The Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma is a nationally recognised qualification which is externally accredited by the NCFE as well as by the National Council for Hypnotherapy. It's equivalent academic value is an NVQ4 or entry level Degree, and it differs from a standard Diploma in that it is awarded not by a hypnotherapy school, but by an independent National Accreditation body working together with the UK's largest Hypnotherapy Professional Society. The award meets the UK's National Occupational Standards for hypnotherapy.  

This qualification is not a compulsory requirement for professional practice but I believe passionately in promoting professional practice, and the HPD is the UK's first and only truly open National Qualification. For me, choosing to obtain this accreditation some two years  after obtaining my first hypnotherapy diploma (I gained mine in 2005) represents my ongoing commitment to quality, competence, and professionalism within the industry. I include below a copy of the press release from 2002 at the inception of the HPD which explains the relevance of this qualification. Not all hypnotherapy practitioners in the UK hold this qualification, and it remains the stamp of authenticity as far as finding a "professional" practitioner is concerned.  

Press Release:

17 June 2002: The NCH in association with the NCFE Examinations Board has launched two new professional programmes: The Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma (HPD) and the Certificate in Hypnotherapeutic Supervision (CertHypSup). These awards are nationally accredited, we believe the HPD to be the first open to all, nationally accredited Diploma in Hypnotherapy The CertHypSup was the first supervisors course developed especially for hypnotherapists, now is the only supervision course offered to hypnotherapists to be externally accredited.
NCFE is an awarding body operating throughout the UK offering qualifications from pre-entry level up to and including level 4.
NCFE qualifications, schemes and awards are offered by colleges, private training providers, adult education centres, community groups, schools and businesses. Last academic year, over 150,000 people used their NCFE certificates to boost their career prospects, realise their ambitions and achieve their goals.
This means that the NCH is an approved centre for these two newly negotiated qualifications. The NCH has now fulfilled its destiny of being both professional society and meaningful accreditation board. The NCH WILL NOT be undertaking training other than the Certificate in Hypnotherapeutic Supervision. The Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma will be run through our existing accredited schools which will then be satellite centres of NCFE through the NCH as the examinations centre.
For practitioners qualified before an accredited school enters the scheme and would like to earn an HPD, you are required to provide a portfolio of learning which will be assessed both internally by the NCH and externally by the NCFE in order to be awarded the HPD. We will provide you with a personal tutor to assist you in the construction of the portfolio in order to aid your successful submission.
The NCH has seen the word historic used many times in this field. We would like to clarify the significance of these awards and let you decide as to whether they are historic or not. At last there is a Diploma award which is open to meaningful scrutiny both vocationally and academically. This award will be jointly granted by both the NCH and the NCFE, a partnership with a National Awarding/Examining Body. In the not too distant future, this award could be adapted in order to encompass any National Occupational Standards for hypnotherapy which the profession may agree. For many years people have asked our office as well as our trainers and practitioners “Is there a nationally accredited qualification in hypnotherapy?”. We can now reply with a resounding YES! The Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma represents the future of not only the NCH, but the profession as a whole.
As this is a development for the profession, the NCH is pleased to announce that this qualification will be available to members of the NCH as well as non-members. Provided a hypnotherapist has the basic requirements to join the NCH, any hypnotherapist can undertake this qualification without having to be an NCH Member. The HPD qualification encompasses the UKCHO Core Curriculum with an additional component on therapeutic process. We believe that this qualification will become the standard practitioner qualification for hypnotherapists throughout the UK. To make this a reality, we ask that you contact the NCH, and in the next couple of weeks you will receive an information pack giving all of the details as to how you can earn this prestigious award.
If you have any questions you can address them to Fiona Biddle, FNCH Executive Director of the NCH at 0800 9520545 or admin@hypnotherapists.org.uk or Dr Shaun Brookhouse, FNCH, at chair@hypnotherapists.org.uk
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