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I am a school leaver interested in joining Trading Standards. What do I need to do?
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Either
undertake an accredited degree course (see
list of course providers) or
contact your local trading standards service
and enquire about employment vacancies and
begin gaining on the job knowledge and
experience in preparation for your TS
professional qualifications.
Visit our
Getting Started section for more information
on starting a career and studying for
qualifications in trading standards
Find your local Trading Standards office. |
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Are there any opportunities to gain work experience whilst still at school or college? |
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Most work
experience and shadowing opportunities are
available with local authorities. We
recommend you contact your local TS office
to find out what they have to offer.
Find your local Trading Standards office. |
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I’ve just completed my A levels and am
looking to study for a relevant degree. Are
there any sponsorship opportunities
available? |
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We suggest you contact authorities in your
local area for current sponsorship
opportunities.
Find your local Trading Standards office. |
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What are the minimum entry requirements for an accredited degree? |
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This will
largely depend on the university and course
you apply for. For more information please
visit the website links accessible via our
university courses and course providers
section |
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I am nearing completion of an accredited degree and would like to start applying for positions. Where are these jobs advertised? |
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These jobs
are advertised in the local and national
press and from time to time will be listed
on the job pages section of this website.
They are also advertised in the TSI
publication TS Today. This is available free
to members of the Institute and as a student
you will be eligible for student membership
rates. |
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I have a degree but not from an accredited university. Will this be of value towards my career in Trading Standards? |
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Yes. Your
learning and skills will need to be assessed
to see how they meet the learning outcomes
within the core, module and higher parts of
the framework. You will be given credit for
the learning outcomes you are able to
demonstrate, either by examination or
relevant skills and experience. |
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I have a degree but in a completely unrelated field. I’m interested in joining trading standards so what are my options? |
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You can
either apply directly to a trading standards
service and begin studying for our
professional qualifications, or apply to
undertake a one-year graduate conversion
course. The one year course is currently
available from Manchester Metropolitan
University and involves intensive
theoretical knowledge. On completion of this
course, we would recommend a further 12
months within the field of trading standards
to gain the practical skills and knowledge
enabling you to complete your portfolio of
evidence. |
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I have been working within trading standards
for a number of years but have not
undertaken any professional qualifications.
Would my experience prove useful within the
new framework? |
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The short answer is yes. The new framework
is based on both examinations and assessment
through a portfolio of evidence. Any past
experience and skills can be evidenced
within the portfolio to demonstrate the
application of your knowledge. Examinations
will still need to be undertaken to
demonstrate the knowledge based learning
outcomes. If you are already a TS professional
we recommend
you visit www.tsi.org.uk for further
information |
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I have some TS professional qualifications already. Will I get credit for these and is there a time period during which I need to apply within the new framework? |
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You will get credit for any previous TS professional qualifications you have gained providing you register within the new framework during the 'transition period'. This period ends at the end of July 2007. At the point of registering into the new framework, if your qualifications are 5 years old or less, then knowledge transfer will be automatic. If your qualifications are more than 5 years old at the point of registration, then all candidates will have the opportunity of having the currency of their qualifications assessed by an assessment panel.
You will need to register into the new
framework before 31st July 2007, and you
will need to take examinations/submit a
portfolio of evidence between 2005-2010.
After this transition period you will be
deemed to be starting at the foundation
knowledge level.
If you are already a TS professional
we recommend
you visit www.tsi.org.uk for further
information |
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What is the Assessment Panel and how do
apply for this? |
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The Assessment Panel is a group of skilled
professionals and academics who are
experienced in this kind of work. The Panel
will be open to any candidate who wishes to
get their qualifications assessed against
the TS qualifications framework. The
assessment criteria and fee structure are
currently being finalised and the Panel will
be operational from Summer 2006. Further
guidance will be issued from TSI before this
period and will be found on
www.tsi.org.uk |
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How do I register for the new framework? |
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Registration
forms are now available from this website,
the TSI Head
Office and from the
TSI website.
They will need to be completed and returned
to TSI. |
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How is the portfolio assessed? |
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It will be a 3-tier assessment process of
internal assessment, internal verification
and finally external verification being
undertaken by TSI. |
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How do I become an Internal Assessor or
Internal Verifier? |
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TSI are running courses to train those
wishing to undertake these roles. Portfolios
can only be assessed and verified by
individuals that have attended these
courses. For full details please visit
www.tsi.org.uk/training |
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I have DCA part 2. What credit will I be
given in the framework? |
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Where modules correlate then exemption will
be given within the timeframes and
structures as described earlier. Please
refer to the chart embedded in 'A
Guide to the TSI Qualification' for
specific details. |
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How do I register for the qualifications and
what is the process? do I register for the qualifications and what is the process? |
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You can either download a registration form
and return it to the Trading Standards
Institute, or contact the Education &
Training Team within TSI on 0870 777 3500.
Once you are registered a portfolio of
evidence will be made available to you and
you can begin your study and portfolio work. |
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When are the examinations? |
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Examinations for the new qualification will
be available in November 2006. Where practical and oral
examinations are required, for example with
metrology, these will take place alongside
the existing DTS exam timetable.
The portfolios will be assessed on an
on-going basis. |
Although trading standards may not be for me, I am still interested in pursuing a career within local government, where can I find more information?
