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Certificate IV · national qualification

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.

Compare 17 providers
How long it takes
2 to 2.5 years
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $5,897
Subsidised at The Gordon, full fee up to $18,525
How you can study
Online, on campus or on the job
Taught by
17 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

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

Before you start

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Certificate IV or Diploma?

The Diploma of Beauty Therapy is a higher level qualification than this Certificate IV. This level involves providing a range of beauty therapy treatments and services, working independently with limited guidance, and solving non-routine problems.

See the course

Where this course can take you

The study that can follow this course.

If you study further

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $5,897

at The Gordon. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.

Paying the full fee

$13,280 to $18,525

across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.

  • GOTAFEVIC

    Subsidised
    $6,270
    Concession
    $1,254
    Full fee
    $18,525

  • The GordonVIC

    Subsidised
    $5,897
    Concession
    $1,182
    Full fee
    $13,280

Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.

Where you can study this course

There are 17 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

23 units: 18 that everyone takes and 5 you choose.

  • 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
See all 18 core units

Core units

Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.

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Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

This qualification prepares you to work as a beauty therapist in a salon or spa. You will provide treatments such as facials, waxing, spray tanning, body massage, lash and brow services, make-up, and manicures and pedicures. You will work with limited supervision, managing your own clients and adapting treatments as needed.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

There are no entry requirements for this qualification. However, individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.

How is it different from Diploma of Beauty Therapy?

The Diploma of Beauty Therapy is a higher level qualification than this Certificate IV. This level involves providing a range of beauty therapy treatments and services, working independently with limited guidance, and solving non-routine problems.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. TAFE course pages, read 20 September 2026. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.