Re-training as a beautician

[gemma74]

Hi, would really appreciate some advice. I'm thinking of retraining as a beautician. My local college does a 2 year part-time evening itec diploma course which is a level 2.
Is this a decent enough qualification to find employment? Also, are most beauticians self employed? That would be a bit scary, not having a guaranteed wage and doing own taxes etc.
Any advice gratefully appreciated!
I'm also worried I'd be the oldest on the course.(35)
X

 

[honeymummy]

what is the diploma called? or is it a qualification e.g NVQ 2??

I would go for the qualification route and also do the level 3 afterwards

best of luck to you

 

[ReVivebeauty]

Hi If its a part time evening course you won't be the oldest at 35. I retrained in Beauty starting with ITEC Level 2 Beauty Specialist when I was 46 and I wasn't the oldest on the course. If its Level 2, 2 years seems a long time. The course I started on was two evenings a week for 1 year. ITEC is a well respected qualification, although experience has shown me thats its only the starting block for your new career. If you wanted to work in a Salon, prospective employers would probably require you to be Level 3 qualified. However, you've got to start somewhere and I think ITEC is an excellent choice. Lots of luck

 

[gemma74]

Thanks for your replies. The course is called Beauty Specialists ITEC Diploma level 2.
Looking at it in more details though, it doesn't cover facials or massage, but there's not a college nearby me that does a Level 3 course.

They do another course called ITEC Certificate in Nail Technology Level 2
which i'm going to ask about at the open day on Wednesday.
It's also 2 evenigs a week but only for a year and I think i'd get more use out of that qualification to be honest.

x

 

[ReVivebeauty]

Hi,

Level 2 ITEC Beauty Specialist should cover Facials, together with waxing, manicure, pedicure, make-up and eye treatments such as lash and brow tinting. It won't cover massage as massage is a Level 3 Qualification and the route to that would be by doing the ITEC Holistic Massage qualification.

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Susie H]

Just thought I'd reassure you, I'm currently at college, two years, full time, Btec and I turned 48 on the first day of college.
I may be the oldest, but I'm made to feel part of the group, I love the course and wish I'd done it years ago.
My college is a 40 mile drive from my home, but it was the only one offering the course I wanted and has a very good rep.
Good luck x

 

[gemma74]

Thanks guys. Luckily, there's an open evening at the college tomorrow so I'm going to pop down. I just feel 2 years to do the beauty level 2 is a long time,especially if most salons expect minimum a level 3. Will get more info on the nail level 2 course.x