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Key Information for VTCT Practical Assessments

Practical Assessment Day(s) can only be booked once our team have confirmed your written exams have been passed successfully. They will also advise you on the next available assessment dates.

Practical assessments are only available at our London Kings Cross, Birmingham & Manchester centres. Dates run twice per year at Birmingham and Manchester, and every 3 months at London Kings Cross only, subject to availability.

You will need to login to the Online Student Portal to obtain the guidance you require to prepare for your practical assessment including:

  • The schedule for each day of practical assessments, listing all treatments you will be observed by the Assessor carrying out on each day of assessment.
  • The products and tools list, which you will need to bring to assessment along with ample clean towels for your treatments.
  • Guidance on the female model(s) you need to bring to assessment, as per specifics indicated on each assessment day schedule.
  • Guidance on beauty uniform for assessment as per assessment T&Cs – you need to wear beauty uniform on every assessment day.

Only once written exams are passed, you will be offered practical assessment dates.

You will need to bring along your own female model(s) for each day of practical assessment, following the guidance given on your schedule for each day as to the treatments to be carried out and model specification (age range, skin type / condition etc.). Models must be free of any contra-indications to the required treatments and have been patch tested prior to attendance of the assessment. Models must be aged 16 years or over, we cannot accept any under 16s within our centres for insurance and safety purposes.

Due to Covid-secure measures and the logistics of how the assessment days run, only Assessors, students there for assessment and their models will be at the centre. Given this, there will be no surplus persons in attendance of the centre to act as your model(s). Due to GDPR, we are unable to operate any kind of list to share potential model contact details. You must ensure you organise these for yourself and bring along with you on the assessment day. This allows you to work with those you already familiar with on your assessments, which most students finds puts them at greater ease.

You will need to bring along your own products / tools as per the list provided to you. You will also need to bring ample clean towels for your treatments. The Beauty Academy will provide larger equipment required e.g. treatment couch, wax heater, foot spa, hot stone heater etc., for reasons of practicality and safety.

If travelling by public transport (recommended for most centres, due to their central locations), you may wish to use a small suitcase / hold-all type bag on wheels to transport your products / tools safely. Ensure all products are correctly stored and sealed, with labels attached stating contents. Ideally products to be within original packaging for safety. Products / tools left at the training centre overnight are left at the students own risk, we recommend taking all possessions with you when leaving the centre. Please do not bring any unnecessary valuables into the centre e.g. high values of cash, tech devices etc.

All students must wear professional beauty uniform to all assessment days (beauty tunic, black trousers and closed toe / closed heel shoes with sensible flat soles. Hair should be tied back and jewellery in excess of one wedding band and one pair of stud earrings should be removed). Nail extensions / gel polish should not be worn, with the exception only of those being assessed for Level 2 or Level 3 Nail Technology courses. This is the meet the requirements of student presentation set by the awarding body.

Failure to bring along correct models, products/tools or wear correct uniform will result in your being turned away from the assessment and needing to reschedule at a cost of £120 per assessment day.

You must ensure you arrive for your assessment at 9.30am to allow time for registration and setting up your treatment area, ready for a 10am prompt start to the assessments.

If you arrive late you will be refused entry, for which a rescheduling fee of £120 per day applies.

Practical assessments are scheduled for a full day from 9.30am – 4.30pm.

You will need to remain at the centre until all treatments have been completed, workspace is cleaned and your assessment paperwork has been signed off. We expect the assessment day to last the full day, your Assessor will advise on the day when you are ready to leave.

A short break will be given mid-way through the day for lunch. Bring along cold food and refreshments for your lunch and suggest the same for your models.

It is important you are ‘assessment ready’ – ensuring you can deliver all treatments required to the commercially accepted timings set by the awarding body. This information is given in your VTCT Record of Achievement (logbook) available to download on the Online Student Portal. It is important you practice your skills prior to assessment, to ensure you are working safely, hygienically and to a competent standard.

In preparation for your practical assessments, we recommend you continue practising to keep your knowledge and skills up to date and ‘assessment ready’.

You will be observed against the VTCT standards of professional practice including ensuring you are working safely and hygienically, to the commercially accepted treatment timings (see VTCT record of achievement for specifics for each treatment) and to a professional standard of treatment result.

Step by step videos are available on the online student portal, along with course manuals to refresh your knowledge as needed in preparation for assessments.

You will be given feedback on the day by the Assessor on an individual basis and will know throughout the day how you are performing. The Assessor will only step in to stop you working or fail you on part of your assessment if you are found to be working in a way that is unhygienic, unsafe, against best practice or outside of the required range / criteria e.g. treatment timing.

If further assessment is required, this will be chargeable at £120 per assessment day required.

Practical Assessment Day(s) can only be booked once our team have confirmed your written exams have been passed successfully.

Our team will confirm when you have successfully passed all written exams and provide the next available assessment dates. You will need to reply by email to confirm attendance of the date(s) offered so that a confirmation email can be sent to reserve your assessment place.

Please bear in mind all VTCT qualifications must be fully completed within the 12-month enrolment period, it is vital that you attend the earliest assessment dates offered to ensure you remain within your enrolment period and have the best chance of success by being ‘assessment ready’. If you delay booking your exams, this may result in being unable to complete your award.

Please note spaces fill on a first come, first served basis and are subject to change until a place has been confirmed to you by email.

  • Established 1990: the Original Private Beauty Training School

    I have done a few courses at the Cambridge and London venues and loved all of them. Staff is very friendly and professional at the same time which makes it easy to learn the theory and also the techniques. Teachers pay attention to each student and gives honest advises and support. I highly recommend The Beauty Academy for everyone.

    Ernesta Davailyte

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  • Established 1990: the Original Private Beauty Training School

    Brilliant course. Tutor Leanne was so helpful and friendly and made me feel totally at ease. I was nervous as I have never done any beauty training before and she put me at ease straight away. Brilliant service and I will one hundred percent be using again. Thank you very much!!

    Ellie Hood

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  • Established 1990: the Original Private Beauty Training School

    I have done a few courses with The Beauty Academy. I’m a successful Beauty Therapist now. I run my own business. Thank You ?

    Klaudia Traubert

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Our expert team of tutors based across our 10 Training Schools are all qualified to the highest levels, still practising in the industry keeping their skills up to date and with years of industry experience to share with their students. All tutors are friendly and welcoming, making you feel totally at ease whether attending for your very first course or your VTCT qualification assessment days.