Beautician / cosmetology

A vocational programme covering salon services - skin, hair, nails and makeup - with practical training on models, plus hygiene, product knowledge and client consultation. Length varies from a few weeks to a year by specialisation.

Hair cutting, styling and colouring, facials and basic skin treatments, manicure and pedicure, makeup application, salon sterilisation and hygiene, product chemistry at a working level, and client handling and retail.

People wanting a fast, low-cost route to earning with a genuine self-employment path. Home service and an own salon are both realistic, and demand exists in towns of every size rather than only in metros.

The training sector is unregulated and course quality varies wildly, with many academies promising placement they cannot deliver - ask to speak to former students before paying. Income depends almost entirely on building a repeat client base, which takes years, not months. Hours are long and on your feet, and weekends are the busiest days. Chemical exposure to dyes and solvents is a real occupational consideration. Advanced skin procedures need further qualification and some are legally restricted to medical supervision, so be careful what you are trained to offer.

You need to have passed Class 10 or hold a vocational qualification to join this certificate course.

• Class 10 passed — You meet the recorded entry requirement after passing Class 10 in any stream.
• Vocational qualification — A vocational qualification also meets the recorded eligibility rule.

You can start as a beautician or salon professional after this certificate, then move from employed work to your own studio.

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