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Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy

This course trains you to work as a beauty therapist in a salon or spa, covering the treatments a client books most often: facials and skin care advice, waxing, spray tanning, body massage, lash and brow services, make-up, and manicures and pedicures.

  • Duration: 2 years to 30 months
  • Study mode: Online, on campus and workplace based
  • Course code: SHB40121

Where you can study this course

Where
Study mode

  • TAFE NSW

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    Campuses
    24 campuses
    Duration
    2 years to 30 months
    Study mode
    Varies by campus
    Full fee
    Not stated by provider

    What students say

    Many students speak well of the facilities and campus, and some rate the trainers and teaching highly, though opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching and student support, and some found the organisation and admin frustrating.

  • TAFE Gippsland

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    Campuses
    11 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

  • Alffie

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    Campuses
    2 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Some students found the course content frustrating and the trainers and teaching lacking, and a number questioned the cost and value, while many value the student support, though opinions on the content are mixed.

  • The Gordon

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    Campuses
    Geelong City Campus
    Duration
    Not stated by provider
    Study mode
    Not stated by provider
    Full fee
    $13,280
    Eligible students: subsidised from $5,897, concession $1,182

    What students say

    Students rate the trainers and teaching highly, along with the student support and course content. Some found organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on student support and course content.

  • Open Colleges

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    Campuses
    Not yet checked
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

  • Central Queensland University

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    Campuses
    18 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    A number of students praise the student support and campus facilities, while many found the organisation and admin frustrating and some had trouble with the enrolment process. Opinions are mixed on student support.

  • gotafe

    Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    2 campuses
    Duration
    Not stated by provider
    Study mode
    On campus & online
    Full fee
    $18,525
    Eligible students: subsidised from $6,270, concession $1,254

  • North Metropolitan TAFE

    Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    Joondalup (McLarty Avenue)
    Duration
    Not stated by provider
    Study mode
    Varies by campus
    Full fee
    Not stated by provider

    What students say

    Opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, with some students finding the organisation and admin frustrating and a number unhappy with the course content.

Last reviewed 20 September 2026.

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Is this course right for you?

Entry requirements

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

  • Providers can set their own conditions, such as a minimum age or a current job in the industry, and practical training may need a workplace placement. Check each provider above.

Entry recommendations

To be prepared for this course, it helps to have:

  • an interest in skin care and beauty treatments
  • good communication skills for consulting with clients
  • a careful, hygienic approach to your work
  • an enjoyment of hands-on practical work

What will you learn?

Alongside the hands-on skills you learn the skin and body structure behind each treatment, so you can explain what suits a client and recommend products rather than just follow a routine. The client side of the job is built in too, including consultations, retail selling, handling payments and keeping the salon clean and hygienic. You finish able to work with limited supervision, managing your own clients and judging when a treatment should be adapted.

  • Facial treatments and skin care
  • Waxing and spray tanning
  • Body massage techniques
  • Lash, brow and make-up
  • Manicures and pedicures
  • Hygiene and safe work practices

Units of competency (18 core, 5 elective)

The qualification is made up of 23 units. Everyone completes the 18 core units below, and the remaining 5 are electives chosen from the list on training.gov.au, so they vary by provider. Select a unit to see what it covers.

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Where this fits

Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy in beauty: the study that leads into it, the study that follows, and other routes at the same level.

Before

Certificate IIICertificate III in Beauty ServicesIf you want to start sooner, this one has no entry requirements and covers nails, waxing, lash and brow, basic make-up and tanning, so you can begin without prior study.

You are looking at

Certificate IV

Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy

After

DiplomaDiploma of Beauty TherapyThis is the next step up if you want to work fairly independently, planning treatments and choosing equipment and techniques, plus a full menu of treatments rather than one speciality.
All beauty courses →

Data from training.gov.au and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0).