Before being appointed, Trading Standards
Officers undergo a long and rigourous training programme
involving written examinations, oral and practical examinations,
practical workbooks and a work related project.
There are two routes to gaining the Diploma in Trading
Standards (DTS) which is necessary for appointment,
the sponsorship route by approved degree in Consumer
Protection, and the more recent APEL route.
Additionally there is a Diploma in Consumer Affairs
which is a professional qualification run by the Trading
Standards Institute for those who are not likely to
need the more comrehensive DTS, for example consumer
advisers or enforcement specialists.
For more information on careers in the trading standards
profession see our sister site at www.tradingstandards.net
For more information on the Diploma in Consumer Affairs
see the National
Extension College course