The clinic is open from 9.30am - 5.30pm. You will be expected to be in the clinic area 30 minutes before opening time (at 9am) to set up. There will be a 30 min break for lunch.

It is essential that you arrive on time (or preferably early) to clinic. If you arrive late you may not be able to gain the full number of clinic hours required for that day.

It is important to be professional at all times, remember you are not only representing Betonica but also all medical herbalists.

• Do not discuss clinic matters during your lunch break

• Be courteous, polite, and respectful to all patients and visitors to the clinic

• No mobile phones are to be used inside of the clinic area, they must be used during breaks only (they must remain on silent at all times).

When attending a consultation, students should be silent, remain still and must not interrupt the consultation in any way. Once the consultation has begun you must not leave the clinical area/room.

For Online Clinic Etiquette, all of the above applies plus see this LINK for other specific requirements.

Every student must arrange their own allocated external clinic hours. For more information go to the

External Clinic Placement Folder

An essential part of clinical training is learning and practising physical examination techniques.

During physical examination days you will be required to dress in the following manner:

• Shorts above the knee

• T-shirts (that will be removed)

• Sports crop top or loose vest top (to be worn under the t-shirt for women)

• Jogging trousers

• Jumper that can be slipped on over the top during the lesson

You will be learning from each other (as well as patients), and will be required to physically move and examine men and women for clinical signs.

Before completing the course, you must have completed  first aid qualification of minimum Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate, as it is important to have knowledge of first aid before starting your own practice.

When you have received your First Aid Certificate, please fill in this form where you will be asked to upload a copy of your certificate.

To work in any health care setting you need insurance, and usually this is provided by your professional association, but in the case of students, you are either covered by your clinic supervisor’s insurance or your own personal insurance.

Because of the work we do, it’s necessary for us to be covered both individually as well as via the clinic supervisor you are working with.

Call 01684 893006 and ask for their ‘student cover on their individual Balens scheme’. Once you are set up with Balens you can renew your policy annually online.

BALEN'S WEBSITE:https://www.balens.co.uk

Once you have received your insurance certificate, please fill in this form, where you will be asked to upload a copy of your Insurance Certificate.

PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE CLINIC WITHOUT THIS COVER IN PLACE.

As we will be working in a clinical setting with children and possibly vulnerable adults, a DBS check is required. If you have a valid DBS check in the last three years we will accept a copy of that. Please fill in this form where you will be asked to upload a copy of your DBS check.

If you do not already have a DBS certificate you can request a Basic DBS check from The UK Government website (please see Disclosure Scotland if you live in Scotland). 

When completing the form, please enter the employer address as Betonica, 2 Prescott Cottages, Uffculme, Devon, EX15 3BA.

PLEASE NOTE CERTIFICATES TAKE 14 DAYS TO ARRIVE, AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND CLINIC WITHOUT IT.