How to Become an Electrolysist

Are you thinking of changing career?

Have you wondered about becoming an Electrolysist?

Are you cut out to be an Electrolysist?

Are you confused by all the courses and qualifications that are available?

Electrolysis Education in the UK

Electrolysis is part of the Beauty Therapy Industry and is mainly taught in colleges as part of a Beauty Therapy qualification. Electrolysis can be taught without going through a full Beauty Therapy Qualification for those who wish to specialise solely in Electrolysis permanent hair removal. You may find some colleges offer this option but in general, it will be found in private educational settings.

OFQUAL

OFQUAL if an independent non Governmental organisation that oversees all Vocational and Technical Beauty and Electrolysis qualifications in the UK. (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation).

OFQUAL is responsible for ensuring qualifications reflect the knowledge, skills and understanding demonstrated by students and that any assessments or exams represent student achievements whilst ensuring that public confidence in such qualifications it regulates is maintained.

HABIA

HABIA (Hair and Beauty Industry Authority), are the official industry body that develops and sets the National Occupational Standards, (NOS).

National occupational standards detail the knowledge, skills and understanding that individuals in a particular industry need to be considered competent in a particular job.

HABIA works with industry experts to decide what knowledge and skills are important to be able to perform a particular job competently.

Awarding Bodies and Educational Providers

Organisations such as VTCT and City and Guilds are awarding bodies that take the standards that HABIA have developed and decide how those standards are going to be assessed in an educational setting.

Education providers (Schools, Colleges, Private Educational establishments), choose which organisations VTCT etc, they will use in their setting and the specific courses they will offer and then use them to teach and assess their students.

once deemed competent by their educator the student will then receive their qualification which could be a City and Guilds NVQ qualification for example.

NVQ’s / SVQ’s

Organisations such as VTCT and City and Guilds provide NVQ vocational qualifications that education providers can choose to teach in their settings. when you have completed your course and been assessed and deemed confident the awarding body that you have been assessed under will provide you with your certificate.

On receipt of your certificate, you will then be able to enter the industry and gain insurance to be employed or set up your own clinic.

Level 1

Ages 14-16yrs

This is an entry-level qualification, possibly for those at school or working as a trainee in a college or salon.

Students learn to carry out basic facials, nail treatments, make-up application techniques along with how to assist fully qualified salon staff.

Students learn some Physiology, Anatomy, Cosmetic Science and Business and Entrepreneurialism.

On completion of this course, you can progress to level 2.

Level 2 General Beauty Therapy Route

16 years and above.

For those wishing to become a Beauty Therapist, this qualification can be completed via a college or private institution.

You will learn to carry out manual Facials, Manicures and Pedicures, Lash and Brow Tinting and basic waxing techniques.

Once qualified you can get a job as a junior Beauty Therapist or progress on to L3.

Level 3 General Route

You can complete Level 3 once you have qualified at Level 2

It is at this level you will be able to train as an Electrolysist along with Electrical Facial and Body treatments and Body Massage.

On completion of this course, you can get a job as a senior Beauty Therapist.

You can then progress on to

Level 4 Diploma / ITEC Certificate in Hair Reduction and Skin Rejuvenation Techniques

18 years and above.

On completion of L3, you can advance onto this course and qualify in Laser and IPL Skin Rejuvenation and Hair Reduction techniques.

Following on from this you can advance onto the following courses listed below.

Level 5 Laser Tattoo Removal

Level 5 Advanced Blemish Removal

And/or you can progress to

Level 4 Award in Skin Blemish Removal.

This Qualification teaches techniques to treat Skin Tags, Milia, Telangiectasia and Blood Spots.

Level 5 Advanced Blemish Removal
This qualification covers treatment for blemishes such as verrucas and Seborrheic Keratosis among other things.

If you wish to become an electrolysist without taking level 2 and level 3 Beauty Therapy some courses teach electrolysis in its own right.

In this situation you will either need to have a suitable Physiology and Anatomy qualification, be prepared to study and pass a relevant Physiology and Anatomy qualification or in some cases it will be included as part of your electrolysis qualification.

You will need to contact education providers directly to find out what prerequisites they have and decide if they are suitable for you.

A good provider will offer a level 3 electrolysis qualification for example with VTCT

Generally, these courses are provided by private independent providers but you may find a local college offering such a qualification

Deciding on which qualification and the qualification provider

Before making any final decisions and paying any money you need to make sure that everything is as it should be, you may want to consider some of the following:

Ensure your provider is a legitimate provider. Check with the awarding body to ensure they are registered to provide that particular qualification.

As with any industry, there are many courses that are available that will not be adequate and will not enable you to gain adequate insurance, or the licenses to be able to operate legally.

Do clarify and discuss with the educational provider that the course you are looking at applying for will allow you to achieve your aims and outcomes.

If you need to complete a Physiology and Anatomy qualification, contact your course provider and check whether a course you have seen is suitable for the Electrolysis qualification you wish to complete. Some providers include Physiology and Anatomy as part of the main qualification. Not all Physiology and Anatomy qualifications are equal. Your course provider should be able to advise you on this.

If you already have some qualifications that you feel might be relevant, contact your course provider and let them know what qualifications you have. For example if you are a nurse or in the medical profession you may already have the relevant certification to access your course immediately.

Check where the course will be delivered. can you travel to the venue easily? Is some of the course online and or face-to-face?

What are the course requirements? Do you need to purchase essential equipment, uniforms and or books?

Are there set dates and times that you need to attend and do you have to complete certain aspects of the course within a certain time limit?

You may find you are entitled to funding to cover some or all of the costs of your course. Again your educational provider should be able to advise you on this.

Don’t be pressured into signing up for anything. If you are unsure, then wait and think about it. A good provider won’t put undue pressure on you.

If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

You could even contact insurance providers and see if they can advise you on the qualifications they require you to have to gain insurance.

Some insurance providers such as BABTAC or The Beauty Guild also provide or can recommend reputable training.