To earn the Faculty Diploma, you must be successful in three examinations along with having earned credits for the nine modules. Our Diploma is a professional qualification, regarded as the ‘gold standard’ within the global astrological community. Once you have earned this qualification, and you have signed the Code of Ethics, you may put the letters D.F.Astrol.S. after your name (Diploma of the Faculty of Astrological Studies). You will then join the ranks of many fine astrologers who are also Diploma holders such as Liz Greene, Howard Sasportas, Melanie Reinhart, Clare Martin, Sue Tompkins, Julia Parker, Charles Harvey, Mike Harding and many more.
Examination System
There are three examinations in our system: the Certificate Exam, the Intermediate Exam, and the Advanced Exam. Each exam is designed to correspond with the relevant level of study.
There are two Faculty qualifications, the Certificate and the Diploma. There is one exam to gain the Certificate followed by two exams (the Intermediate and the Advanced) to gain the Diploma.
Enrolment and Credits
You may enrol on the Certificate Exam once you have completed the Foundation Course (Modules 1, 2 and 3) and have earned 60 credits for the three modules (20 credits per module). You then have 6 years in which to pass the Certificate Exam, at which point you will earn another 60 credits. Having accumulated 120 credits, you will be awarded the Faculty Certificate. Please note that this is a significant achievement unto itself, yet it is not to be regarded as a professional qualification.
In a similar manner, prior to enrolling on the Intermediate Exam, you must have attained the 60 credits for Diploma Level 1 (Modules 4, 5 and 6) within the past 6 years, and you must be a Certificate holder. You will be awarded 60 credits for success on the Intermediate Exam. The Intermediate Exam is not a qualification in its own right but is a significant milestone on the way to attaining the Diploma.
To enrol on the Advanced Exam, you must have attained 60 credits for Diploma Level 2 (Modules 7, 8 and 9) within the past 6 years, and you must also have been successful on the Intermediate Exam. By passing the Advanced Exam, you will earn another 60 credits. Having accumulated 360 credits for all of your work with the Faculty, you will be awarded the Faculty Diploma.
It is not necessary to enrol on an exam immediately following the corresponding level of study. For example, once you complete the Foundation Course (Modules 1, 2 and 3), you may opt to continue your studies with Modules 4, 5 and 6 – even Modules 7, 8 and 9 – and come back to do the Certificate Exam when you feel ready.
As mentioned above, module credits expire after 6 years. If your credits have expired, but no more than 2 years have elapsed since they did, you can re-validate them and be entitled to take the corresponding exam. To re-validate credits, you must complete the Interpretation Practice Module for that level and apply for the exam immediately afterwards.
Submitting Your Exam and Getting Your Results
Once you apply for an exam and receive the exam documents, you may begin working on it immediately. This is to be unassisted work, typically done at home. You may consult reference books and websites for information, but all astrological interpretation and written work is to be your own.
You have two exam seasons in which to submit your work. The deadlines for each exam season correspond to the Equinox dates each year, and your results will be sent to you at the following Solstice.
For example, if you apply for exam in July 2022, your first opportunity to submit your work would be just prior to the Equinox in September 2022; you would get your results at the Solstice in December. If you do not feel ready to submit your work in September 2022, you could submit your exam instead prior to the Equinox in March 2023; you would get your results at the Solstice in June.
Special Awards for Examinations
Special awards are given to candidates who achieve an outstanding result on their exam.
The Lindsay Radermacher Award is given to a candidate for achieving an exceptionally high standard in the Certificate Exam.
The Fiona Griffiths Award is given to a candidate who has achieved an exceptionally high standard in the Intermediate Exam.
The Margaret Hone Award is given to a candidate who has achieved an exceptionally high standard in the Advanced Exam.
As well, The Melanie Reinhart Award recognises a student for an exceptionally good live consultation in the Advanced Exam.
Faculty Open Day
On this very special day in March of each year, we honour all students who earned their Certificate or Diploma in the previous calendar year. The event takes place in central London – often in Bloomsbury, the birthplace of the Faculty in 1948. Details are announced early each year.