Are you looking to join the skincare and dermal therapy industry?
Do you already work in this industry, but are seeking a qualification to further develop and validate your expertise?
If you answered yes to either of those questions, then you likely are considering studying a Diploma of Beauty Therapy. But are you aware of all the educational options that are available to you?
In the ever-evolving beauty therapy industry, the importance of receiving a contemporary, top-tier education cannot be overstated. Consumers are demanding more advanced treatments with more exceptional outcomes, which means that aspiring and current practitioners must have both comprehensive theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical expertise.
To make an informed decision about what qualification is best for you and your career goals, you need to have all the necessary information about your available options.
Let us explore the Diploma of Beauty Therapy and compare it with a competing class of qualification, Undergraduate Certificates. We will provide an overview of both programs and their key aspects, such as cost, duration, and level of skill provided.
The Diploma of Beauty Therapy is a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course offered by many Registered Training Organisations around Australia. It is a Level 5 qualification on the Australian Qualifications Framework.
As described by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, the Diploma of Beauty Therapy teaches its students to provide abroad range of beauty therapy treatments and services including facial treatments, body massage and treatments, hair removal, lash and brow treatments, nail and make-up services. This includes consultation with clients to provide beauty advice, recommend beauty treatments and services, and sell retail skincare and cosmetic products.
While it has a thorough coverage of the practicalities of basic beauty treatments, the Diploma of Beauty Therapy does not provide an in-depth scientific understanding of human skin and its biology. Additionally, the beauty therapy technology and devices you learn with is dependent on the provider and won’t necessarily be the most modern or advanced.
Undergraduate Certificates are a relatively new class of qualification that was created during the COVID pandemic. The goal was to create education programs that better balance complexity and duration, teaching at an advanced level but achievable in a short time. Undergraduate Certificates do not have a particular level in the Australian Qualifications Framework, however they cover AQF levels 5, 6, and 7.
ACHW currently offers six unique Undergraduate Certificates:
These Undergraduate Certificates are all built from units of our bachelor’s degree and gives students expertise in scientific topics such as human skin biology, how nutrition impacts skin, and the chemistry of cosmetics. They also can provide practical experience performing real treatments on real clients in a clinic setting, learning beauty therapy techniques such as microneedling, Hydrodermabrasion, and the use of various laser and light-based technologies.
As they are built directly from our Bachelor of Applied Health Science, they provide a straightforward articulation pathway for graduates who want to continue their academic development. Every unit completed in an Undergraduate Certificate can be used as credit toward either of ACHW’s degree programs.
Duration is a core concern for prospective students and is one of the most striking differences between the Diploma of Beauty Therapy and ACHW’s Undergraduate Certificates. The Undergraduate Certificates can be completed in6 months, while the Diploma of Beauty Therapy requires a full year of study. This shorter timeframe allows ACHW Undergraduate Certificate students to quicker leverage the skills and recognition gained from their education, which is particularly advantageous for those eager to start their beauty therapy careers or industry veterans seeking rapid upskilling.
As their curriculum contains Bachelor-level teachings, our Undergraduate Certificates provide advanced theoretical and practical learning. For instance, the Undergraduate Certificate in Dermal Interventions provides students with expertise in highly specialised and in-demand dermal intervention modalities such as microdermabrasion treatments, chemical peels, laser technology for hair reduction and skin rejuvenation, and skin needling. This program also provides a thorough understanding of skin biology and the ageing process, ensuring graduates are fully prepared to meet the unique needs of every client and their skin type.
On the other hand, the Diploma of Beauty Therapy primarily covers basic beauty treatments and does not provide the same advanced scientific training. Graduates of the Diploma of Beauty Therapy may find themselves lacking the depth of knowledge and skill required to perform advanced dermal therapies, especially when they must be tailored to bespoke client needs.
It is the reality that tuition costs and financial support options are always significant considerations when choosing an educational path. More than just the total cost itself, you need to consider how much value you are provided with your investment.
The full tuition fees for an ACHW Undergraduate Certificate ranges from $8,880-$10,320. This cost can be supported with the Industry Newcomers Scholarship and we are a FEE-HELP approved association so you may qualify for a study loan.
A Diploma of Beauty Therapy ranges in tuition cost from $18,750at a cheaper provider such as TAFE to as much as $24,000 at more expensive options. Student loan availability is also dependent on the provider.
Choosing an Undergraduate Certificate over a Diploma of Beauty Therapy not only saves you money immediately, but also offers a higher return on your investment due to the advanced skills taught and quicker entry into the job market it provides.
A Diploma of Beauty Therapy is delivered predominantly face-to-face. While in-person learning can be very beneficial for practical skills development, this does make for a less flexible study schedule and forces you to choose your provider based on what locations they are available at.
In contrast, ACHW’s Undergraduate Certificates are either delivered entirely online or in a blended mode of online theoretical study and practical clinic sessions. The online portion provides flexibility that is especially useful for people also juggling work and personal commitments with their study. Meanwhile, the clinic sessions offer authentic experience performing real treatments on real clients. This hybrid model allows students to learn at their own pace while gaining hands-on skills with real-world applicability.
A Diploma of Beauty Therapy is a Level 5 qualification in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). While Undergraduate Certificates do not have an official AQF level, they can cover AQF levels 5, 6, and 7. As ours are made from our bachelor’s degree, which is a Level 7 qualification, they can be viewed as reaching this level of complexity.
Furthermore, the Undergraduate Certificates offer a direct articulation pathway towards higher education as our students can seamlessly progress into associate and bachelor’s degree programs with full recognition of their prior study. A Diploma of Beauty Therapy can potentially be used to meet the entry requirements of a more advanced program, but they don’t offer a direct articulation pathway. This makes an Undergraduate Certificate the more strategic choice for long-term career advancement.
Now that you have a full understanding of your available study options, you can make the ideal choice for you and your career goals.
Whether you are a newcomer to the beauty therapy industry or an experienced dermal therapist seeking to enhance your skills, ACHW’s Undergraduate Certificates offer unparalleled advantages. With a shorter duration, advanced and comprehensive content, cost efficiency, flexible learning modes, higher qualification levels, and clear pathways to further education, these programs stand out as the optimal choice for aspiring advanced skincare professionals.
For more information about our Undergraduate Certificates, please explore them on the ACHW website or contact our admissions advisory team. They are always available through email at admissions@achw.edu.auor by phone at 1300 227 603.
