Diploma of Beauty Therapy

The Diploma of Beauty Therapy is a one-year qualification, delivered by Perth College of Beauty Therapy and YES College, that prepares you for work as a beauty therapist. It sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, below a bachelor degree and above a certificate III or IV. The course is practical from the start. You learn how to give facials and facial treatments, perform waxing and hair removal, provide manicures and pedicures, apply makeup, and carry out lash and brow services. You also study the science behind the work: skin anatomy and physiology, the structure of hair and nails, and how different products and active ingredients affect the skin. Client care, consultation, hygiene and infection control run through every unit, because those are the things that keep a salon safe and a client coming back.

Australian diplomas are usually made up of units of study, each with a set credit point value, and you need to complete all required units to graduate. Delivery can follow semesters or trimesters, and some providers run rolling intakes. Assessment is mostly practical: you demonstrate treatments on real clients in a supervised clinic, build a portfolio of your work, and sit short written or online tests for the theory. Many diplomas include a work placement or clinic hours as part of the course, which is how you build the speed and confidence you need on the floor. Confirm the exact unit list, clinic requirements and intake dates on the official CRICOS register and the provider's page, because they can change.

You finish with a set of skills employers actually ask for: client consultation, skin analysis, safe use of electrical equipment such as microdermabrasion or LED, retail and product advice, and the record-keeping that goes with running a treatment room. You also pick up the soft skills that matter in a salon, talking to clients, managing bookings, and working as part of a team. If you want to go further, a diploma can lead into a bachelor degree in dermal science, beauty therapy or a related health field, often with credit for the units you have already done. The course suits school leavers who want a hands-on qualification quickly, career changers who want to move into the beauty industry, and people already working in salons who need a formal credential to move into a senior or specialised role.

International students study on a Student visa and can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session, which gives you a chance to earn while you learn. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream lets eligible graduates stay and work in Australia for a period set by the Department of Home Affairs. English requirements for entry are set by the provider; IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard for courses at this level, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the provider's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs also sets a separate English threshold for the visa itself. Tuition fees are published on the CRICOS register. Check the official page for the most current entry requirements, unit structure and start dates.

• Beauty therapist, day spas, beauty salons, resorts and hotel spas across Australia.
• Dermal therapist, skin clinics and medi-spas, working under a supervising clinician where required.
• Nail technician, nail bars and salons, often with a specialisation in acrylics, gel or nail art.
• Waxing specialist, dedicated waxing studios and mobile beauty businesses.
• Makeup artist, retail counters, bridal and event work, photographic and film sets.
• Lash and brow technician, specialist studios offering extensions, lifts and tinting.
• Salon manager or senior therapist, leading a team, managing stock, rosters and client records.
• Beauty retail consultant, cosmetics and skincare brands, department stores and pharmacies.
• Self-employed mobile therapist, running your own client base, which many graduates do after a few years in a salon.