New Level 5 Apprenticeship Standard Launched for Aesthetic Practitioners
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) is pleased to announce the launch of a groundbreaking consultation for the Level 5 Aesthetic Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard, specialising in skin rejuvenation. This comprehensive standard represents a significant advancement in regulated education for the aesthetics industry.
Diane Hey, Chair of the Trailblazer Apprenticeship Steering Group for Beauty, Wellbeing and Aesthetics professional standards, commented: "This new apprenticeship standard marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of our industry and is testament to the commitment of the Trailblazer members. Through extensive collaboration with employers, sector experts, educational specialists, regulators and industry organisations, we've developed a robust pathway that ensures practitioners can deliver skin rejuvenation procedures safely and effectively. This standard will help raise the bar for professional practice within the industry".
Caroline Larissey, Chief Executive of the National Hair and Beauty Federation, emphasised the significance of this development for career progression: "The introduction of this Level 5 standard provides a crucial, government-funded pathway for beauty therapists to advance into the aesthetics sector. This represents a major step forward in creating clear progression routes within our industry. Beauty therapists can now see a defined career pathway from their initial qualifications through to advanced aesthetic practice, supported by formal apprenticeship funding. This is exactly the kind of professional development opportunity our sector needs to continue growing and maintaining high standards."
Jo Lancaster, NHBF Quality and Standards Manager- Beauty and Aesthetics , added: "This standard is transformative in creating a level playing field between the beauty and medical aesthetics sectors. By establishing clear, comprehensive competencies and training requirements, we're ensuring that beauty professionals can develop their skills to deliver advanced treatments safely and effectively, while maintaining the highest professional standards. This helps bridge the traditional divide between medical and beauty routes into aesthetics, creating a more unified and professional industry."
The new apprenticeship standard has been meticulously developed to ensure the highest level of professional competency in advanced skin rejuvenation procedures. It encompasses a wide range of sophisticated techniques and procedures, including:
Superficial and medium-grade chemical peels
Microneedling and microinjury procedures
Light-based skin rejuvenation techniques
Mesotherapy using intradermal procedures
Combination therapy approaches
Advanced skin blemish removal procedure
This specialised apprenticeship pathway is specifically designed for practitioners who have:
Completed an English Level 3 Regulated Beauty Therapy qualification or equivalent regulated qualification
Successfully undertaken regulated anatomy and physiology qualifications at level 3
Achieved the Advanced Beauty Therapy Professional Apprenticeship Standard or well being and Holistic Therapist Apprenticeship Standard
Achieved an NVQ/SVQ regulated qualification in either the general Beauty therapy route or massage route
The apprenticeship ensures comprehensive training in:
Advanced health and safety protocols
Infection control measures
Emergency planning/complication management
Current legal and regulatory requirements
Professional consultation procedures
Client welfare assessment and evaluation
Detailed skin analysis and classification
Customised procedure planning
Professional record-keeping and data protection
Business management and ethical practices
This new standard represents a significant step forward in providing a fully regulated pathway and recognition of higher-level skills within the aesthetics industry, ensuring practitioners are equipped with the advanced knowledge, skills and behaviours required to deliver safe, effective, and professional skin rejuvenation procedures.
The standard is now available for public consultation on the IfATE website. Stakeholders are encouraged to review and provide feedback on this important development in professional aesthetics education.
For more information and to participate in the consultation, please visit:
