How to get CPD accreditation for aesthetics training courses

This article provides a brief introduction on how to get CPD accreditation for aesthetics training courses in the UK, including an overview of the aesthetics industry, types of CPD, and where to find training to support your CPD requirements.

What is the definition of aesthetics?

Aesthetics is a broad term referring to the medical specialties that focus on the improvement of the cosmetic appearance of the body. Aesthetic medicine includes both surgical and non-surgical procedures across multiple specialties – reconstructive surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, and dermatology.

Overview of the aesthetics industry in the UK

The industry of aesthetic medicine is among the most rapidly expanding industries globally, and represents an entirely new, modern, and cutting edge field of medical practice. It is a rapidly expanding industry with demand growing every day with the Facial Aesthetics Industry now worth over £2bn globally.

The constantly evolving nature of the aesthetics industry requires medical professionals to undergo regular training, in order to keep patients safe and deliver a high standard of care. Aesthetic practitioners, must continually improve their skills to meet the demands of their patients and provide the best possible service to clients, and keep up to date with the particular treatments and techniques.

Continuing Professional Development, or CPD, ensures aesthetic professional continue to be competent in their profession and is something that is ongoing through any aesthetic or medical professionals career. At the heart of any CPD scheme is a personal desire to uphold a certain quality of care and service which safeguards the public and exceeds the expectations of your clients and your profession.

As the term suggests, CPD is a continuous and self-driven learning form which helps you to learn and progress your skills as well as career. Innovations in equipment technology, advances in treatments, and product research are consistently being released to the proper channels to raise awareness on how to carry out the best-practice methods.

While CPD is typically regulated by professional bodies, trade and industry associations within each professional sector, the field of medical aesthetics is very unique in the UK, in that it is largely unregulated. However, with the industry starting to take a much closer look at standards and qualifications, the need for practitioners to be able to demonstrate relevant knowledge and competence is going to become even greater.

What are the different types of aesthetics CPD training courses available?

CPD activity is recorded in terms of learning outcomes and the practical application of the knowledge obtained. This is where the aesthetics industry shines as the majority of the training happens in the field as opposed to in a classroom setting.

Any learning activities you undertake that has the purpose of developing new skills and enhancing your current capabilities represent elements of CPD. Ideally, CPD should be an ongoing process which is well thought through and planned, ensuring that your learning is in line with your professional and business goals.

CPD can comprise of professional training, workshops, conferences, events, e-learning programs, best practice techniques. All kinds of activities can count as CPD, including individual study and distance learning, such as structured learning through online training courses, reading and reviewing publications and enquiry-based research. Some examples include:

• Exploring the latest aesthetic procedures and techniques
• Enrolling in accredited and professional cosmetic training courses
• Reading published articles in Journals such as Aesthetic Journal, Prime and Aesthetic Medicine
• Attending aesthetic workshops and conferences
• Online training such as webinars
• Clinical, business and managerial-related courses, such as marketing, stress management and legislative requirements 

You should keep a track of your annual aesthetics CPD activities on a CPD record form and ensure it is accurate, up to date and meets the requirements of your professional body of association if you have one. Your CPD portfolio should display different learning methods and how those impacted your capabilities. Evidence of Continuing Professional Development undertaken is typically recorded by a CPD Certificate of Attendance, CPD Self-Assessment forms and personal CPD Record Cards.

How do I become an aesthetics trainer in the UK?

Whether you are experienced and established cosmetic practitioner or still in the phase of developing your aesthetic practice, it is strongly recommended that you complete CPD to support and develop your career in aesthetics.

A career in aesthetic medicine can be approached from a number of different professions. Currently, the majority of aesthetic practitioners come from a medical background and therefore have a university degree in nursing, dentistry or medicine. However, a starting point for any new therapists in the aesthetics or beauty industry, could be to complete recognised training courses in beauty therapy as a minimum.

Therapists can attend aesthetics training courses in order to help ensure they can perform treatments safely. This is to ensure that a range of different aesthetics treatments including post treatment care, safety and complications management are maintained. If you solely want to practice aesthetics, you may be able to apply for registration and GMC revalidation with the British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) - membership of these kinds of organisations also help to promote safe and regulated practice. It is your responsibility to ensure that any CPD you undertake complies with the requirements of your professional body and role.

Whether you are qualified beauty therapist or medical aesthetic practitioner, or from a non-therapy background, CPD courses provide essential knowledge and understanding on which you can build an advanced level of understanding and skill in order to progress within the aesthetics sector. Within the Healthcare & Medical Hub, you can find a range of aesthetics and beauty CPD courses across a range of topics.

What are the CPD requirements for Aesthetics Professionals?

Most institutes provide their members with Continuing Professional Development requirements generally as a required annual number of hours. These CPD hours are sometimes converted to points, units or credits. Many institutions allow members to choose subjects of relevance to them as individuals, while a minority also require their members to seek CPD on a range of core subjects.

The Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) is campaigning for the Government to mandate specific qualifications, education and training requirements for all aesthetic practitioners as part of its 10 point plan. The JCCP stipulates that registrants must demonstrate a minimum of 50 hours of CPD learning per year.

There are also NMC, GMC and GDC revalidation systems. All these systems require evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for medical registration. Medical practitioners that are registered with the GMC, GDC or NMC are also required to demonstrate that they have obtained the required number of CPD points.

CPD accreditation for aesthetics training courses

As the industry is largely unregulated with no single recognised qualification, you have a wide range of options for where you choose to train, but this lack of regulation and ease of accessing this training means that it can be difficult for people to recognise the dangers of unrecognised courses.

Ensuring that your CPD training courses has been fully accredited by a recognised organisation is a great way for aesthetic practitioners to further their skills within the sector and make sure that the training meets the required standards. CPD accredited courses mean that the learning value has been scrutinised to ensure the learning activity has reached an industry standard benchmarks and can be included as part of individual CPD requirements.

We hope this article was helpful. Established in 1996, The CPD Certification Service has over 27 years’ experience providing CPD accreditation. With members in over 100 countries, our CPD providers benefit from the ability to promote themselves as part of an international community where quality is both recognised and assured.

If you are interested in offering training courses, seminars, workshops, eLearning, or educational events suitable for Continuing Professional Development, please visit the Become a CPD Provider page or contact our team to discuss in more detail. Alternatively, if you are looking for a free online CPD record tool to help manage, track and log your ongoing learning, as well as store your professional training records and attendance certificates in one simple place, go to the myCPD Portal page.