PDS to DSC conversion.

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OllieRiordanDeer

Well-Known Member
Good Afternoon all,

Looking for some advice surrounding quals.

I currently have my PDS 1 and am exploring my options for my next qualification.
It seems that the current consensus (on this site at least) is to prioritise DSC over PDS courses if looking to get into the industry in a professional capacity.
Could anyone advise me on the possibility of getting the DSC2 qual after the PDS 1.
Or anyone with PDS2 experience could you advise me on the efficacy of this course.

Many thanks
 
olliew said:
Good Afternoon all,

Looking for some advice surrounding quals.

I currently have my PDS 1 and am exploring my options for my next qualification.
It seems that the current consensus (on this site at least) is to prioritise DSC over PDS courses if looking to get into the industry in a professional capacity.
Could anyone advise me on the possibility of getting the DSC2 qual after the PDS 1.
Or anyone with PDS2 experience could you advise me on the efficacy of this course.

Many thanks
Click to expand...
www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

PDS1 Certificate & Proficient Deer Stalker Training vs DSC1

Not sure if this was discussed here or not as I couldn't find anything over a google search. I am wondering if there was someone who has done both PDS1 and DSC1 or had exposure to both to comment on how different these are. Based on what I can read, the PDS1 appears to be a posh version for a...
www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk
 
 
olliew said:
Good Afternoon all,

Looking for some advice surrounding quals.

I currently have my PDS 1 and am exploring my options for my next qualification.
It seems that the current consensus (on this site at least) is to prioritise DSC over PDS courses if looking to get into the industry in a professional capacity.
Could anyone advise me on the possibility of getting the DSC2 qual after the PDS 1.
Or anyone with PDS2 experience could you advise me on the efficacy of this course.

Many thanks
Click to expand...

Only DMQ can tell you if they would be willing to recognise your PDS1 "qualification".
I very much doubt that they would as they would probably see it as a new competitor trying to cash in on a widely recognised qualification. Why don't you simply drop them an email and ask them.
 
OllieRiordanDeer said:
Good Afternoon all,

Looking for some advice surrounding quals.

I currently have my PDS 1 and am exploring my options for my next qualification.
It seems that the current consensus (on this site at least) is to prioritise DSC over PDS courses if looking to get into the industry in a professional capacity.
Could anyone advise me on the possibility of getting the DSC2 qual after the PDS 1.
Or anyone with PDS2 experience could you advise me on the efficacy of this course.

Many thanks
Click to expand...
As far as I am aware, you cannot take DSC2 as you do not have DSC 1. These are the industry standard qualifications. From what I have seen of some of the PDS courses they are a bit of a con. Plus more expensive to take and not so indepth.
I have had clients who have paid £500 for a PDS1 course, which lasted ONE day. Compared to a DSC 1 course which in general is 3 days and £300.
 
Last edited:
PDS ? Why might anyone actually do that as the client ? better off traveling to a more distant course from DMQ if the wait is too long
I do feel mistakes have been made because of cash and speed in all deer training
 
I think the attraction for some towards the PDS is it can be done online and then only a day for an assessment.
When you check it on the website there are several accreditation to it not just LANTRA plus LVL1 comes with meat hygiene dropped from DSC 1 to 2.

I've nothing to do with it and I did DMQ a while back
 
Roger. Thanks for the feedback, will do some more digging. Have trawled through the other threads but nothing currently that gave me the info needed.

Back when I did my PDS1 I was fairly new to the scene and wasn't sure of the right route to take. The CDS blokes were very helpful getting me started. Yes it's expensive but found them more accommodating to rookies than most!

And Dickie is correct, the first lockdown meant that no DSC courses were running. So nipped the theory side then once the world opened up again I went and did my practical.

I'll most certainly get my DSC 1+2 nipped this year.
 
Dickie said:
Do you mean you sorted yourself out then did the test day?
Click to expand...
Yes i did the theory stuff online. Turned up for the last day. Can't remember if all of the test were there or some online. Deer recognition, practical safety bit and the shooting was on the test day.

The summary at the start of the day was really good. Safety bit was good. Guy that did the shooting test was a bit self important with hindsight, and it was the highland test so a bit different. Worked well and certainly a bit cheaper without the hotel
 
I would think not a cat in hells chance. To boot I doubt many syndicates will recognise the qualification, certainly not FE ground. This is the inherent problem with independent practitioners devising their own courses and hoodwinking newcomers-the credentials are not worth the paper they are written on.
 
JH83 said:
I would think not a cat in hells chance. To boot I doubt many syndicates will recognise the qualification, certainly not FE ground. This is the inherent problem with independent practitioners devising their own courses and hoodwinking newcomers-the credentials are not worth the paper they are written on.
Click to expand...
A lantra accredited qualification is very much worth the paper its Written on!!... and PDS 1 is a lantra accredited qualification....
The Dsc is and always will only be a benchmark qualification and while ever they (dmq) keep moving the goalposts with what they require to pass their certificates ie 1 deer for level two instead of three, they will become less relevant.... infact I've already noticed some adverts are asking for dsc1 or equivalent in their person specifications....
Remember where DMQ came from.... someone in BASC who came up with an idea and then through his position and Contacts was able to convince fc to get on board to 'recognise' it.... and at the time there was nothing else of its kind and so it got more recognition to the point that it became the industry standard and adopted by the police (fc already had their fingers in the pie).....
LANTRA training is much more recognised by industry and I for one would take on someone with a PDS certificate.... as it shows they've trained to, and achieved a standard that is accredited by an outside body as opposed to internal body who actually created the qualification (dmq ltd) .

The very fact that Dmq won't recognise a lantra accreditation and allow that person to do their dsc2 just shows that there's a money making undertone there.....

The deer industry needs a good shake up and there needs to be more acceptance for whatever training/qualification provider the person chooses....
 
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