Why Accredited Qualifications Matter More Than Ever in the Beauty & Aesthetics Industry
The beauty and aesthetics industry has seen incredible growth in recent years. Unfortunately, alongside that growth, we’ve also seen an explosion of quick, cheap and unregulated courses, including one or two-day “intensive” programmes and online-only certifications claiming to qualify therapists in complex, hands-on treatments. In the past few months I have noticed this to be a real issue that I feel needs to be highlighted… and so my blog rant begins….
From skincare, waxing and brows to advanced skin procedures, it has never been easier to sign up to short courses in person or online, complete a few modules, take a short quiz and receive a certificate in your inbox.
But many learners are discovering far too late that not all certificates are equal, and many of these online or fast-track qualifications are NOT recognised by awarding bodies, employers, or insurance providers.
Over the past year, we’ve met so many therapists who feel misled because they later discover:
Their “qualification” is not accredited or regulated
Their online certificates or short certified courses don’t meet practical or theoretical competency standards
It doesn’t qualify for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) to allow progression onto advanced courses as they do not have sufficent skills or knowledge
They cannot progress into more advanced or higher-level training
Insurance companies won’t recognise the training certificate thus you cannot get insurance
This isn’t about scaring people. It’s about ensuring no one wastes money, time, energy, or passion on something that won’t support their career. It happened to myself about 4 years ago, I was almost signing up to a course with what appeared to be a a legit training company, to discover, after a quick call to my insurance company to query how much my insurance policy would be when I added the new service, this training course was in fact not accredited or regulated to standards in Ireland. Thankfully I discovered this before I was over a thousand euro out of pocket. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of the many students I have had to retrain so they could get insured after paying for these types of courses.
What Does “Accredited” Actually Mean?
An accredited qualification is one that is:
Delivered through a recognised and reputable training academy and educators
Quality assured and externally moderated
Meets educational frameworks and industry standards
Recognised nationally and internationally
Accepted by employers and insurers
Supported by structured assessment - including practical competence
Recognised awarding bodies include, for example:
ITEC, CIBTAC, CIDESCO & other regulated qualifications mapped to national frameworks
If a course is described as “certified” but cannot demonstrate accreditation, regulation, or external validation, it may not hold any professional value.
Let’s Talk Honestly About Online Beauty Courses
Online learning absolutely has a place in professional development. Theory-based learning, refreshers, CPD, knowledge-building modules, manufacturer training and business education can work brilliantly online and alongside mentoring.
But here’s the key truth, beauty therapy, advanced skincare and aesthetic treatments are hands-on, technical, safety-critical skills. They require supervised practical training, assessment, feedback, and competency checks. Watching videos, reading PDFs, or submitting online quizzes does not prove clinical practical skills or client safety.
When a qualification is awarded purely online without structured, supervised practical training or mentoring, without demonstrating competency, without professional assessment or external quality assurance…it will often be rejected by awarding bodies, regulators and insurers.
This is why so many therapists later discover their online “qualification” does not count when they try to move forward.
Why This Really Matters for Your Future Career
Choosing the wrong training provider doesn’t just cost money. It can affect your entire professional pathway. Without properly accredited training, therapists may find they cannot progress into advanced treatments and are declined entry onto internationally recognised programmes. Not only that they face difficulties securing insurance cover, struggle to gain employment in reputable salons, medi-clinics and aesthetic practices and lack the depth of knowledge and safe practice confidence needed in real client environments.
Clients are becoming increasingly educated and cautious. They expect qualifications to mean something.
Experience Matters Just as Much as Accreditation
It’s not just about the logo on the certificate. It’s also about who is teaching you.
Your educators should be:
Qualified to teach - you would be shocked at the amount that are not suitably qualified
Experienced in real industry practice in the topics they are teaching
As a bonus - still actively working within salons or clinics so their skills and knowledge is current and up to date
Current with legal, safety and professional standards
Capable of mentoring and guiding beyond the classroom
This is the difference between learning to “do” a treatment… and learning to do it correctly, confidently and safely.
Our Commitment at Beautorium Training Academy
This isn’t about criticising others. It’s about protecting learners, protecting clients, and protecting our industry standards. At Beautorium Training Academy, we are deeply committed to education done properly:
Our courses are fully accredited and industry recognised
Our trainers are highly qualified and actively working professionals
We prioritise strong, structured foundational learning
We support genuine progression, employability and international recognition
We genuinely care about your long-term success, not just issuing certificates
If You’re Considering Training or Upskilling in 2026 … Ask These Questions First
Before you sign up to ANY training – especially online:
Who accredits this qualification?
Is it recognised by awarding bodies like ITEC / CIBTAC / CIDESCO if you wish to progress to more advanced services?
Is it mapped to regulated standards?
Does it include supervised practical training and assessment?
Is it accepted by reputable insurance companies?
What real industry experience do the educators have?
If you’re unsure, we’re always happy to offer honest advice - even if you don’t train with us.
Let’s Raise Standards Together
Education should empower - not mislead.
If 2026 is your year to upskill, retrain, or elevate your career, make sure your qualification truly supports your future.
Contact Beautorium Training Academy or Explore our accredited training programmes
