After almost 40 years, ISRM has left BTEC.
Although this does not directly affect you, we believe it could be significant for the future of our profession, and you can be part of what comes next.
Why have we left BTEC?
BTEC changed considerably over the decades. It is now part of Pearson, a huge global organisation providing education to millions of learners worldwide.
In the UK, they focus on large-scale mainstream education. Our qualification is very different: it is a small, specialist, part-time programme designed primarily for adult learners who want to develop practical clinical skills alongside their existing careers and commitments.
To continue under BTEC accreditation, we would have had to significantly increase the guided learning hours of the qualification to fit Pearson’s current frameworks. These frameworks are largely designed around full-time education and the needs of school leavers.
For our students, this would have meant a longer and more expensive course without providing any real benefit to their clinical training. More importantly, it would have made the qualification inaccessible to many of the adult learners who train with us.
When our qualification came up for renewal this year, we had no other option and had to end our association with BTEC.
But this is not necessarily a bad thing.
Over the years, BTEC’s approach became increasingly academically focused, while the practical and clinical elements that are fundamental to our training received less emphasis.
In particular:
As this happened, ISRM increasingly took responsibility for areas that were once overseen through the BTEC framework. We developed our own systems for quality assurance, practical skills assessment, coursework assessment and maintaining professional standards.
Because ISRM has specialist knowledge and decades of experience, we became better able to oversee qualifications in this sector.
Introducing STTQ
To build on this experience, ISRM has established a new organisation: Soft Tissue Therapy Qualifications (STTQ).
STTQ is a dedicated specialist accrediting organisation focused specifically on the soft tissue therapy and clinical massage sector.
It has independently developed accreditation, assessment and quality-assurance systems designed around the special requirements of our therapy. These systems have been developed with reference to the principles and level descriptors used within the Ofqual-regulated qualifications framework.
This gives us the opportunity to put practical clinical competence back at the centre of the qualification.
A new qualification structure
Free from the constraints of the BTEC framework, we have also been able to restructure the qualification. The actual training we deliver is still the same but we have split it into two stages.
STTQ Level 4 Sport and Remedial Clinical Massage
This provides a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology, assessment and practical clinical massage skills, enabling therapists to begin their careers with an appropriate level of clinical competence.
STTQ Level 5 Upgrade to Soft Tissue Therapy
Therapists can then progress to Level 5 when they are ready, developing their knowledge and clinical skills further.
We believe this structure is more accessible, more practical and better suited to the needs of adult learners.
It should also make it easier for new training centres to offer the qualification and help us expand access to high-quality clinical massage training around the country.
Why does this matter to our profession?
The role of hands-on treatment within mainstream healthcare has been changing. In particular, there has been a decline in the amount of hands-on treatment traditionally provided by physiotherapists, while demand for effective treatment of musculoskeletal problems continues to grow.
Our aim is not simply to create another massage qualification. It is to help establish and develop a clearly defined professional category within musculoskeletal healthcare, supported by appropriate training, assessment and professional standards.
So, while the end of our almost 40-year relationship with BTEC marks the end of an important chapter, we see it as the beginning of something much more relevant to the future of our profession.
You won’t be left behind!
We expect the STTQ name and logo (see www.sttq.org) to build a strong market image with greater relevance to our profession than the BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council). Because the training is still the same, STTQ can re-certificate all those with the BTEC qualification, so you can have both.
This won’t happen immediately, however. The first students on the new Level 4 course will not qualify until March 2027, and the Level 5 students in July 2027. In fact, we haven’t designed the certificates yet! Once the certificates have been finalised, early in the new year, ISRM members will be able to re-certify with STTQ for a nominal administration charge. We will keep you fully informed when this happens
The future of ISRM
ISRM will continue, but its role will now be focused entirely on membership and supporting therapists within the profession. We want to develop a good CPD programme and improved services and benefits for members.
We hope you will continue to be part of ISRM and support STTQ and the Soft Tissue Therapy profession.
We expect the STTQ name and logo to develop a strong market image, and if our members want it, we will offer them the opportunity to re-certify with the STTQ qualification. This won’t happen immediately, however. The first students to complete the new Level 4 course will not qualify until March 2027, with the first Level 5 students completing in July 2027. In fact, we haven’t even designed the certificates yet! Once the certificates have been finalised, which I expect will be early in the new year, ISRM members will be able to re-certify with STTQ for a nominal administration charge. We will keep you fully informed when this happens.
Balens insurance
Your Balens insurance remains completely unaffected. They fully support the changes we have made and are happy to continue insuring our members with either qualification under the ISRM Block Policy.