IAP Career College Reviews
IAP Career College, found online at IAPCollege.com, is a training company that claims to offer “finest in affordable online certificate programs” so that people can make dream careers come true.
How Does IAP Career College Work?
According to their website, the International Association of Professions Career College, or IAP Career College, wants to make non-traditional career education accessible to as many people as possible so they have created a whole series of online certificate programs that can be done in the comfort of your own home and are affordable.
Each course is designed to teach their students the principles and techniques for getting started in your dream career, including developing your skills, how to get a job in your field, and how to start your own business and get clients.
Currently this company offers certificate courses in subjects like Art Gallery Owner, Bakery Owner, Bed and Breakfast Owner, Book Editor, Book Publisher, Cake Decorator, Career Coach, and many others.
Cost/Price Plans
Though this website says that the quality of their courses is equal to or superior to other similar courses that are priced much higher than theirs, they have chosen to keep their prices low to ensure the highest number of people are able to enroll. To do this, they have kept their courses priced between $97 and $297.
They also say that even with their lower fees, they understand that not everyone will be able to pay the full cost up front, so they will allow their students to pay for the course in two equal installments with the first payment being due on or before the course start date and the final payment being due 30 days later. Students will need to contact their Customer Service team to arrange this, however.
Refund Policy
This company actually has multiple different policies which cover their customers in case a cancellation or change needs to be made.
First, customers are able to transfer their registration to another course with the same registration fee for no additional cost at any time up to the day before the official start date of the course you registered for. If you wish to change registrations more than once, there is a $25 fee per each additional change.
Customers who would like to cancel their registration altogether will have to adhere to the deadlines based on the starting date of the course. Cancellations made at least 10 days before the start date will receive a full refund less a $10 administrative fee per course.
After that, you can cancel or withdraw up to 7 days after the start date for a refund less a $25 administrative fee per course.
The website does say that while there are no refunds for later cancellations or withdrawals, they will actually allow you to find someone else to take the course in your place for no additional cost as long as you notify them within 7 days after the official course start date.
They also offer their students a policy where if something comes up, like an illness or emergency that will prevent you from being to start or complete the course within the 12 weeks, you can contact them and an Academic Advisor can help you with rescheduling up to 6 months after the official start date. The website states that “there is no fee for this rescheduling on compassionate grounds.”
Customer Service Contact Info
Customers who wish to contact Customer Service with questions, concerns, or complaints can do so by phone at 888-322-5621, by email at [email protected], or by submitting them directly to their website through their Contact Us link.
Reputation
There are a couple important things to understand about IAP Career College. First, the subjects for which they offer certificates are not really subjects that require certificates.
For example, there are certain IT subjects or other skills where a company will need you to prove certification in a specific field before you can be hired. There is no such requirement for people looking to open their own art gallery, so giving it an official designation is fairly meaningless.
The other issue that this website talks about their “accreditation” but the truth is that they have no accreditation. When an educational program discusses their accreditation, it should mean that they have an official designation from an educational governing body which has reviewed their programs and approved of their worthiness for the field they are intended to prepare you for.
IAP Career College is “accredited” by the Better Business Bureau, which is just a recognition the BBB gives you as a legitimate business and has no bearing on your quality as an educational institution.
The bottom line appears to be that this company acts like things that aren’t important are official and acts as though things which are official aren’t important. This isn’t a great combination in an educational company.
This company may have some decent courses available but their approach to their content leaves a lot to be desired and may make prospective students seek their courses elsewhere.
Competitors and Alternatives?
There are many other online certification programs and online educational programs. In order to find the best one for your needs, you should consider what it is you want to study in order to find the best alternative.
If you have experience with IAP Career College or their products, please leave your reviews below.
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IAP Career College Customer Reviews
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Have Confidence in IAP Career College !
Use your own judgment
Anyone who believes that a government stamp of approval via accreditation under a statutorily created regulatory regime, is dreaming in technicolour. History is replete with examples of "accredited" institutions that were scamming people like you would not believe.
One of the reasons these unscrupulous "businesses " were able to scam people, was the very accreditation many rely upon as a guarantor of quality. Use your own judgment and talk to people who have taken the programs; as always, "caveat emptor" applies in this regard as in many others.
Because I am already in the industry, this course is perfect!
I advise people to read and not to invest in anything they do not understand!! I'm already a licensed massage therapist, a licensed laser technician and will be attending school for my esthetics license.
I've worked for many spas and been in the spa business for many years and looking for extra info and guidance in opening my own Spa. I needed the information Spa owners will not teach me because of fear of me becoming their competition.
Because I'm already in the industry, this course was perfect!! They never promised to license anyone. Professional licensing for massage therapy, skin care, operating a spa or salon comes from the state that you live in, not from a school!
You don't need a certificate to open your own spa, the certificate doesn't mean much. It's the knowledge that you need. You need proper guidance in running daily operations and organizing and marketing your business and this course teaches you exactly that!!
Again Do Not Invest in an industry that you do not understand or have any passion for in order to make a quick buck!! You will lose!!
Inn keeping "Course"
This class is a waste of money. There is no instruction. I paid my registration fee and in return received a 200 page PDF document with instructions to read it over the next 4 to 12 weeks.
I read it in one day. The information provided is mostly common sense and links to websites.
Hi Leah, up to three hours of personalized one-on-one instruction with a Faculty Member is included with each IAP Career College basic certificate course, but it sounds like you didn't take advantage of that service. As of March 2020 we have a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so please contact [email protected] and we will ensure you receive a full refund.
Never too Old for school
so can you use a certification that you get from there school as a legitimate license for your career do you know if that is the case?
is there a license you get from the iap college that is legitimate and you can you use for working in whatever career you have chosen to do?
or is it just a certificate of completion?
I would like to know as well. I hope Kim answers.
Is not legit and they don't give you any license. It's a SCAM, and low quality materials without instructor. Don't waste your money with them.
AIP ONLINE CLASSES
Training for a specific purpose
It's an untrue statement that the career topics / fields for which IAP provides training and certificates do not require a certificate or training.
The field of Career Coaching requires training and some level of certification, even if it is basic, self paced, and independent study.
When it comes to the topic of accreditation, first it needs to be understood that there are some career fields which are not included in what would be regarded as a "regulated profession".
In other words, there is no occupational "accreditation" for that job, therefore there is no corresponding accreditation academically. Since none exists, is is therefore not needed for any academic endeavor in that topic.
Now, is it possible that IAP could join an Accrediting body such as DETC or IACET? Sure. However, the reality is that accreditation is no assurance of quality, but only peer review, unless we are referring to the large Regional Accrediting Associations - which accredit entire schools, not individual programs, so once again in this case, not applicable.
In the instance of the Career Coaching course, it is recognized by several associations of Career Coaches as continuing education and the corresponding membership in the IAP itself is acknowledged and regarded as noteworthy.
If you know the field in which you desire to take a course with IAP and how it will be perceived by peers in that field, you will have no problems.
IAPO
I took 3 of the courses and loved the knowledge that I gained. The courses are very informative and useful. Very detailed step by step information.