By now if you have followed the previous blogs you should be clear what your primary motivation for taking the big step in changing your life and have thought through some of the secondary factors that help you make decisions – be warned recent scientific evidence shows that most of us make major life decisions on emotions (think secondary factors) rather than logical (primary) – a bit like buying a new pair of shoes because you like the colour (feelgood factor) but they are not in your size!

So if you have clarified your needs the next step is to check out the course providers – the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths (www.a-r-h.org ) ‘Which Course Guide’ will give you a base to start from, as will the Society of Homeopaths ‘Register of Course Providers’. (www.homeopathy-soh.org) . Then, if you can do the leg work by internet – visit the websites of individual course providers – ask for a prospectus etc and shortlist those you consider might meet your needs.

Now visit your short listed college/s when it’s in action, to observe how things work and talk to the students – particularly those in their Graduation Year. If you find yourself motivated, enthusiastic and challenged then it’s probably the course for you!

NB: If after joining a course you feel you have got it wrong do not be afraid to change. It is better than wasting three or four years on the wrong course and never ending up practicing!

Visit the CPH website for further information on Homeopathy, including clinics, advice, education and training http://www.college-of-practical-homeopathy.com

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Having clarified your primary reasons for training or studying homeopathy you should bring in the secondary factors to help you make the final choice.

These are:

a) location – students often opt to go to a local college because traveling is easier but if the course is not right for you then it can be an expensive mistake in the longer term.

b) venue – similarly many students make the mistake of choosing a course because they like the venue. It is the course itself that should be the key factor!

c) reputation and recommendation – these can often be historical and therefore out of date – courses change over time so it is worth spending time with current final year (and if possible) graduates to see what they think of the course.

f) registration/accreditation – At present there is only one externally assessed registration system and only about a third of colleges are registered. See FAQ’s on Accreditation and registration www.collegeofpracticalhomeopathy.com for further details.

g) cost – this varies from college to college – be clear that you are comparing like with like – e.g. full time may be two or three year. In addition check what extras you have to pay for as some colleges provide clinical practice as part of a course, others require you to take (and pay) for Anatomy and Physiology Modules as an extra. You should look at the overall cost, including all extras and not just the annual cost, and then divide by number of years to get a true comparison.

e) other supporting factors – you may like to consider:

• whether the college has offices, clinics and teaching rooms in one building or is spread around as this can affect the feel of belonging to a college. Does it provide a base for a ‘community’ of student homeopaths?

• openness to new communications technology – both with providing and accessing resource materials and to taking cases by phone and by email

• Graduate and alumni programmes after graduation

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What do homeopaths do?

Homeopathy is both a complementary and alternative medicine. Around 3,500 homeopaths practise in the UK. The profile of homeopathy is rising and so opportunities are growing. As more and more people are becoming disillusioned with modern medicine approaches there is a constantly growing demand for safer alternatives to the drug and surgery based approaches. NHS clinics can now offer homeopathy alongside traditional treatments. There are also NHS Homeopathic Hospitals in London and Edinburgh.

However most homeopaths run their own practices

Homeopaths treat people with a wide range of medical conditions. They take a ‘holistic’ approach – looking at the individual’s life as a whole, rather than just their physical symptoms. Clients come for help with a wide variety of complaints – from relatively minor conditions, e.g. headache, toothache or insomnia, to potentially more serious illnesses, e.g. asthma or arthritis. The job entails:

• meeting patients and asking questions about their condition and their wider lives
• choosing the most appropriate method of applying homeopathy.
• choosing a remedy most likely to work for each patient – either a one-off remedy or a course of treatment
• explaining how to take and store the remedy supplied
• advising on diet and other lifestyle factors
• monitoring the patient’s progress, through phone calls, email or further consultation
• keeping patient records
• advertising and publicising the practice, perhaps through talks or seminars
• managing the business accounts
• keeping up to date with developments in homeopathy and other health issues.

Homeopathy is a demanding occupation. The holistic nature of treatment means clients may confide personal and emotional problems. Building up a practice, usually through word of mouth, can be an interesting and challenging process. Some practitioners complement their work by offering other therapies, such as massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture, kinesiology or nutrition.

Hours and working environment

Almost all homeopaths are self employed and run their own practice. This may be from their homes, or within a clinic as part of a wider alternative therapy practice. They may also visit patients at home. Increasingly there are opportunities available in GP surgeries or hospitals as the Government has increased the funding for complementary therapies.

Although Homeopaths may need to offer appointments in the evenings and weekends for their clients’ convenience it is increasingly accepted to deal with clients over the phone and by email and this really enhances the flexibility for homeopaths to create their own lifestyle. Each homeopath will decide what the most appropriate hours to run their business are and this varies according to personal circumstances.

It is a very flexible career option. It can be started later in life and one you can continue until you choose to stop. You can work part time only or build up a busy practice and develop in to a full time occupation with earnings increasing with the growth of the practice.

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