Home > Fitness and Health > Job Skills and CPD

ITEC Courses and Certification

itec courses Ireland

ITEC / VTCT in Ireland

iTEC (International Therapy Examination Council), operating under VTCT Skills, is a respected awarding organisation for vocational qualifications in sectors such as beauty therapy, complementary therapies, hairdressing, sport & fitness, and related services. iTEC/VTCT offers regulated qualifications spanning multiple levels in the UK regulatory context and these are delivered internationally, including across Ireland.

Founded in 1973 in the UK, iTEC has grown to support centres in the UK, Ireland and many other countries. In Ireland, there are more than 200 approved colleges and private training providers offering iTEC qualifications.

Irish Presence & Support

iTEC maintains an Irish office to support examinations and quality assurance activities across the EU:

Clones Road, Creeny, Belturbet, Co. Cavan, H14 X825, Ireland

How iTEC / VTCT Qualifications Fit in Ireland

  • Regulation: iTEC/VTCT qualifications are regulated under UK systems (e.g., Ofqual in England). In Ireland, recognition typically involves comparability/mapping to the Irish NFQ (National Framework of Qualifications) and professional/industry acceptance rather than automatic inclusion in the NFQ.
  • Frameworks: The Irish NFQ is aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). Comparability guides published by Irish and UK agencies help learners and employers understand how levels broadly relate across jurisdictions.
  • Good practice: Always check the specific qualification title/level, whether it is delivered in Ireland, and any professional recognition (e.g., fitness registers, industry bodies) relevant to your goals.

Recent Development: Fitness Recognition

Since November 2024, REPs Ireland (the National Register of Exercise Professionals) and VTCT (iTEC) have a partnership that enables providers of selected iTEC/VTCT fitness qualifications to become REPs Ireland–approved, improving professional recognition pathways for graduates in the Irish fitness sector.

Popular iTEC / VTCT Sectors

  • Beauty, Nails & Spa Therapy
  • Beauty Aesthetics and Clinical Aesthetics
  • Complementary Therapies (e.g., Massage, Reflexology)
  • Sport & Fitness (e.g., Gym Instruction, Personal Training, Sports Massage)
  • Hairdressing & Barbering
  • Training, Assessment & Quality Assurance

Choosing the Right Course

Before enrolling, consider:

  1. Delivery in Ireland: Confirm the programme is offered by an approved Irish centre.
  2. Level & Frameworks: Note the UK level and ask your provider about Irish NFQ/EQF comparability.
  3. Professional Recognition: For fitness, check REPs Ireland pathways; for beauty/aesthetics/therapy, check relevant professional or insurance requirements.

References

Resources
• Fitness Training Courses on Findacourse.ie
• Beauty Training Courses on Findacourse.ie

Tags: ITEC Certificate, ITEC Certification, ITEC Courses, ITEC Ireland, ITEC Qualification