Qualifications, Accreditation and Insurance
Three different things that often get muddled together. This page sets out what our courses are, what you receive at the end, and what an insurer will actually ask you for — without overstating any of it.
The Three Things People Mix Up
Get these straight and the rest of the page follows.
- Accredited Course
Reviewed By An Independent Body
An outside organisation has looked at the course content and the way the work is assessed, and approved it. Most of our courses are accredited by ABT, IPHM and IGCT. It is not a government qualification.
- Your Certificate
What You Receive At The End
Issued once your assessed work has been marked and passed. On an accredited course it carries the accrediting body’s name. This is the document an insurer asks to see, and the one a salon will want.
- Regulated Qualification
Level 2 And Level 3 Are Different
Those are regulated qualifications awarded through Ofqual-registered bodies, usually studied at a college over a year or more. We do not award them, and we will not imply otherwise. Ours is a different route.
Who Accredits Our Courses
Three independent bodies review our training. Each has its own standards and its own membership.
ABT
Associated Beauty Therapists, a UK membership and insurance organisation for beauty professionals. ABT accreditation is one of the things UK insurers look for when you come to arrange cover.
IPHM
International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine, an accreditation board for holistic and complementary practitioners, with members in a number of countries.
IGCT
International Guild of Complementary Therapists, which reviews training in beauty and complementary therapies against its own published standards.
We are also listed on the UK Register of Learning Providers. That is the government register of organisations delivering training, and our UKPRN, 10102601, is a matter of public record. It confirms we exist and deliver training — it is a listing, not an endorsement of any particular course, and we would rather say so than let it be read as more than it is.
Your Certification
You receive a diploma for the course once your assessed work has been marked and passed.
What You Get
- A diploma for the course you completed, naming the treatments you were assessed in.
- On accredited courses, the accrediting body’s name on the certificate.
- On the advanced skin, aesthetics and semi-permanent makeup courses, a Next Step Beauty certificate of completion.
- Written feedback on your assessed work from the tutor who marked it.
How You Get There
- No deadlines. You set the pace, and there is no expiry on your course. See how our courses work.
- Unlimited resubmissions. If something is not right, you get feedback and try again, as many times as you need, at no extra cost.
- Most students resubmit something at some point. It is part of how the course works, not a mark against you.
What It Does, And What It Does Not
- It does give you the evidence an insurer asks for, and what a salon will want to see.
- It does not make cover automatic. Insurers set their own requirements, and the decision is always theirs.
Getting Insured
Nobody can promise you cover, because insurers decide for themselves. What we can do is tell you how it works and who recognises our training.
Finish And Pass
Complete your assessed work and receive your certificate. That is the document the insurer will ask for.
Choose A Provider
Compare the insurers below, or any other. Each sets its own requirements and its own price.
Confirm Your Treatment List
Tell them exactly which treatments you intend to offer, and check each one is covered before you take a booking.
Our accredited courses are recognised by insurers including:
Already insured? Many providers accept our accredited courses. If you are adding a treatment to a menu you already offer, check with your existing insurer before you start taking bookings for it — it is usually a short call.
Questions People Ask
The ones that come up most often when someone is deciding whether our training will do what they need.
Are your courses accredited?
Most are. Our nail, beauty, massage and holistic courses are accredited by ABT, IPHM and IGCT. The advanced skin, aesthetics and semi-permanent makeup courses are certificated by us on completion instead, which is a different thing, and we say so on those course pages.
Is this the same as a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification?
No. Level 2 and Level 3 are regulated qualifications awarded through Ofqual-registered bodies, usually studied at a college over a year or more. Ours are accredited professional training courses, assessed and certificated by us and recognised by insurers. A different route.
Do I need a qualification to work in beauty in the UK?
There is no law requiring a specific qualification to offer most beauty treatments. What you do need is training an insurer will accept, and insurers ask to see a certificate before they will cover you. For nails specifically, read Do You Need a Qualification to Be a Nail Technician in the UK?
Do I need a council licence for some treatments?
For some, yes, and it is separate from insurance. Skin-piercing treatments such as semi-permanent make up and microblading need registration or a licence from your local council before you offer them. In London, many boroughs also require a special treatment licence for massage, nail and some beauty treatments, and Wales and Scotland run their own licensing schemes. The rules vary by area, so check with your council before you take bookings.
Can I get insured with a Next Step Beauty certificate?
Our accredited courses are recognised by insurers including Towergate, Radius, Insync, Balens, Salon Gold, Westminster, SJL and PolicyBee. Each sets its own requirements, and some ask for extra evidence on advanced skin or semi-permanent makeup work, so confirm cover for the specific treatments you plan to offer.
What happens if I do not pass first time?
You get written feedback and try again. There is no limit on resubmissions and no extra charge. Most students resubmit something at some point — it is part of how the course works.
How long does it take to get certificated?
A single treatment course takes most students a few weeks at a comfortable pace; a package runs to a few months. There are no deadlines and no expiry, so you set the speed. Most of the time goes on practice rather than reading.
Do I need insurance while I am still training?
If you are practising on friends, family or models before you qualify, it is worth checking. Several providers offer student cover, and Westminster includes students in its policies. Ask before you practise on anyone outside your household.
Can I use my certificate outside the UK?
The training and the certificate are the same wherever you are, and students in 65 countries and territories have taken our courses. What differs is what your own country requires in order to practise and to get insured, so check locally before you enrol.
Who marks my work?
Experienced tutors. On the nail courses, Victoria Arpels demonstrates the treatments in the videos and marks the assessed work herself. Victoria holds a BA (Hons) in Inclusive Practice and Education, a Cert Ed and a Teacher Assessor Award, trained to NVQ Level 2 and 3 in Beauty Therapy at City College Norwich, and has lectured in further education.
Where To Start
If you are still deciding, start with the area rather than the course. Each one explains what you will learn, how the work is assessed and what accreditation it carries.
