Introduction:
Medical aesthetics. An evolving industry experiencing a powerful acceleration in 2024, there are now more than 940 aesthetic clinics in the UK alone. What’s more, with more than 7.7 million people in the UK having had aesthetic procedures carried out in the last 12 months, it’s fair to say that the need for aesthetics training courses and the successes of the aesthetic market are more than just skin deep.
As such, it’s not surprising that the job market to enter this lucrative field is becoming increasingly competitive. From maxillofacial surgeons to laser technicians, clinical consultants to aesthetic trainers, the world of medical aesthetics boasts a wide variety of expert roles. But where to start?
With over 30% of the sector’s workforce made up of non-doctors, and the likelihood of the government introducing a new licensing scheme to the industry, it is essential to have the right qualifications, both to get noticed and to get your foot in the door.
That’s where choosing the right training course comes in; with the right qualification from a properly accredited source, you could find yourself with a passport to a brighter future. That’s why we’ve taken the time to highlight some of the best options for you.
Top Aesthetics Training Courses:
Acquisition Aesthetics
We are proud to have been winners for two years running in the UK’s Best Independent Training Provider Award in 2021 and 2022.
With courses from Foundation to Expert level, and Masterclasses to inject skills from lip augmentation to facial contouring, we’re honoured to be a counsel on cosmetics, with a track record of happy clients – and beautiful smiles to prove it.
We offer free consultations and advice for career success. Our Level 7 Diploma competitively sits at £7500 +VAT (standard package) and can be completed in 9 months, while our Enhanced and Fast Track options can be completed in just 6. Get in touch today to find out more.
We even offer one to one tuition with our expert trainers to give you an added advantage. Hurry to secure yours now.
Top Aesthetics
Based in Burton, Top Aesthetics are an accredited and respected CPD provider. Lifting prospects as well as smiles, their comprehensive beginner course lasts 5 days and includes training on mesotherapy, chemical peeling and dermal fillers (amongst other modules).
With face-to-face classes, as well as more flexible Home Study Manuals, their reasonable £3500 pricing is a good place to start for those new to the industry.
Cosmetic Couture
As a provider of aesthetic training courses, Cosmetic Couture has treated more than 200,000 clients. Since 2012, they’ve been offering courses from entry Level 3 Principles of Cosmetic Practice for Aesthetic Practitioners to foundational and more developed advanced training.
Their expertise ranges from lidocaine to microblading and the Level 3 course starts at just £2,399 with a completion time of around 6 to 8 weeks.
British Aesthetic Academy
With serious skin in the game, British Aesthetic Academy is a reputable and reasonably subscribed option for those seeking to break into the industry or refine their existing skill sets.
They are the only training provider with a singular course option, distilling skills in all facial injectables Botulinum Neurotoxin (BoNT) and dermal filler procedures into one neat package.
This sculpted option is as fine-tuned as their specialism in non-surgical rhinoplasty and chin/jawline shaping.
The intensive course is 2 days long and costs £2,399.
The Harley Academy
The Harley Academy, in London, offers accreditation that is Ofqual-regulated & JCCP approved. Their pricing is made to fit, meaning that to work out what works for you, it’s best to sit down with one of the team first. Focusing on cosmetic dermatology, their course offers a gateway into skin care specialism later down the line.
Flexible courses typically take between 12 and 36 months and offer a total of 300 CPD hours (175 on Level 7 and 125 on Cosmetic Dermatology).
Ampika’s Aesthetics
With offices in London, Bristol, Newcastle, Cheshire and Scotland, Ampika’s Aesthetics have an impressive reach across the UK.
They’ve developed an all-encompassing course in Ultimate Aesthetics, designed for newcomers, both medical and non-medical, interested in breaking into the sector. This will give you everything you need to know from microneedling to anti-wrinkle injectables and will only set you back between £4000 and £4900 for their 2 day course.
Cosmetic Courses
Cosmetic Courses can boast to be the UK & Ireland’s Longest Established botox and dermal filler training provider in Aesthetic Medicine. Quite an accolade.
With three unique access routes into the world of aesthetics – (1) their Foundation Botox & Dermal Filler Training Course (2) the Introduction into Aesthetics Package and (3) their Level 7 into Injectables – this is a strong option for those seeking to get started.
Enveloping three separate mini-courses, their Introduction to Aesthetics Course Package is also currently £2500, down from £3306, and can be completed in just a few days.
Derma Medical
With 101 trainers globally, Derma Medical is a big outfit. They operate over 26 cities and have trained more than 14,000 aesthetics professionals.
Specialising in Botox Training and Filler Aesthetics, their courses are understandably heavily subscribed by keen prospects of the aesthetics industry and can be expected to set delegates back £999 +VAT at the Foundation level.
Choosing the Right Course:
Now you’ve narrowed it down to just a couple of courses that you’re interested in. What’s next before you take the plunge? You might want to consider a few things, first and foremost:
1) How Well Qualified Are They? Really Though?
It’s important to take note of the institution accrediting the aesthetics company you’re considering. Are they reputable? What quality standard do they have in place, both in regards to their teaching and to their curriculum content.
2) Do They Offer Follow-Up Support?
Look at alumni testimonials. Does it look like they’ve been looked after and supported even after the course has come to its end? If not, perhaps it’s best to keep on looking.
3) How Hands-On Are They?
Post-covid, it’s become all too common for training centres to limit their teaching to online webinars. Sure, these can offer flexibility but they are restricted in their training potential for real-life, practical skills. Keep an eye out for training courses with a strong ‘hands-on’ dimension. You can’t perform real surgery from a Zoom call!
4) What Are Their Alumni Up To Now?
Sometimes the best way to assess what the course will do for your career is by looking towards people who have already done it and come out of the other side. What are they up to now? Can you see yourself being happy in their position in the years to come?
5) Where Are They Based?
This may seem like an obvious one, but where a training course is based tells you important information about (a) short-term: how easy it will be to get there, and (b) long term: what sort of career prospects exist in that area for getting into aesthetics full-time.
6) Are They Regulated?
There have been recent discussions in the halls of Westminster about introducing new licensing and regulation to the aesthetics industry. This will demand of practitioners a certain as-yet-to-be-defined level of training. Choosing a company with government approved regulations already in place then is going to be the sensible move to safe-guard you for the future. To prepare for this, Acquisition Aesthetics might be worth a look!
7) Shoulder-Rubbing Potential?
Take a look at the experts and trainers leading the courses that you’re interested in. Do they look like people who are well connected, useful, perhaps, for getting you to that next step once the course has finished?
8) Do They Get With The Times?
The aesthetics industry is a constantly evolving sector. As such companies that don’t adapt to the times in line with these changes won’t be a good choice for ensuring your future within medical aesthetics is safe and successful.
Keep an eye on what the company has been doing to stay relevant – check their newsletter and read as many reviews as you can!
9) Will You Have Access To The Latest Gizmos?
As well as procedural developments, the technology of the aesthetics industry is also constantly improving. Is the company providing the training course you’re interested in offering you a chance to practise with the latest and greatest technology out there?
10)Is The Real World Experience Really There?
It’s all well and good having a track-record for training aesthetics professionals, but do the trainers themselves have experience in the field? Make sure to do your homework before taking the first step.
Interviews and Testimonials:
Your next move will be to secure a spot on one of our training programmes before they’re all gone. If, for some reason you’re still not convinced, take a look at some of the things students have said about the courses at Acquisition recently…
1) “I completed the Advanced Toxin and Dermal Filler course in London. It was a fantastic course with so much hands on experience. The trainers oozed passion and knowledge. Their expertise and skill was profound. I left feeling confident and with the necessary skills to develop my own aesthetic business . Will definitely be back to do more training. Thank you.”
5/5
MS
January 2024
2) “Excellent trainers! Good supervision and material that was delivered.”
5/5
AT
January 2024
3) “My trainers were friendly, approachable, welcomed questions, and were very informative. They each had their individual approaches to learning and also worked well as a team. I had great hands on experience as well as theoretical experience.”
5/5
TB
December 2023
Career Opportunities After Completion:
Once you’ve signed up to your course and completed it, what do you do now?
There’s a huge degree of variety in what doors these training courses may open for you once you complete them and step out into the job market. Some graduates after training head straight for consultancy roles: medical, clinical, or aesthetic, whilst others opt towards surgery: maxillofacial, oral, otolaryngological. Whether you are interested in microblading or lasers, there are plenty of paths and specialisms to choose from.
Whatever the route, take time to think about what excites you about it. This is where the hands-on nature of your training can be really important. It can highlight both your strengths and your passions for the type of aesthetics procedures that you gravitate towards in the future. Talk to alumni and experts, see what they have to say about real-life working in the industry. What’s their advice for those starting out? How did they first begin in aesthetics?
Get expert, accredited, opinions wherever you can find them. See what insights your trainers can give you. Research outside of the classroom. Just remember to lean in to what got you interested in aesthetics in the first place.
Outbound Links:
In order to give you that extra hand, here are 3 useful links about proper accreditation. This should give you a hand working out how reputable your course is . Take a look below:
Accreditation bodies – BCAM, BACN and the JCCP:
1) British College of Aesthetic Medicine, BCAM
2) British Association of Cosmetic Nurses, BACN
3) Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners, JCCP
Conclusion:
Aesthetics is certainly a lucrative route to start heading down when thinking about your future career, but only if you have the right education to get there.
With the industry seeing a huge increase in demand, as more and more people in the UK put their money where their mouth is, in more ways than one, it’s not hard to see why working in the sector is attractive.
In order to succeed, make the right choice where it counts. If you’d like to find out more, head to Acquisition Aesthetics today.
