ICS Learning - Counselling Course. BIG disappointment

I started this course as I thought it would be a great introduction into Counselling. I was expecting lots of support, excellent study material, a challenge and 9 months worth of studying. I was greatly disappointed.

The material arrived and looked very promising. A nice folder, printed material and a text book. I arranged my desk and sat down intending to get my head back into books. I soon realised this wouldn't be happening. I completed the first section including the on-line test in approx 2 hours.

The on-line test comprises of 20 multiple choice questions - and should you fail the test (can't see how anyone could personally) you can re-sit it 24 hours later anyway.

The course material was very flimsy and far too easy. Most of the points raised were completely common sense and as for the test questions two or three of the four answers on every question were frankly ridiculous.

As an experiment I moved on to test two without actually reading any of the course material and still managed to get 17/20 and therefore a pass (actually the result came back as 'Excellent'.

I'll be honest here and say I got bored so haven't touched the course in three months! But today I decided that as I'd paid for it I should continue. So I came back on-line and tried test three.. again without any studying. Long story short... I have completed all of the tests now without so much as opening the text book! I passed ALL the units (even getting 100% in one of them). Now... to my mind the point to completing a course is to LEARN something. If I can pass the tests without any study (and I'm no genius)then clearly either I already had the knowledge or the course is lacking in any educational merit.

The course was supposed to take 9 months. I completed the whole thing in less than a day and I promise you I have never done any counselling training and don't even have A levels.

My advice would be to seriously think about this before parting with any money. The certificate you get at the end of the course is not recognised either so won't get you anywhere professional. Look at other courses.. read reviews.. This course MAY be good if you have done no studying at all for years and just want to practice but it is a lot of money just to refresh your study skills. Look at the OU website first.. much better value.

Oh.. and the tutor you get to support you.. Mine never turned up.. 5 months after signing up to the course and I still don't have a tutor.. not that I needed one.