Find below the Terms and Conditions
THE ACADEMY LIMITS INTAKES TO 40 STUDENTS PER YEAR TO KEEP THE STANDARD OF EDUCATION RECEIVED HIGH. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND FOR INTERESTED PARTIES.
Please read the below information carefully before submitting your application and/or registering for the membership.
GENERAL
Please note that The Holistic Dog Groomer and The Holistic Dog Grooming Academy are not responsible for the productivity and/or success of you and your business.
As a student of The Holistic Grooming Academy and Mentee of The Holistic Dog Groomer, it is crucial you are honest at all times to receive the best service.
Failure to disclose any of the below information correctly may result in the termination of your membership.
While we may offer you advice and guidance based on our own experience, we are not accountants or lawyers, and therefore all students must do their own due diligence before making decisions for themselves and their businesses.
Neither the course nor mentorship is transferable - they cannot be gifted to another person unless at the discretion of Stephanie Zikmann.
COMPLAINTS
For complaints, you may contact Stephanie via [email protected] and express your concern(s), please allow up to 7-14 working days for a response but rest assured your enquiry will be answered.
ACCREDITED COURSES
The Holistic Grooming Academy is a PDR Approved Training Provider through iPET and accredited through UK RURAL SKILLS.
The educational content we provide is to enhance the professional groomer's existing knowledge and skills through education in Canine Behaviour, Safe-Handling, Observation, Communication, Self-Care, Customer Relationships, and Basic Business Skills.
All content within the Academy and as part of the mentorship is strictly confidential and copyrighted. You may not share, screen-shot or similar any of the resources and/or information you receive as a student of the Academy or Mentee of The Holistic Dog Groomer.
The Holistic Grooming Academy updates the course content on an annual basis, and anytime where relevant to ensure it reflects up-to-date methods and the latest science. However, it is the responsibility of the student to do their own due diligence when carrying out their professional roles, and to keep updated upon completion of the course, and for the rest of their lives and the HGA ask that all students actively commit to continual CPD.
WHAT YOU GET
As a graduate of one of our Diplomas via The Holistic Grooming Academy, you will be able to use the "HGA Approved" logo on your social outlets, and business marketing material.
You will receive access to the Student Members Group for the duration of your studies where you will receive further discounts on all future material/merchandise within the Academy.
The group will continue to host an array of live educational events (online and physical) from industry experts and offer a safe, and supportive community of learners sharing the same ethical values.
You will additionally receive exclusive discounts on our affiliated pet industry businesses.
YOUR INVESTMENT
The cost of this course is currently fixed at £999.
Students have twelve months with tutor and inclusive resource support from the date they receive their course content, and a further 12 months without tutor support to complete and pass the course.
Students have one inclusive resubmission per unit to pass. Additional submissions thereafter will incur a fee of £50 per Unit. Please make sure you let your tutor know if you are struggling.
ALL applicants are required to pay the course in full upon initial registration. For more on our cancellation policy please read on.
PRICE CHANGE NOTICE
The price of the Accreditation Courses may increase with each New Year as per inflation.
The price of our membership is subject to change at any time unless you have opted for a yearly subscription which will lock the price for the year.
You will receive an e-mail from [email protected] to confirm whether your application for one of our courses has been successful, and what steps to take next.
Upon registering for the membership, you will receive an email from The Holistic Grooming Academy upon successful completion and instant access will be granted within our Thinkific Membership Platform.
PAYMENT PLANS FOR THE COURSE
Unfortunately we are no longer providing payment plan options due to a number of students breaching their contract costing the Academy money on legal battles that could have been spent on sourcing and investing in more webinars for our students.
REFUND FOR COURSES
Due to the instant digital nature of the course, we do not provide refunds for our courses. As soon as you pay for the course, you have instant access to all of the educational content and resources.
REFUND FOR MEMBERSHIPS
Due to the immediate and digital nature of the membership, we cannot recover information you may have downloaded and as such, we are unable to process any refund if a member chooses to cancel their membership.
HOLISTIC GROOMING MEMBERSHIP
Those signing up for the HGA Membership can opt to pay £15 per month for access to the hub and private group, or an annual subscription of £180 (GBP).
Graduates will have access to our membership for free for the duration of their accreditation status and will continue to have access so long as they remain accredited through the HGA.
BULLYING AND DISCRIMINATION
Any bullying, discrimination, shaming, name-bashing, or slander of any kind towards others including students of the Holistic Grooming Academy, or towards The Holistic Dog Groomer herself will result in the immediate removal of the academy without a refund.
BREACH OF ETHICS
Membership and certification can be terminated immediately in the event a student/member shows a disregard for HGA ethics. This means the use of any form of aversive and/or outdated tools, methods or practice whether professionally or in the care of their own pets.
This decision can be appealed via [email protected] and a period of 14-days can be granted to the student/member to submit their own evidence before a final decision is made.
In the event certification and/or membership is revoked, no refunds will be given.
Outdated practices include the use of aversive methods and tools and ideologies that are harmful and/or scaremongering in nature.
If you are reported to be in breach of the HGA ethics, you can appeal to our support team via e-mail ([email protected]). Evidence should be provided at this time. Evidence should be time-stamped where appropriate.
If you are reporting an individual for suspected ill-practice, you must do so via our support team ([email protected]) with evidence. Evidence should be time-stamped where appropriate.
Additionally, enrolling and paying for our courses/membership does not guarantee you will pass. All students/affiliates/associates/members of the HGA must share the same high standards of ethics, and be able to consistently demonstrate them in their practice for the duration of their term with the HGA.
TERMS OF CERTIFICATION
It is important to the HGA that we spot-check our existing and former students to safeguard the standard of service conducted in the Certified Holistic Groomer's working practice.
Should one of the HGA's Certified Holistic Groomers demonstrate outdated practices that prove to be harmful to an animal or bullying and/or discrimination of others, it is the responsibility and duty of care of the HGA to revoke certification effective immediately. Please note, no refunds will be given for this inconvenience.
All students are entitled to a one-strike policy where they must agree to amend their current practice to comply with the HGA ethics. In this instance, they will be placed on a probation period of 6-months. This includes random spot-checks and mystery shopping scenarios which they must pass before their Certification can be re-applied.
We hope that you understand the reason for this policy is to ensure your investment and achievement remains one to be proud of.
All certifications last a duration of ONE YEAR before having to take a refresher exam for a small fee to renew their accredited status. Renewal is optional however affiliation with the HGA relies on students committing to a refresher should they wish to remain approved through us and listed on our directory.
TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP
If a member shows a breach of membership ethics through the use of dominance-based and/or aversive methods, or have been shown to bully and/or discriminate against another individual their membership will be terminated immediately and they must remove all HGA logos from their business platforms and material.
ENDNOTES
Please remember that this is an ever-evolving community and it is our mission to provide the most accurate and up-to-date methods of positive-based grooming. If you are not happy, we want to know!