Here at the Observatory Practice, we are pleased to announce the start of the Advanced Diploma (level 5) in Hypnotherapy.
This will be the highest award in hypnotherapy and will be completed after 4 years of training, the course will be ran by CPHT plymouth. CPHT Plymouth has been running Hypnotherapy training (level 4)courses at the Observatory Practice since 2009 and has seen the training programme go from strength to strength.
When you successfully pass the Advanced Hypnotherapy Diploma (AHD) you will be awarded a certificate of achievement by NCFE. The Advanced Hypnotherapy Diploma (AHD) has been accredited by the NCFE as having measurable learning outcomes that have been benchmarked at Level 5 (using Ofqual’s Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) level descriptors).
NCFE accreditation gives assurance that the content of the hypnotherapy training course is of a high standard and meets the rigorous requirements of a national awarding organisation. NCFE accreditation also gives formal recognition to our hypnotherapy training courses which result in the ‘award’ of a certificate of achievement.
At present the Advanced Hypnotherapy Diploma (AHD) is the highest award in Hypnotherapy

Not so long ago NCFE and similar accrediting organisations were told by Ofqual that the highest customised award they were able to authorise was a Level 4 award. Any higher award had to be sanctioned by a higher authority. It is for this reason that Level 5 awards in our area of expertise are a rarity. Our AHD submission for a Level 5 award was for us a long and involved process. It was achieved for various reasons but the main contributing factors were :
- The entry level is the level 4 Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma
- The CV’s and experience of the contributing lecturers is in our opinion, and the opinion of the accrediting authorities, of exemplary standards.
- The AHD diploma course satisfies the general principles of a “Foundation Degree” ie the learner is in practice as well as Learning academically
- A bona fide research programme forms an integral part of the award.
This is an award that will put you in a different league to most of our profession from a qualification perspective. Even studying for AHD should be worthy of adding to your CV.