tutors, who would never get any work done or be available
to other students.
But sometimes students get
stuck, or have an urgent query. If so, you can phone a course advisor
at the Institute at any time during business hours. If you leave a message
out of business hours we'll call you back the next day. You can contact
course advisors as often as you want, and about anything to do with
wedding planning.
Is the course accredited? And by whom?
Yes, we're accredited by the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council.
You can find them at www.odlqc.org.uk.
We're listed under Learning Institute, our parent organization.
We're also accredited by
Public Eye and Better Business Bureau.
We are also registered with the Department for Education
and Skills on its Register of Education and Training Providers.
ASET
Level 4 Accreditation
Our course
is fully accredited by ASET, and on completing it you get a national
award equivalent to Level 4 of the National Learning Framework (A level
standard). ASET is a national Awarding Body recognised by the Department
for Education and Skills and by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
in Britain. It has been accrediting vocational learning for more than
50 years and now works with more than 200 providers in the UK and internationally.
By studying for
our Diploma in Wedding Planning, you’ll give yourself that edge. You
couldn’t ask for anything more from a distance learning course.
Is there
an Accreditation body for wedding planning? Or a governing body?
No. That means you don't need permission from anyone to work
as a wedding planner.
Will the course give me credits towards a degree
or some other study?
No. But it will help you set up and run your own
business. And we encourage all students to continue their studies after
completing the course.
Are the tutors professional wedding planners?
Yes, all tutors are working wedding planners. Some other
organizations use college lecturers, which means you don't get the
information from those who work as a wedding planner every day.
Can I get insurance to practice as a wedding planner?
Yes. We can recommend brokers or insurance
companies in the UK and North America who will sell you professional
liability insurance. If you live in other countries, we can also help.
Can wedding planning be taught, just like accounting
or the law?
Yes. Only it's a lot more fun!
Will the Diploma enable me to operate professionally?
Yes. the course is designed specifically to help you set up and run
your own practice. Amazingly, some courses, even at university, omit
this all-important aspect. What's the point of learning the skills without
knowing how to use them to earn a livelihood? We give you enough technical
knowledge to work as a wedding planner, and we also provide detailed
guidance on marketing, operation and finance to run your own business.
Will the qualification help me get a job?
There aren't many jobs in wedding planning organizations.
This is because many of them are small. And when bigger firms hire,
you could be lost in the pile of job applications.
The easiest
way to earn a living as a wedding planner is to work for yourself. It's
also the most lucrative. So in the course we focus on how you can work
from home as a wedding planner.
Will you show me how to find work?
Yes, the course includes practical guidance on finding
clients. You can also get additional help from your tutor or a course
advisor.
Is there a final exam?
No, there is no final exam. The course is based on continuous assessment,
through the assignments you send to your tutor.
And continuous assessment
lets you check all the time that you're on track to succeed.
So you should look on each
assignment as an exciting challenge. No, it's true! You'll enjoy
them. Really. We promise you!
What happens if I fail an assignment?
You just do the work again! 80% of students complete the course without
ever failing an assignment. But anyone might misunderstand the question,
or produce an insufficiently detailed answer. So your tutor will explain
the problem and ask you to send in the assignment again. and don't
worry, when you do this, your work will truly be much better.
Can I submit hand-written assignments?
Yes. That's no problem.
Can I submit assignments by E-mail?
Yes. That's no problem.
Can I join the course without prior experience?
Yes. That's no problem. We make no assumptions about
people's prior knowledge. The main thing is to have a passion for wedding
planning.
Can I tackle the topics in any order I choose?
Yes, you can. So, if you want to tackle a particular
topic, you can go straight to that module. This is useful if you have
a job or a client that requires you to know about a particular subject.
You might note that some other organizations supply only one or two
modules at a time.
I haven't studied for years. The thought
of returning to study makes me nervous.
Don't worry. We sympathize. But this course
is nothing like your memories of being stuck inside a stuffy classroom
on a summer's day with an old-style teacher droning on.
For
a start, this is a subject that really interests you (or you wouldn't
have read this far).
And
getting this deep into the website shows that you can absorb information
and concentrate for long periods of time.
Also,
you'll see that we write clearly and simply. And that's how we've
written the course materials. Some other organizations write long
and boring pages that make your eyes glaze over. We promise you that
our course is nothing like that. You'll find this course is informative
and enjoyable. In fact, many students are almost upset at finishing
the course. Like turning the last page in a thriller, they wish there
was more.
Do I get the whole course or just individual
modules one at a time?
We send you the whole course when you register. This
means you can study any topic you want to. You can also see what topics
are coming up. Getting everything in one package makes it easier for
you to get an overview of the course. As we mentioned above, some other
organizations supply only one or two modules at a time.
How does this course compare with others?
We think this
is the best course in the world. Bar none. But please examine other
courses before making a decision. Consider these points:
1. Is the
course comprehensive? Does it cover all subjects, including budgeting?
2. Will your
studies be supported by a tutor? Research shows that people succeed
much better on courses that include a personal tutor. The tutor
is your teacher, of course. But the tutor is also your mentor, and
provides support.
3. Is it
interactive? That is, do the course materials regularly make you
stop and think, and do exercises? Too many other courses consist
of page after page of boring lecture notes. A course should keep
you active and engaged.
4. Does it
teach you about setting up your own business? College courses are often
weak on this point.
5. Is it accredited?
6. Can you
get a refund if you don't like the course?
For our course,
the answer to all these questions is 'Yes'. But check out other
people's courses as well before registering. We want you to make
the choice that's right for you.
So, how
can I find out about other courses?
1. See if
any courses are available at your local college or nearby university.
But remember that they may not include real-world business information.
2. Scour the
internet. But beware: many dot com entrepreneurs with no experience
in the field think they can teach wedding planning.
3. See if
you can contact a careers advisor. As they would be the first to admit,
careers advisors know nothing about wedding planning. And the careers
books they consult will probably suggest getting a three to five-year
college degree in your chosen field. Which may (or may not) be a good
thing, but it isn't an option for most of our students (many of whom
already have a degree!). And a degree isn't needed for private wedding
planning practice.
Can a newcomer break into wedding planning and earn
money?
Yes, absolutely. We show you how.
Are there any restrictions on me setting up as a wedding
planner?
No state or federal laws stop you setting up and running
your own practice.
To keep you straight,
we also provide detailed advice on forming a company, keeping records,
and paying taxes.
Any other questions?
If you have a question, why not email
us now? We could add it to our list of FAQs.
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