I see so many new training companies pop up and its had me thinking quite a lot about this.
There are some exceptionally good trainers out there but also some very poor, inexperienced ones, and trust me I’ve heard many horror stories including people being given online training that they can’t get insurance for, certificates never issued or money taken and the training school then vanished.
There are companies who put their focus on selling machines who don’t actually use the machines and may be relying on manufacturer instructions to provide your training. What’s bad about this is that a manufacturers training doesn’t cover the science behind treatments and doesn’t understand the day to day practicalities of performing treatments.
Here’s a few guidelines on what you should look for when choosing your training provider:
- How long have they been in industry?
- Do they have experience of carrying out treatments on clients? Trainers should have at least one years experience in performing treatments to be able to fully understand and advise on problem resolution, although longer is better.
- What qualifications do they hold? Ideally your trainer should not only have experience of carrying out treatments on clients but also have a beauty/aesthetics background with at least an NVQ Level 3 Beauty Therapy Qualification, hold a teaching qualification (a level 4 AET is the minimal teaching qualification they should have, a PGCE is the highest level of teaching qualification). It’s surprising how many training schools have no formal background qualifications (other than a one or two day course in the subject they now teach and have done a fast track teaching qualification online).
- Who accredits their courses? The market is flooded with courses that are only CPD accredited. Do they offer other accreditation options?
- Do they require pre-requisites? A lot of companies (and I’ve seen this a lot) will provide training to anyone, including people with no prior qualifications then shrug their shoulders when the trainees cannot get insurance cover. A lot of the more reputable insurance companies will require some kind of pre-requisite ranging from anatomy and physiology qualifications, to NVQ level 3 Beauty Therapy, to medical backgrounds.
- Who trained your trainer? They say imitation is the best form of flattery but again this can impact on your trainers experience and expertise. It may also mean they are using materials that are subject to copyright infringement.
- Do they offer face to face practical sessions? I had a trainee recently who came to me as they had done an online only course so did not feel confident performing treatments on clients afterwards and felt they needed further training. Hands on experience is vital especially for advanced treatments.
- What’s their feedback like? Thanks to social media platforms such as Facebook and Trustpilot, you can check reviews left by others and contact former trainees to see what they thought of their training.
- Do they have the relevant insurance in place? Training providers should also be insured to teach, don’t be afraid to ask to see this or any other qualifications the trainer holds.
- What support do they offer after training?
A good training provider won’t need to chase you for business. Their reputation and quality of training materials, as well as lead times on availability speaks for itself. If someone can offer you training immediately or is often running discounted offers then that in itself raises questions.
Remember, cheaper isn’t always better. When it comes to training you are paying for someones knowledge and expertise. You and your clients are worth the investment!
