Are you interested in working as a qualified facialist? Want to offer your clients skin-changing treatments? Providing helpful skincare advice to clients that can only come with training?
If you are looking for a course in London to become a facialist, then you are in the right place.
Our Level 2 Facial & Skin Care course is the course for you! The immersive course is perfect for starting you on your facialist journey.
Watch the facialist pathway
Compare the facial training routes and see how each qualification can build your practical skills and treatment scope.
\n
What does a facialist do?
A facialist is responsible for providing non-surgical skincare treatments to
their client that rejuvenates the skin to boost their health and improve their facial appearance.
At the beginning of each treatment, the facialist will examine and analyse the client’s skin using a magnifying lamp and visor. The examination helps the facialist can see the client’s problem areas.
A facial treatment can include:
- Cleansing
- Exfoliating
- Massages
- Masks
- Peels
- Client aftercare – skincare education to help them have a good skincare regime and use SPF frequently to protect their skin
How to Become a Qualified Facialist?
You’ve decided that you are interested in turning your facial and skincare interests into a career. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Ray Cochrane, we are the leaders in beauty and aesthetic career advice, with nearly 60 years of experience in the sector. Below we’ve compiled a step-by-step guide for those interested in becoming a qualified facialist.
Step 1: Choose an accredited facial training course
Step 2: Pick the best beauty academy to complete your facialist training
Step 3: Work in the beauty industry and gain experience
Step 4: Always deliver the best service possible
Step 1: Choose an accredited facial training course
The best facial course for those looking to start their facialist career is our Level 2 Facial and Skin Care Course, accredited by the VTCT. The Vocational Training Charitable Trust is a leading awarding body. With your VTCT qualification, you will be acknowledged worldwide as a qualified facialist.
On the course, you will learn everything needed to perform the best facials on clients in your professional beauty career. In addition, the qualification will help develop your skillset for the beauty industry! You can then successfully work in a salon or run your own freelance business when completed.
What will you learn in the facialist course:
- Theory of the skin
- Skin Analysis
- Cleansing, balancing, toning & moisturising
- Steaming, Extraction, and Full Facial Massage
- Selecting, mixing, and applying tailor-made face masques
- The entire facial massage routine
- The theory in this module involves the anatomy & physiology of the upper torso, including the muscles, bones, blood, and nerve supply
- Client counselling/consultation techniques
- Facial Massage and Skincare
- Health, Safety, and Hygiene
One of the fundamental units in the course is client care and consultation. Working in a professional salon and dealing with clients, you must know how to interact correctly to build a good rapport.
The Level 2 facial and skin care is the ideal short beauty course for you if you want to change careers and gain an accredited beauty qualification.
Entry requirement to enrol on the facialist course:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have a good understanding and knowledge of the English Language
- Basic education
Prior knowledge of the beauty industry is optional, as we will teach you everything you need to know!
Step 2: Pick the best beauty academy to complete your facialist training
The Ray Cochrane Beauty Aesthetics Academy is the place to be! Established in 1954, we are one of the longest-running beauty schools in the UK. The beauty courses taught at Ray Cochrane are the finest in London. The course combines online theory and preparation with five on-site days across five weeks, attending the academy one day each week. You will need to complete online learning and independent work outside these attendance days. This part-time structure allows you to plan your studies around other commitments.
We strongly believe in intimate classes where students can get more individual contact time with tutors, so class sizes are limited to 12 people. Smaller class sizes ensure the instructor corrects learners on any mistakes they might make and have their questions answered immediately. The tutors that work with Ray Cochrane are hands down the best in their respective industries, all with over ten years of experience in beauty and aesthetic treatments. Not only are they excellent tutors, but they are also practising beauty and aesthetic practitioners still performing treatments. Our students won’t be learning outdated techniques, products or treatments as the tutors work hard to curate a proper course structure with modern therapies.
Step 3: Work in the beauty industry and gain experience
Finishing the five scheduled academy days does not automatically mean you have achieved the qualification. To successfully complete the course, you must pass the required theory exams and practical assessments and have all assignments and portfolio evidence assessed and signed off. You can research roles and prepare applications during training, but should describe your qualification as in progress until your achievement has been confirmed.
At Ray Cochrane, we offer a CV checker service for our students and alums to help with their job search. Another employability service at our training centre is our exclusive job board. In addition, the Ray Cochrane Academy hosts a job board with the latest jobs, traineeships, events and volunteer work available only to our students/graduates.
The qualification is the VTCT Skills Level 2 Award in Facial Massage and Skincare. Practical assessments take place during the scheduled academy days, but reassessment or outstanding work may require additional time. Assessment completion, confirmation of your award and receipt of your certificate are separate stages. Certification follows the required assessment and quality-assurance checks and the academy’s qualification claim; it is not guaranteed on the final teaching day. After qualifying, you will continue developing your experience with different clients and skin concerns. For example, clients can come in with dry, oily, combination, mature, acne-prone and many more skin types. You should have the knowledge to treat these properly, which will only come with experience and time. So simply put, the sooner you start working, the sooner you get experience and build your skills.
Step 4: Always deliver the best service possible
Anyone who’s ever received a beauty, aesthetic or hair treatment will understand that professionals in this field are responsible for making clients feel relaxed and ultimately leave feeling good. As a facialist, your responsibilities to your clients are no different.
From the time they reach out to you to enquire about your services to any other aftercare questions that might come up, you need to give them the best customer service experience. Excellent customer service will also put you ahead in the industry and help you stand out from competitors.
Clients want a reliable facialist who always gives them the same high-quality service regardless of the day or time. Delivering consistent treatments will help build a loyal clientele who will keep you booked and busy. Remember always to treat your clients how you would want to be treated!
Choosing Ray Cochrane for the facialist course in London?
As mentioned previously, we are one of the longest-running beauty schools in the UK, home to highly-qualified beauty tutors. These tutors are keen to share their facial knowledge and help learners achieve career goals.
We at Ray Cochrane value our students’ time and financial investment in us. Therefore, we offer flexible payment plans to ensure students can focus on their studies. These payment plans will be awarded through a partnership with Omni Capital Retail Finance, allowing you to pay in instalments*.
*This is subject to credit card checks and status.
The Ray Cochrane Beauty Aesthetic Academy is close to Baker Street tube station. With several well-connected transport links, you can rest assured if you are considering studying here as it is highly accessible.
Suppose you are ready to start your facialist career. Please get in contact with us today! To enrol on our next intake, please call 02074866291 or email us at email@raycochrane.co.uk.
You can reach out to us via the enquiry form on the right, and a member of the course enrollment team will be in touch as soon as possible.
[blog_cta]
What do our past students have to say
We can keep telling you why Ray Cochrane is the best school for you; however, we’d rather you hear from alumni.
In the years we have been running, we’ve seen many students come and go. Going on to open their own salons, work from home or even move abroad!
FAQ’s
1. How can I become a qualified facialist in the UK?
To become a qualified facialist in the UK, you need to follow a structured path. This includes choosing an accredited facial training course, selecting a reputable beauty academy for training, gaining experience in the beauty industry, and consistently delivering high-quality services to clients.
2. What kind of treatments and skincare advice do facialists provide to their clients?
Facialists offer a range of skincare treatments, including cleansing, exfoliating, massages, masks, and peels. They also provide skincare advice tailored to each client’s needs, helping them establish effective skincare regimens.
3. How long does it take to complete the Level 2 Facial & Skin Care course at Ray Cochrane Academy?
The course includes five on-site days across five weeks, one day a week, alongside online theory, preparation and independent work outside those days. This is the attendance schedule, not a guaranteed qualification date. Successful completion depends on passing all required exams and practical assessments and having assignments and portfolio evidence signed off. Reassessment or outstanding work can extend completion, and the certificate is issued separately after the required checks and qualification claim.
4. What role does the facialist’s expertise in skin analysis play in delivering effective treatments?
A facialist’s expertise in skin analysis is crucial for identifying clients’ specific skin conditions and concerns. This analysis guides the selection of appropriate treatments and products, ensuring tailored solutions that address individual needs and deliver optimal results.
5. What career opportunities await individuals after completing the Level 2 Facial & Skin Care course?
After completing the Level 2 course, graduates can explore exciting career paths in salons, spas, wellness centers, dermatology clinics, or even start their own facialist business. This qualification opens doors to various opportunities in the beauty and skincare industry.
6. When will I receive my certificate?
We usually expect certificates to be available around 8–10 weeks after the final scheduled course day. This is an estimate, not a guaranteed deadline.
Before we can claim certificates, learners must successfully complete all required exams, practical assessments, assignments and portfolio evidence. We then complete the internal quality assurance (IQA) and external quality assurance (EQA) processes.
Timing depends on learner completion and the progress of these checks. Outstanding work, reassessments or quality-assurance requirements may extend the timeframe. Completing the scheduled classes is therefore not the same as successfully completing all qualification requirements or receiving your certificate.
