Are you running a salon or clinic and thinking about your next step? Laser hair removal is in big demand, and is a natural progression for many salon owners wanting to up their game and increase their profits. So what qualifications do you need for Laser hair removal?
Here’s what you need to know.
Owning and operating a laser is a lot less complicated than it used to be. Many years ago the laser industry was regulated by the then Health Care Commission – the same body which oversees Medical centres, hospitals and nursing homes! (This body is now called the Care Quality Commission) This is no longer the case!
The fact that the Laser industry is not regulated is not necessarily a good thing, but it does make it a whole lot easier to purchase, run and carry out laser treatments.
There are a few things to consider:
- The job of making sure your salon is sticking to good practices now falls upon the shoulders of your local council. However this is a very hit and miss situation! Some councils will come and visit your premises, while others will ask you to fill out a questionnaire, however they are not experts in this field. Some councils will ask for qualifications, others won’t.
- Your insurance company will stipulate that you must have a minimum level of qualifications to operate your laser and therefore get insurance cover. This is usually an NVQ level 3 qualification in beauty or equivalent PLUS training with the laser company who sold the machine.
- A level 4 qualification in laser and IPL therapy is widely available at colleges and private training providers. This is specifically aimed at teaching you Laser hair removal and often includes ‘Core of Knowledge’, which are the basics of laser and light devices. It is advisable to carry out this qualification if you want to fully understand the laser industry and gain a higher level of understanding and expertise. For years there has been talk of this qualification becoming a necessity, in order to operate a laser. However it has never happened. Some councils do stipulate that you must have a level 4 qualification such as the City of London.
As we all know, qualifications in any field give you the basic understanding but don’t make you an expert. My advice is to gain as much experience as you can by shadowing other laser technicians. Plus it’s good to have an attitude that learning never ends. This industry is constantly evolving and there’s always something new to learn.
I hope this has helped you understand the qualifications you need for laser, as well as the aspects you should consider before embarking on your journey.
Get in touch if you’d like some advice about laser equipment or laser treatments. You can reach me via email here: rachael@comeandcopyme.co.uk