Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy SHB40121

This course is perfect for those either new to the beauty industry, or those wanting to improve on their existing industry skills.   

If you are an existing worker or have experience in the related industry, please inform our enrolment consultants during your enrolment conversation. You may be eligible to enrol into an RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) pathway, and complete your studies faster. Please note - limitations do apply. 

During your studies, you will learn how to: 

• Perform manicure and pedicure treatments  
• Perform gel and dip-powder nail enhancements 
• Perform body massage treatments 
• Perform waxing treatments 
• Perform facial treatments 
• Perform make-up treatments 
• Perform lash treatments 
• Perform tanning treatments 
• Maintain strict infection control procedures 
• Provide exceptional customer service to clients 
• Design treatment plans for clients 

• Multiple choice Quiz
• Projects
• Role plays
• Video
• Work Placement
• Written assessments

The duration for the course is maximum 18 months. As a self-paced online course, the time it will take you to complete is flexible and dependent on ability and time available.

Recommended Local Entry Requirements

Students will need to be at least 18 years old. Students under 18 will need a parent or guardian to complete the parent or guardian declaration on the Enrolment Form.

Students residing in WA/NT under the age of 18, who are not currently studying for their year 12 certificate cannot be enrolled.

Students are recommended to have the language, literacy, and numeracy skills that ensure the ability to read and comprehend technical terms and communicate effectively through email.

These skills are equivalent to:

• Successfully completed Year 12 OR
• ACSF Level 3 OR
• Certificate III level or higher

Tools, equipment, and skills required:

• Students will need to purchase specific tools and equipment as part of this course for practice purposes and or if the hosting salon requires students to use their own products/equipment. As an Open Colleges student, you have access to purchase some discounted kits and tools for your course! These kits include essential tools and products needed to perform a range of treatments required for your course- at a discounted rate. See this link for more information and brand suggestions. 
• Access to up to 3 people to participate in role plays and assessments
• Access to a device with audio & video capabilities to record simulated role-play tasks for submission
• Tripod to provide a stable and secure platform to mount the digital recording device
• Uniform - students may also be required to wear close-toed rubber-soled shoes and have their hair tied back. Some workplaces may also require a specific uniform
• Basic computing skills
• Access to a modern computer with high-speed internet
• Access to Microsoft Office

Additional Requirements:

• Students need to have the requisite physical fitness to undertake work placement in a Beauty Salon. Some treatment services will require you to stand for periods of up to 90 mins
• Some treatments require the learner to be able to physically massage the client
• Students will need to purchase or have access to the tools and equipment required to complete assessments
• Students may also be required to wear close-toed rubber-soled shoes and have their hair tied back. Some workplaces may also require a specific uniform
  

SHBBNLS011 Use electric file equipment for nail services is a pre-requisite unit for:

• SHBBNLS007 Provide manicure and pedicure services
• SHBBNLS008 Apply gel and dip powder nail enhancements 

SHBBSSC001 Incorporate knowledge of skin structure and functions into beauty therapy is a pre-requisite unit for:

• SHBBBOS008 Provide body massages
• SHBBFAS005 Provide facial treatments and skin care recommendations
• SHBBSSC002 Incorporate knowledge of body structures and functions into beauty therapy
• SHBBBOS008 Provide body massages
• SHBBFAS005 Provide facial treatments and skin care recommendations
• SHBXCCS006 Promote healthy nutritional options in a beauty therapy context
• SHBBBOS008 Provide body massages

To ensure that students are determined as competent in SHBBNLS011 first, students will complete SHBBNLS007, SHBBNLS008, & SHBBNLS011 as cluster. Students will complete these units over 3 tasks. 

SWL 1 - Portfolio 1

• Task 1 – Students will provide manicure /pedicure services to 3 people incorporating the use of an E-file 

SWL 1 – Portfolio 2

• Apply dip/gel enhancements to 3 people incorporating the use of an E-file 

SWL 1 – Portfolio 3

• Complete the remaining manicures and pedicures and gel / dip. The use of the E-File is optional. This portfolio can only be marked once Portfolios 1 and 2 have been marked as satisfactory

To ensure that students are determined as competent in SHBBSSC001, SHBBSSC002, and SHBXCCS006 before the facial and body massage units, the prerequisite units will be covered in the second block of the course. The students will then move on to the facial and massage units in the third block of the course.

For each unit of competency where simulation is used, students are provided with a simulation pack that includes:

• Information about the simulated organisation
• Policies, procedures, forms, and templates
• Character descriptions for role-play participants. These descriptions guide the participants on what to do during the role-play to ensure the student can demonstrate their skills against the required performance criteria. 
  
  

• By undertaking a work placement you’ll get a chance to put the knowledge you’ve learned on your course into practice.
• You’ll also develop practical, on-the-job skills and could make contacts that could help you find a job once you graduate.
• Work placement is often the most rewarding part of a student’s course. Working face-to-face with clients and colleagues in your chosen field makes a huge difference to your career confidence.

Focus on your studies while we handle your work placement. Through our partnership with SkilTrak, our Guaranteed Work Placement ensures you gain hands-on experience in your dream career—right in your local area. Learn more

• Meet with SkilTrak – Their team will discuss your skills, goals, location, and travel preferences to arrange the best placement for you.
• We’ll do the work – While you continue your coursework, we’ll be behind the scenes securing the perfect placement match.
• Get the details – Have a quick chat with us to go over what to expect from your work placement experience.
• Start your placement – Gain real-world experience while we check in along the way to ensure everything is running smoothly.
• Complete your course – Once your placement is done, upload your workbooks, finish your final assessment, and receive your certificate.

The Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) will require a minimum of 350 hours in a registered business delivering nail and beauty services to paying clients.

These hours will be split into 3 sections:

Work placement block 1 : 170 hours and may be commenced after successful completion of Modules 1 – 5 and your work placement preparation activities. 

Work placement block 2 : 106 hours and may be commenced after successful completion of Modules 7 – 13 and your work placement preparation activities. 

Work placement block 3 : 74 hours and may be commenced after successful completion of Modules 15– 20 and your work placement preparation activities.

There will also be specific assessment tasks including a logbook and portfolios to be completed at the workplace.

The workplace will need to provide the required beauty and nail treatments and have access to a full comprehensive range of professional products for each practical treatment performed.

Workplaces suitable to undertake SWL include:
• Nail Salon
• Beauty Salon that offers the required range of nail services

Only work placement block 1 can be completed in a nail salon.

The Host Organisation needs to be able to provide the student with access to equipment and resources necessary to undertake Workplace Assessments. They will need to provide nail and beauty treatments and have access to a full comprehensive range of professional products for each practical treatment performed. The Host Organisation must be a beauty services environment in Australia operating under Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

For students to be able to undertake the practical component of the course, approved workplaces must be able to provide students with the required equipment, environments, policies & procedures, documentation, appropriate supervisor, and clients. If host organisations are unable to provide the necessary equipment, resources, and access to clients the student may be required to undertake SWL within 2 (or more) organisations.

The workplace may require the student to meet workplace specific requirements. These will vary by state and by organisation. Some of the statutory checks and requirements the student may need to provide to commence work placement are:
• National Criminal Record Check
• Working with Children’s Check (WWCC) or state equivalent
• Code of Conduct
• Confidentiality Agreement
• Occupational Assessment, screening and vaccination against infectious disease

Please note that your host organisation may require you to provide an up to date immunisation history prior to the commencement of your work placement. Open Colleges has no control over this requirement so if you are unable to provide this, you will need to discuss it with your intended Host Organisation.

It should also be noted that some immunisations, such as Hepatitis B and COVID-19, need multiple injections to be administered over a specific time period before you are deemed immune. It is important that you consult with your GP as soon as possible to avoid delays in starting your work placement.

Your supervisor/s are required to have completed the Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy (or higher) and have 3 years of relevant industry experience. 

If you choose to complete Work Placement 1 at a nail salon, then the supervisor/s needs to have a qualification in nail technology or beauty therapy and have a minimum of three years’ of industry experience working in a customer facing role performing nail treatments. 

You will then choose a beauty salon to complete Work Placement 2 and 3 (where your  supervisor/s are required to have completed the Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy (or higher) and have 3 years of relevant industry experience.)