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  • Can I achieve a VTCT qualification through distance learning?

    Can I achieve a VTCT qualification through distance learning?

    The Beauty Academy offer a full range of VTCT Qualifications in all aspects of beauty therapy ranging from single units for those looking to specialise in one professional skill such as Facial Skincare to a full diploma at level 2 or 3 suitable for those looking to gain full time employment in the industry. Our VTCT qualifications are delivered on a ‘blended’ learning basis giving you optimum flexibility with your learning, while still providing full support and expert face to face tuition on a fast track basis. Much of the study is completed on a distance learning basis, online from home including your theory coursework. Students have access to a wealth of learning resources on our online portal including training videos, manuals and support documents. Attend for 1-5 training days (depending on qualification) to learn your practical skills at one of our 10 conveniently located training centres, across England. Practice your treatments to build a portfolio and then once ready, book your assessments.

    Most students complete within 4-6 months, studying on a part time basis at home beyond their initial training days, learning around other commitments. All students have up to 12 months to complete the qualification, should you need to learn at a slower pace.

    Full access to our expert in-house Support team by phone or email throughout. We offer the most flexible, fast track way to achieve your VTCT beauty qualification and start your new career, ideal for those who need to learn around their existing work or commitments such as childcare that make attendance of year long face to face courses unsuitable for their needs. Most learners are aged 25 or over, as those looking to either change career or start something new; although their are no age limits.

    What are VTCT Qualifications?

    Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT) is a specialist awarding and assessment organisation offering vocational and technical qualifications in a range of service sectors. With more than 2,000 approved centres worldwide, VTCT has an ever-expanding list of centres throughout the UK and Ireland, with a growing international presence. VTCT have been providing qualifications since 1962 and in 2016 expanded to take over iTEC adding to its specialist worldwide training offer.

    If you are looking to embark upon a new career in beauty therapy or take your existing role in beauty further, VTCT qualifications will set you ahead of the competition and open up a wealth of career opportunities whether that is employed in the salon, spa, nail bar, cruise liner, opening your own salon or working as a beauty trainer in a further education college or for private beauty training provider.

    Achieving a prestigious and internationally recognised VTCT Qualifications will demonstrate you have an assessed high standard of competence within your treatment skills; giving both employers, insurers, industry bodies, advanced training providers & potential clients confidence within your abilities as a beauty professional.

    Which VTCT Courses are available?

    We offer a full range of VTCT awards in Beauty Therapy and also VTCT Level 3 Award in Education & Training for those looking to take their beauty career into a teaching capacity. We offer Level 2 qualifications ideal for complete beginners, along with Level 3 in Nail Technology and Massage Therapy which are advanced awards which can also be started as a complete beginner. We have single unit qualifications in individual treatments such as Facial Skincare for those wanting to specialise in a specific treatment, although we generally recommend the full Level 2 or 3 Diploma courses for those looking to gain an all-rounder set of skills most sought by employers within the beauty sector. Discover our VTCT courses by clicking below or for more guidance on the best course for you, select one of the options below to get in touch. All VTCT qualifications can be booked securely through our website or by calling our team on Freephone 0800 999 2277.

    Where could a VTCT Qualification take my career?

    The vast majority of our students achieve their VTCT qualification within 4-6 months and upon completion, enter the beauty industry either on an employed basis within a salon or spa, or start their own beauty business. We often have students who travel the world while working in beauty, working aboard cruise liners offering luxurious spa treatments. Many students enter professional competitions and gain recognition within the industry for their high level skills and flair for beauty. Once you have a VTCT Level 2 and/or Level 3 in beauty, you can then go onto learn further beauty treatments to expand your knowledge and boost your opportunities or could even take the VTCT Level 3 Award in Education & Training to begin offering beauty training courses yourself, work for a further education college or as a trainer for a private beauty training company to share your knowledge and inspire a passion for beauty in others. Click below to read the success story of one of our past students. You can see also Reviews from past students to assure you of the quality of our training.

  • What are the Advantages of Virtual Academy Beauty Training over Classroom Courses?

    What are the Advantages of Virtual Academy Beauty Training over Classroom Courses?

    With many of us having experienced more flexible working arrangements during lockdown and the benefits of staying connected online, more of us are feeling confident in taking other aspects of our lives online. Not only does online training allow you to study safely from home without any risks of Coronavirus posed from travel or being present in person, it is also flexible to fit into your life. There is no travel cost or time to consider, no early morning rushed commutes or needing to pay for additional childcare while you are away from home. There are no physical barriers to overcome as there is no attendance needed. The costs are also reduced for the training provider in offering online training versus overheads for bricks and mortar classroom based training, which translates as more affordable training options for students. Our courses start from only ยฃ99 and are fully accredited for insurance with ABT, giving you the exact same qualification as those achieved by attending face to face classroom training. All the benefits of classroom learning, without the hassle.

    What are Virtual Academy Courses?

    The Beauty Academy Virtual Academy courses are fully interactive online training sessions, led by our expert tutors. Ask questions using the chat box facility or a headset to communicate with your tutor. Questions can be answered in real time or saved until the best moment for response, avoiding breaking the tutors flow of thought and minimising disruption for all students. Watch the recording back of the session as often as you need to help the knowledge sink in and refresh your understanding. It also takes away the need to scribe lots of notes during the session, allowing you to sit back, relax and take it all in.

    All students receive comprehensive course notes by email to keep and refer back to. Also a short online pre-course learning task is delivered through our Online Portal to cover the essential health and safety knowledge. Study this at your own pace ready for your live online training session.

    Beyond your training session you have a chance to put your skills into practice, delivering your treatments on friends/family in your bubble at home or using a nail trainer hand / mannequin training head. Build your confidence and receive individual feedback on these treatments to help you develop competent ability in delivering your treatments. Once completed, you will receive your ABT Accredited diploma ready to gain insurance and begin using your skills to start your own beauty business or add to your existing treatment offering. Work with paying clients from home or mobile. Virtual Academy offers a cost effective, time efficient and enjoyable way to learn!

    Some commonly asked questionsโ€ฆ

    The tutor will walk you through the treatment techniques and procedure with detailed video demonstrations during the live online training session. You have a recording of the session to watch back allowing you to rewind and fast forward the demonstrations while practising your treatments. You submit your photos of a case study (as a best of 3) for individual feedback and support. When ready you arrange to attend an online support and assessment session where you practice your treatments, watched live by your tutor and receive final feedback to achieve your certificate. We have had a large number of students complete our Virtual Academy courses successfully and return for further courses.

    You will achieve a diploma issued by The Beauty Academy and accredited by ABT for insurance and recognition in the beauty industry. It is the same standard you would achieve as if attending a face to face classroom based course. It gives you the same opportunities to get insured and begin earning from home or mobile.

    Our Virtual Academy courses are so flexible. We have online training sessions available in the evenings, daytime or weekends to fit into your busy schedule. Practice at home at your own pace to submit your case study and then arrange the online support and assessment session when ready, again available at convenient time slots which you can choose from.

    You simply need a device connected to the internet such as mobile phone, pc or tablets like iPad. You donโ€™t need a head set, just the inbuilt speaker and microphone of most devices is fine or if no microphone, you can type freely into the chat box during the live online training session so can fully interact. You can even use earphones if taking part while out and about to make listening in discreet and convenient.

    You will need basic products and tools to practice your skills following the online teaching session. You can purchase these from any beauty supplier or take a look at our selection of starter kits to get going more quickly.

    We have Interest Free Credit available on all courses over ยฃ99 (which includes all Virtual Academy Courses and packages). Save money by booking a Multi Buy Package or book your courses individually as you prefer. Multi Buy Packages are carefully selected combinations of courses which allow you to save money versus individual course fees and have the best beauty business start-up training package. Book securely through our website or by calling Freephone 0800 999 2277.

    How do I enrol?

    Like the sound of our Virtual Academy Courses and want to get started? Click below to explore and book your Virtual Academy Course (or take advantage of the savings offered by our Multi Buy Packages). Or if you have further questions and need more advice, get in touch with our team on one of the options below.

  • Can you really achieve a beauty qualification with only online courses?

    Can you really achieve a beauty qualification with only online courses?

    Absolutely, yes! You can definitely achieve an accredited beauty qualification through only online training. Our courses are accredited by IPHM and recognised for insurance internationally giving you the best chance of success in a beauty career wherever you live and work. As our courses are completed entirely online, there are no distance barriers to overcome. Online training options give you full flexibility of studying anywhere in the world, even the comfort of home. They also allow you to study at your own pace, whether that is fast track or more slowly to fit around other commitments.

    We get asked this question all the time as so many are dubious about trying something new for them, but once they discover the benefits of online training they go from course to course expanding their learning with complete confidence. Our courses are written by experienced beauty industry professionals in an easy to follow style. From high quality training videos to detailed step by steps in course manuals. You also have full access to our expert in-house Support Team for any questions along the way.

    Online courses with The Beauty Academy allow you to achieve a recognised, accredited beauty qualification that enables you to get insured and start your new beauty career.

    Need more reassurance? Read some recent student reviewsโ€ฆ

    At The Beauty Academy we offer two options for Online Study, both provide an accredited certificate on completion;

    1. Online Courses completed through our Student Portal. You receive access to a wealth of high quality learning resources, written by beauty professionals including comprehensive manuals and detailed video demonstrations. You take multiple choice online tests throughout the course which are great for checking your understanding and learning as you progress through the course. These can be taken as often as needed until you achieve a pass. You also submit a small number of case studies to us by email which are assessed against industry standards to ensure your proficiency with the treatment skills. Individual feedback to help you improve and you simply resubmit as needed until you are at a successful level to achieve. Typically students complete these courses within 2-6 weeks (allowing usually around 2-10 hours per week to study), although you have 8 weeks should you need to go slower. Achieve an IPHM accredited certificate, courses start at only ยฃ99!
    2. Virtual Academy Courses are completed through live, tutor led training sessions delivered online through Zoom. Initially you complete some basic health and safety theory through our Online Student Portal. You then โ€˜attendโ€™ your online teaching session which typically lasts 60-90 minutes. A recording of the session is emailed to you which can be watched back as often as you need. You submit your one best case study of a recommended 3 minimum for feedback. Once a suitable standard of treatment skill is achieved, you โ€˜attendโ€™ a short online session where a tutor observes you complete some basic treatment skills to ascertain your confidence and given final feedback. Once completed, you achieve an ABT accredited certificate, courses start at only ยฃ149!

    Online Courses

    • Great for those who like self-paced, independent learning.
    • Full support from our team throughout by phone or email.
    • Flexible to work around you, study as many or as few hours each week as prefer – complete within 2-8 weeks.
    • Studied entirely through Online Student Portal.
    • Watch videos, read manuals, do quick tests and submit case studies.
    • No assessment days or formal exams required.
    • Study on mobile, iPad or pc, when on the go or from home.
    • Accredited by IPHM, suitable for insurance in the UK, Ireland and overseas.

    Virtual Academy Courses

    • Great for those who prefer to learn with tutor interaction.
    • Ask questions & get additional support during the online session.
    • Full support from our team throughout by phone or email.
    • Live online sessions available daytime, evenings & weekends.
    • Recording of session to watch back as often as you need + e-manual to keep.
    • Join Zoom session, practice treatments, join Zoom assessment, achieve qualification!
    • No attendance of the training centre required, all done online.
    • Complete sessions on mobile, iPad or pc – no fancy tech required.
    • Accredited by ABT, suitable for insurance in the UK & when temporarily abroad.

    Our courses are accredited for insurance purposes. Courses accredited by IPHM are accepted by their recommended insurers for work in the UK, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, parts of the USA, & most of Europe. ABT offer insurance for therapists primarily working in the UK and temporarily overseas (except USA/Canada). This means upon completion of your online course(s) you can successfully begin working either from home or mobile offering your treatments and begin earning, once insured.

    The requirements of individual salons / employers / local council licensing will vary. Generally speaking most students entering the beauty industry will do so to be able to start their own business working from home or mobile as this is often the most lucrative way to work in the industry with uncapped earning potential. Online courses may enable you to gain work in a salon either employed or more likely on a self-employed basis as the certificate is accredited, however for those such as college leavers looking to qualify to gain full time salon employment, you may wish to consider more formal options of training such as VTCT Qualifications.

    How do I sign up?

    Click below to explore the training options, whether Online Courses or Virtual Academy Courses. We offer Multi Buy Packages which are carefully selected course combinations, put together to give you the best business start-up opportunity with treatments that sell to clients well as a package. These allow you to save money booking courses individually and get you started quickly on the path to your new beauty career! Book securely through our website when ready. Alternatively, if you canโ€™t see what youโ€™re looking for or donโ€™t know where to start; why not give our friendly team a call on Freephone 0800 999 2277 and they can chat you through any queries and point you in the right direction!