Terms & Conditions

The Institute of Podiatrists (IoP)

t/a The College of Foot Health (CoFH)

(The Company)

Fees: All fees must be paid by the Student to the IoP on enrolment unless taking out the optional Payment Plan. Due to the nature of the services being provided hereunder all fees are subject to the below:

  • Fully refundable within 14 days of enrolment – required by Consumer Rights Act (as below)
  • Where a medical condition arises – withdrawal from course within the course timeframe (18 months), upon receipt of a medical certificate confirming your diagnosis a refund less £200 administration
  • Course extensions offered at discretion of Director of Education
  • Withdrawal from course – within 6 months – less £595
  • Withdrawal from course after 6 months – non refundable.

On all occasions course material must be returned to The College of Foot Health, postage paid.

Cooling-off period. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, you have 14 calendar days after entering into this contract to cancel our agreement and receive a full refund of any monies already paid along with your application. The cooling-off period starts the day after you agree to proceed with the service.

Physical Competence Requirements

Foot Health Practitioners perform treatments that require fine motor skills, manual dexterity, hand strength, good vision, and sustained concentration.

Students must therefore demonstrate the physical ability to:

  • Safely and effectively handle nail nippers, scalpels, and other sharp instruments.
  • Maintain infection control and aseptic technique during treatment.
  • Work with patients’ feet at close proximity while maintaining control of instruments.
  • Respond quickly and appropriately to any clinical or patient emergency.

Safe practice requires that the practitioner has:

  • Sufficient grip strength and hand coordination to use nippers and scalpels safely.
  • Adequate vision, with or without corrective lenses, to perform precision work.
  • Physical stability and posture control to work in both seated and standing clinical positions.

Students who are unable to meet these requirements present a potential risk to patient safety and cannot be deemed competent to practice.

Disclosure of Medical Conditions

All applicants must declare any medical condition (physical or psychological) that could reasonably affect their ability to:

  • Participate fully in the practical training,
  • Handle clinical instruments safely, or
  • Carry out patient care in accordance with health and safety regulations.

This disclosure must be made at the point of application.

Medical declarations are treated confidentially and assessed on an individual basis.

Where appropriate, reasonable adjustments will be considered in line with the Equality Act 2010, provided these adjustments:

  • Do not compromise patient safety,
  • Do not alter the essential practical competencies of the qualification, and
  • Can be implemented safely within the training environment.
  • Failure to disclose a relevant medical condition at the outset that later impacts practical competence will be considered a breach of professional integrity.

Ongoing Fitness to Practice

Should a medical or physical condition arise during training that affects a student’s ability to perform safely:

  • The student must immediately inform the Course Tutor
  • A fitness to practise assessment may be required, including occupational health review.
  • Where safe and feasible, temporary adjustments or a pause in training may be offered.
  • If the condition prevents the student from safely performing essential practical skills (e.g., safe use of scalpels or nippers), the student will be withdrawn from the course and will not be eligible to graduate.

This ensures the protection of patients, the public, and the professional reputation of the CoFH and IoP.

Non-Compliance

If a student:

  • Fails to disclose a relevant condition at application, or
  • Demonstrates an inability to safely handle clinical instruments during training,

they will be formally assessed for competence. If it is determined that they cannot meet the essential safety and skill requirements of the course, even with reasonable adjustments, the student will be asked to leave the programme and will not be permitted to graduate.

This decision, though regrettable, is made to uphold public safety, professional integrity, and compliance with statutory duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Responsibilities

Students

  • Must accurately disclose all relevant medical information at the application stage.
  • Must maintain their own health and wellbeing to ensure safe practice.
  • Must comply with all clinical health and safety training, infection control, and competency requirements.

Tutors

  • Must monitor students’ practical competence and report any concerns.
  • Must ensure appropriate supervision and health and safety standards are maintained in the training clinic.

College of Foot Health (CoFH)

Retains the right to withdraw any student deemed unsafe to practise.

Has a duty of care to safeguard students and patients.

Will ensure compliance with all health and safety regulations and provide reasonable support where possible.

English Proficiency

Course students must be able to communicate well in English to complete this course. Failure to disclose that English is not your first language and/or to undertake an English proficiency test (if required) will lead to removal from the course. No refunds will be issued.

Working Visas and Students visas are accepted, however course delegates must be able to provide proof of ID and obtain a background disclosure check (DBS, PVG Garda Vetting). All other T&C’s apply. Should you fail to complete the course during your Visa no refund is available.

Legalities

On enrolment, the Student agrees not to describe himself/herself as a “chiropodist or podiatrist”. These titles being “protected” titles only to be used by persons duly registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and/or CORU (Republic of Ireland)

The Student agrees not to describe himself/herself as a Foot Health Practitioner or similar title, until all examinations in respect of the theoretical and practical parts of the Course have been successfully completed and a certificate awarded.

Upon successful complete of the course, students would qualify as a Foot Health Practitioner and not a ‘Chiropodist’ or ‘Podiatrist’.

Course amendments

The Company operates a policy of continuous improvement of its courses and reserves the right to make changes to the content of its courses in accordance with such policy without prior notification to the Student insofar as such changes relate to an upgrade in the specifications of the Course or are otherwise required for funding, staffing or any other reasonable cause. The Company will notify the Student of any such changes. The Student will bear no extra costs for any changes in the specifications of the Course.

The Student submits to the jurisdiction of the Company in all matters relating to the Course while on the Company’s premises and the Company agrees that the exercise of that jurisdiction shall be subject to standards of reasonableness and fairness.

Course duration

Students are allowed a maximum of twenty-four (24) months from the date of enrolment on the Course, to complete the theoretical part of the Course. The final decision as to whether or not the Student has completed the theoretical part of the Course for the purpose of continuing onto the practical part of the Course shall be a decision solely within the discretion of the Board of Education. Students may pursue the theoretical part of the Course outside the permitted period solely with the prior written consent of the Board of Education.

Course professionalism

All Students will be covered by insurance during their supervised practical training sessions, insofar as they are acting within specified guidelines. On completion of the Foot Health Course, students will be invited to join as Members of the College of Foot Health and will be entitled to apply in the group Public Liability Insurance scheme.

During the Course, the Student must, at all times, behave in a safe and professional manner which would not pose a threat to the safety of patients, staff or other Students.

Save as provided in this Clause, the Company accepts no liability for any injury or damage sustained by any person as a result of the performance of a foot health treatment by any Student before or after completion of the Course. The Company does not exclude its liability for death or personal injury caused by the Company’s own negligence.

Student Conduct and Eligibility Verification. The course provider reserves the right to remove any student from the program without refund if it is determined that the student has engaged in inappropriate, disruptive, or unethical behaviour, or if any discrepancies, falsifications, or omissions are found in the information provided during the application or enrollment process. Such actions may be grounds for immediate dismissal at the sole discretion of the Director of Education and/or the Education Faculty.

Agreement & Copyright

Either party may terminate this Agreement in relation to the provision of the Course forthwith in writing if either party materially breaches any of the terms of this Agreement.

The Agreement between the Student and the Company is not assignable by either party. The Company shall be entitled to sub-contract any part of its obligations hereunder subject to an overriding obligation to maintain at all times the quality level of the Course.

Copyright and all associated rights in all course materials and documents belong solely to the Company and no part of such materials and documents shall be reproduced or duplicated in any way by the Student or any third party without the prior written consent of the Company.

The Student acknowledges that nothing herein creates any relationship or partnership, agency or employment between the Company and the Student. Further, the Student shall not use the Company’s name to represent themselves as a partner, agent, or employee of the Company at any time during the continuance of the Course, or after completion of the Course.

Neither party shall be liable for, nor shall they be in breach of this Agreement, insofar as they are unable to satisfy any of their obligations set out in this Agreement due to circumstances beyond their reasonable control.

These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law and the parties hereby submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.