Hi

What a great site!!

I'm new on the site and would really appreciate some advice on which Beauty Therapy qualification to study.

I am 38 years old and have a young child who has recently started school. One of my local colleges offers the VTCT Beauty Specialist Diploma Level 2 which is one day a week for 30 weeks and then I would progress onto the VTCT Beauty Specialist Level 3 (which is electrical face and body etc), Another local college offers the NVQ 2 Beauty Therapy qualification which is 3.5 days a week for a year and then I would progress onto NVQ Level 3 Beauty Therapy.

I'm not really sure which to go for. Once qualified I would like to work in a salon. Is one qualification a more employable/preferred qualification than the other? Is one qualification more thorough?

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks.

Best wishes
Tracy

Hi and welcome to the site... just giving your thread a bump

Hopefully some of our Skingeeks will see it and be able to help you.

Hi Tracy, welcome to this fab site, there are loads of us here that can help with your queries. Employers are looking for the best person to employee, they are really choosey with who they employ and I know that they will prefer to employee someone who has a BTEC Diploma in beauty therapy than another person who has an NVQ ( remember this is fact not fiction). This is what I was told when I did my beauty therapy course at BTC level. I personally don't agree with this and it doesn't happen to every NVQ level applicant. At NVQ level you can still get a job but sometimes employers can be choosey. On the other hand employers also look at mature applicants at any level, I sound a bit contradictory but I don't want to put you in an uneasy situation. Hope this is helpful. Goodluck in making your choices.

hi tracy and welcome to the site hun...all colleges are different time scales and training criteria ..so i'm going to rattle off what i did & qualified at the grand ol age of 41 & still going on more courses cos i don't want to miss out on something!!...

NVQ level 2 beauty therapy covers basic facials,waxing,eye treatments such as perming,tinting and eyebrow shaping,manicures,pedicures,make-up,additional units such as ear piercing caflon or studex or both or whoever is part of the college to teach in that assessment and trainer also training for a few weeks in nail artistry then assessment with ihbc nail artists then onward and upwards from there(practice designs off the top of ur head),dermalogica training( u get a nice little certificate & badge) or whichever skin care specilist comes to college, intimate waxing is another unit that you can go for if you want to know what that is ..it's true hollywood\landing strip style..all off!! ,salon & reception duties,products & research & ur usual A&P assessments and lots of homework & exams .part time for 2 full days per week for 1 year

level 3 is body massage,aromatherapy massage,indian head massage(ahhh bliss)electrical face & body treatments such as faradic\galavanic\desincrustation\iontrophesis\mic rocurrent\dermabrasion and skin related product usage,U.V tanning,spa\wetroom facilities such as sauna,jacuzzi & steam cabinets\capsules ,media & fashion make-up ,camouflage make-up ,manager & salon management units,additional units such as advanced nail techniques,electroylisis & a few additional units such as body wraps and maybe threading(training)..some select few are put towards a diploma for Health,safety,security & employment standards ,usual homework & offcourse exams...level 3 was full time 4 days out of 5 for 1 year.

IMO salons prefer therapists to qualify in Levels 2 & 3 to be employed fully & offer treatments to clients..although they do employ you on level 2 treatments and encourage you to go for level 3 and Beaubeautiful is spot on they do like to employ the mature therapists (many clients seem to prefer us oldies lol)and alter the rotas & work round your time\days at college...some off the girls & guys on the site may agree as this is what i was told before choosing to have my own homebased little salon.

on a inspiration note ...go for it tracy..not only is it a great way to meet new friends of all ages you'll be suprised it isn't just the young ones trying their hand in the multi million pound world of the beauty industry ,don't be put off ...it's a lot of hard work ..but it's the achievement and a wall of fame of certificates & diplomas at the end of it.

Hi Tracy and welcome to the site.

I am studying for an ITEC in beauty, only went for this qualification as I am lucky the college is ten minutes down the road and I was interested in studying a course that was recognised worldwide, as the ITEC is, as we hope (we all have to have dreams) to live abroad one day.

At the end of the day I personally don't think it matters what course/certificate you study and achieve as long as you "do". They all have their different plus sides. For example the ITEC does not cover tanning or ear piercing, while other courses do.

I think as a mature student it is great whatever course you go for, as JaneyK says, salons do prefer you to be qualified to a level 3 to be able to provide body and electrical treatments. Although this depends on whether you aim to work for yourself as mobile or from home. Good luck with your decisions what ever you decide you will not regret it. I have made new friends from the age of 17 (same as my youngest son) to other women who were on the course aged from 35 to 40, yes I was the odlest at 46 but no one cared and we had a really good laugh!!! All I can say is go for it tracy! XXX

Hi

Thank you all for your friendly encouraging advice.

I'm still not sure which to go for, it will either be the VTCT Beauty Specialist Level 2 and then the VTCT Beauty therapy Diploma Level 3 or to go with the NVQ 2 and 3 route. I suppose I know more about the NVQ route as when I have looked at vacancies they always want NVQ 3 or equivalent. I'm not sure if VTCT's own Diploma Level 3 is an equivalent. Decisions, decisions. I just want to get it right!

I know one thing for sure, I really want to be a Beauty Therapist, have done for as long as I can remember.

Once again thanks for all your replies. You really are a great lot!!

Best wishes
Tracy

Hi

If you had to choose between NVQ 2 Beauty Therapy and progress onto Level 3 or the VTCT Beauty Specialist Diploma Level 2 (I think this used to be referred as IHBC) and then progress onto Level 3 which would you choose and why?

Look forward to reading your replies.

Many thanks as always.
Best wishes.
Tracy

Hi

With the help of your advice I have been accepted at my local FE college to study NVQ 2 Beauty Therapy full-time with the intention of progressing onto Level 3.

I'm really excited about this but also pretty scared.

The course is 3.5 days a week. Please can someone give me a rough idea as to how much theory and practical work I will need to do at home?

Roll on September!!

Thanks again for your help.

Best wishes
Tracy

ALOT! but just plough through it hun, you will be in the same boat as everyone else, there are always a few mature students in a class, it will be sooooooooooo worth your while later on down the line you wont regret it

i studied when i was 34, it was hard work , but now i run my own business and im well proud of myself and so you will you be

Hi Bronzewolf

Thanks for your reply.

I really appreciate everyone's support.

Best wishes
Tracy

Can someone please inform me whats involved in NVQ 1 in Beauty therapy please.

HI Tracey. I have just completed the VTCT and really enjoyed the course and i am currently working on my business plan and price lists to set up as mobile. The course was hard, but well worth it and is the same as NV2, just squeezed into a shorter time over the week xx

Hi

Well done on completing your VTCT. Was that the Beauty Specialist Diploma?

What sort of hours did you spend at college and what did you have to do at home?

Have you any plans to study Level 3?

Best wishes
Tracy

Hi, yes it was the dipoloma. We did mon and tues 6pm - 9pm and about 5 extra nights on a thursday. September to june. Not too much homework, maybe 2 hours a week. really interesting course. No im not going to do level 3 as they only do it full time at my college. I am going to do bits and bobs as i go along by saving what i can. I want to do spray tanning within the next 6 months and then if all is going well, i will do acrilyc nails next september. For mobile, level 3 wont really help as its all heavy quipment. Would def help if i wanted to work in a salon, but as i have a very well paid job now, i cant afford to take the drop in wages. I just want to do mobile part time and if it is working then i will drop hours at work and keep adding things as i go! x