Types of Training Provider
The seven kinds of provider delivering training in this industry, and what each one's certificate is actually worth to an employer or insurer.
7 provider typesBusiness of Beauty
Reference18 awarding bodies
Awarding Bodies Explained
The 18 awarding organisations recognised across beauty, spa, aesthetics and wellness, compared on levels, recognition and regulation.
Building your future on strong foundations
The qualification you choose today can shape the opportunities available to you tomorrow. Behind every recognised course is an awarding body responsible for maintaining standards, quality and credibility across the industry.
At B.O.B we believe education should be transparent and easy to navigate, so this is our guide to the awarding bodies most recognised across beauty, spa, aesthetics, wellness and holistic therapy.
Whether you are starting your career, advancing your skills or recruiting new talent, it is designed to help you decide with confidence. It is equally useful for employers, educators and recruiters reviewing a qualification or assessing how credible a training provider really is.
8 organisations
Major awarding bodies
The awarding organisations most commonly recognised by employers, insurers, colleges and professional bodies across beauty, aesthetics, spa, wellness and holistic therapy.
VTCT Skills
- Qualification types
- Award, Certificate, Diploma, NVQ
- Typical levels
- Levels 1–7
- Main areas
- Beauty, aesthetics, massage, holistic
- Employer recognition
- Very High
- Insurance recognition
- Very High
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- One of the UK's leading beauty & therapy awarding bodies
ITEC
- Qualification types
- Certificate, Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 2–5
- Main areas
- Beauty, spa, sports massage
- Employer recognition
- Very High
- Insurance recognition
- Very High
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Internationally recognised within beauty & spa industries
CIBTAC
- Qualification types
- Certificate, Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 2–5
- Main areas
- Spa, wellness, beauty
- Employer recognition
- Very High
- Insurance recognition
- Very High
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Strong spa and wellness sector recognition
City & Guilds
- Qualification types
- Award, Certificate, Diploma, NVQ
- Typical levels
- Levels 1–7
- Main areas
- Vocational training
- Employer recognition
- Very High
- Insurance recognition
- High
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Long-established national vocational awarding organisation
Qualifi
- Qualification types
- Certificate, Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 3–7
- Main areas
- Aesthetics, wellness
- Employer recognition
- High
- Insurance recognition
- High
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Popular within advanced aesthetics and wellness
ProQual
- Qualification types
- Certificate, Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 4–7
- Main areas
- Advanced aesthetics
- Employer recognition
- High
- Insurance recognition
- High
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Commonly used for Level 4–7 aesthetic qualifications
Focus Awards
- Qualification types
- Award, Certificate, Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 2–5
- Main areas
- Beauty & aesthetics
- Employer recognition
- Moderate–High
- Insurance recognition
- High
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Growing recognition within aesthetics education
TQUK
- Qualification types
- Award, Certificate, Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 2–6
- Main areas
- Wellness & education
- Employer recognition
- Moderate–High
- Insurance recognition
- Moderate–High
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Broader vocational and wellbeing qualifications
| Name | Qualification types | Typical levels | Main areas | Employer recognition | Insurance recognition | Regulated? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VTCT Skills | Award, Certificate, Diploma, NVQ | Levels 1–7 | Beauty, aesthetics, massage, holistic | Very High | Very High | Yes | One of the UK's leading beauty & therapy awarding bodies |
| ITEC | Certificate, Diploma | Levels 2–5 | Beauty, spa, sports massage | Very High | Very High | Yes | Internationally recognised within beauty & spa industries |
| CIBTAC | Certificate, Diploma | Levels 2–5 | Spa, wellness, beauty | Very High | Very High | Yes | Strong spa and wellness sector recognition |
| City & Guilds | Award, Certificate, Diploma, NVQ | Levels 1–7 | Vocational training | Very High | High | Yes | Long-established national vocational awarding organisation |
| Qualifi | Certificate, Diploma | Levels 3–7 | Aesthetics, wellness | High | High | Yes | Popular within advanced aesthetics and wellness |
| ProQual | Certificate, Diploma | Levels 4–7 | Advanced aesthetics | High | High | Yes | Commonly used for Level 4–7 aesthetic qualifications |
| Focus Awards | Award, Certificate, Diploma | Levels 2–5 | Beauty & aesthetics | Moderate–High | High | Yes | Growing recognition within aesthetics education |
| TQUK | Award, Certificate, Diploma | Levels 2–6 | Wellness & education | Moderate–High | Moderate–High | Yes | Broader vocational and wellbeing qualifications |
10 organisations
Additional and specialist awarding bodies
Bodies awarding qualifications that are relevant to parts of this industry, or that specialise in a particular discipline.
Open Awards
- Qualification types
- Award, Certificate, Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 1–5
- Main areas
- Wellness, education, employability
- Employer recognition
- Moderate
- Insurance recognition
- Moderate
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- More common in alternative education & wellbeing
NCFE
- Qualification types
- Award, Certificate, Diploma, NVQ
- Typical levels
- Levels 1–7
- Main areas
- Health, wellbeing, teaching
- Employer recognition
- High
- Insurance recognition
- High
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Well-recognised vocational body
AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group
- Qualification types
- Award, Certificate, Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 1–5
- Main areas
- Education, health, wellbeing
- Employer recognition
- Moderate
- Insurance recognition
- Moderate
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- More common in education & access sectors
OCN London
- Qualification types
- Award, Certificate, Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 1–5
- Main areas
- Complementary therapies, education
- Employer recognition
- Moderate
- Insurance recognition
- Moderate
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Regional recognition varies
Active IQ
- Qualification types
- Award, Certificate, Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 2–5
- Main areas
- Fitness, wellness, nutrition
- Employer recognition
- High
- Insurance recognition
- High
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Strong recognition in fitness & wellness
YMCA Awards
- Qualification types
- Award, Certificate, Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 2–5
- Main areas
- Fitness, massage, wellbeing
- Employer recognition
- High
- Insurance recognition
- High
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Long-established in wellness & fitness
Gateway Qualifications
- Qualification types
- Award, Certificate, Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 1–6
- Main areas
- Employability, education, health
- Employer recognition
- Moderate
- Insurance recognition
- Moderate
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Broader vocational education provider
Laser and IPL Awards
- Qualification types
- Certificate, Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 3–5
- Main areas
- Laser & IPL aesthetics
- Employer recognition
- Moderate–High
- Insurance recognition
- High
- Regulated?
- Usually
- Notes
- Known within specialist laser sector
Skillsfirst Awards
- Qualification types
- Award, Certificate, Diploma, NVQ
- Typical levels
- Levels 1–5
- Main areas
- Health & wellbeing
- Employer recognition
- Moderate
- Insurance recognition
- Moderate
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Occupational & vocational focus
OTHM
- Qualification types
- Diploma, Extended Diploma
- Typical levels
- Levels 4–7
- Main areas
- Aesthetic practice, health
- Employer recognition
- Moderate–High
- Insurance recognition
- Moderate–High
- Regulated?
- Yes
- Notes
- Higher-level progression diplomas
| Name | Qualification types | Typical levels | Main areas | Employer recognition | Insurance recognition | Regulated? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Awards | Award, Certificate, Diploma | Levels 1–5 | Wellness, education, employability | Moderate | Moderate | Yes | More common in alternative education & wellbeing |
| NCFE | Award, Certificate, Diploma, NVQ | Levels 1–7 | Health, wellbeing, teaching | High | High | Yes | Well-recognised vocational body |
| AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group | Award, Certificate, Diploma | Levels 1–5 | Education, health, wellbeing | Moderate | Moderate | Yes | More common in education & access sectors |
| OCN London | Award, Certificate, Diploma | Levels 1–5 | Complementary therapies, education | Moderate | Moderate | Yes | Regional recognition varies |
| Active IQ | Award, Certificate, Diploma | Levels 2–5 | Fitness, wellness, nutrition | High | High | Yes | Strong recognition in fitness & wellness |
| YMCA Awards | Award, Certificate, Diploma | Levels 2–5 | Fitness, massage, wellbeing | High | High | Yes | Long-established in wellness & fitness |
| Gateway Qualifications | Award, Certificate, Diploma | Levels 1–6 | Employability, education, health | Moderate | Moderate | Yes | Broader vocational education provider |
| Laser and IPL Awards | Certificate, Diploma | Levels 3–5 | Laser & IPL aesthetics | Moderate–High | High | Usually | Known within specialist laser sector |
| Skillsfirst Awards | Award, Certificate, Diploma, NVQ | Levels 1–5 | Health & wellbeing | Moderate | Moderate | Yes | Occupational & vocational focus |
| OTHM | Diploma, Extended Diploma | Levels 4–7 | Aesthetic practice, health | Moderate–High | Moderate–High | Yes | Higher-level progression diplomas |
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