Awarding Bodies Explained
All 18 awarding organisations compared on levels, recognition and regulation.
ViewFor students, newly qualified and career changers
I'm Starting Out
Whether you are studying, just qualified, or switching careers into beauty, here is where to actually start.
Your journey
WHERE TO START
Five steps, in the order that actually helps.
Understand your qualification and where it can take you
Before you commit to a course, find out who awards it, what level it sits at, and whether employers and insurers actually recognise it. This is the single most expensive thing to get wrong.
Check your training will be insurable
Not every certificate is accepted by every insurer. Check before you book, not after you qualify.
Join a professional body
Membership shows a commitment to standards that a qualification alone does not, and most bodies include insurance, CPD and support.
Find the employers who are hiring
Browse the salons, spas, clinics, hotels and brands taking people on across the industry.
Find people who are exactly where you are
Connect with others starting out, ask the questions you would rather not ask your tutor, and get answers from people already doing the job.
Picked for you
RECOMMENDED
Pulled from across B.O.B, based on where you are right now.
Insurance & Protection
The qualification-recognition trap that leaves practitioners uninsured without knowing it.
ViewThe B.O.B Community
Ask questions, get advice and feel supported as you take your first steps.
ViewThe B.O.B Founding Event
17 September 2026. Meet the people shaping our industry's future.
ViewReady to take the next step?
Join B.O.B and connect with people who are exactly where you are.
NOT QUITE YOU?
I'm a Professional
Employed · Freelance · Self-employed
I'm an Employer
Salons · Spas · Clinics · Wellness · Hospitality
I'm an Industry Partner
Brands · Educators · Suppliers · Professional Bodies