Professional Accreditation APIOL: Accrediting the professionalism
of outdoor practitioners
APIOL is the professional accreditation for Outdoor Practitioners that provides a recognised industry standard in professional outdoor practice.
Professional Accreditation:
- Complements (does not replace) National Governing Body qualifications
- Provides evidence of how you have integrated and applied your knowledge, values, technical and interpersonal skills in your work
- Demonstrates a level of understanding and experience to clients and employers
- Recognises the range of skills required for effective outdoor learning practice, in addition to the technical and safety qualifications.
Who is it for?
Accredited Practitioner (APIOL) is available to INDIVIDUAL members of the Institute for Outdoor Learning who have:
- Worked in more than one context where they have had overall responsibility for groups, including experience in challenging environments
- Responsibility for client liaison, needs analysis and programme design
- Responsibility for implementing programmes and carrying the can when they go wrong
- Worked with a range of client groups
- Responded to challenges competently and in line with IOL policies and ethics
- Reflected on their experience, their learning and their ethics and values in work with groups
- Shown commitment to putting something back into the outdoor field
Accrediting the individual. |
Benefits of APIOL to Employers, customers and clients
- APIOL can provide a framework for staff training and development
- Defines the breadth of skills required to be considered proficient in the outdoor sector
- Demonstrates operation to clearly defined standards which include quality of service and provision of a learning experience, in addition to technical skills
- It is a benchmark of quality individual practice, with clearly defined standards of knowledge and performance
- It demonstrates and clearly states the professional ethics and expected continuous professional development of practitioners in the outdoor sector.
What is the accreditation process, and what does it cost?
The APIOL accreditation process involves the completion of a reflective, mentored application, usually over about 6 months, and leads to an interview with senior practitioners. Interviews are held in a number of regional centres, and quality assurance is controlled through regional and a national moderator.
The APIOL accreditation process costs £450. (Inital registration fee of £50 and balance of £400)
How to get involved with APIOL
Click here to find out about the APIOL process
The first step is to complete the self-assessment, to see if you are suitable for Professional Accreditation.
Click here to open the APIOL self-assessment form
When you have completed the self-assessment, make sure that you are a current individual member of IOL, and then contact the IOL office to obtain your APIOL information pack and Part 1 Registration of Interest.
Click here to contact the office.
The APIOL accreditation process costs £450 - an initial fee of £50 is due when applying, returning your Part 1 form, and the balance of £4000 is due before you attend the Induction meeting.