Hi everybody.  I am a forum virgin so please be gentle with me!!  We have owned dogs for 20 years and for the majority of those years we have had Irish Setters.  Our group of boys are now four strong and in the past 2 and a bit years we have shown our dogs at a variety of shows including Crufts.  I am after some advice regarding what training courses to undertake and which organisations to join.  I leave my current employment in just over 4 years time and want to work as a canine behaviourist.  Having looked on the internet there is a huge range of courses and a variety of institutions/organisations I could join however I have not yet figured out which are the better courses. Any help would be welcome.:)

the Companion Animal Welfare Council has a downloadable PDF explaining the different organisations
The APBC website has a page explaining all the different courses

Its quite likely the CAWC recommendation of local councils licensing trainers/behaviourists will be law within 2 to 3 years.
Some organisations will approved, but they are all likely to count toward points and evidence to gain your Kennel Club Accredited Instructors Certificate, which will be likely be the cornerstone of this licensing scheme. The technicalities are being worked out now.
So I would definitely look into teh KCAI.

Before you go anywhere near behaviour and academic courses, you need loads of practical experience under your belt.
You should start by assisting at a dog training club and/or volunteering at your local rescue centre.

I agree with Krusewalker, get some "work experience". I did a distance learning canine psychology course in 2000 with the Animal Care College and also helped out at a local dog club and did volunteer dog walking at a rescue organisation. It really was beneficial to get the experience as an instructor as well as training my own dogs. I am still instructing in basic obedience and I am thinking of taking instructing exams.