Diploma · national qualification
Diploma of Beauty Therapy
A diploma in beauty therapy prepares you to work as a beauty therapist in a salon or spa, covering a full menu of treatments rather than one speciality.
- How long it takes
- 4 to 12 months
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $8,085
- Subsidised at GOTAFE, full fee up to $23,740
- How you can study
- Online or on campus
- Main job
- Beauty Therapist
- $61,300 median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 23 providers
- 7 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Diploma of Beauty Therapy asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in skin, hair and nails
- a friendly and welcoming manner with clients
- good communication and listening skills
- an eye for detail and tidy work
Before you start
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
Diploma or Certificate IV?
The Diploma of Beauty Therapy is at a higher level than the Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy. This diploma prepares you to work relatively autonomously, planning treatments and selecting appropriate equipment and techniques.
See the courseWhere this course can take you
Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.
Jobs you can do with it
Beauty Therapist
Beauty therapists carry out facial, body, waxing and makeup treatments, usually one to one with a client in a treatment room.
What else you need
Work within the treatment scope covered by the qualification; additional procedures may have separate requirements.
Median pay$61,300
In demand
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 $8,085
at GOTAFE. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$10,765 to $23,740
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | $12,978 | $22,403 | |
| GOTAFE | VIC | $8,085 | $23,740 | |
| Holmesglen Institute | VIC | $12,259 | $23,322 | |
| The Gordon | VIC | $10,917 | $20,083 | |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $8,480 | $7,790 | $10,765 |
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $12,978
- Full fee
- $22,403
GOTAFEVIC
- Subsidised
- $8,085
- Full fee
- $23,740
Holmesglen InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $12,259
- Full fee
- $23,322
The GordonVIC
- Subsidised
- $10,917
- Full fee
- $20,083
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Subsidised
- $8,480
- Concession
- $7,790
- Full fee
- $10,765
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 23 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 students like
- Teachers are supportive and ready to help
- Staff are helpful and friendly
- Course content is practical and industry relevant
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Some find front desk staff less helpful
- Website for Victoria University (opens in a new tab)
Victoria University
11 campuses, NSW, QLD, VIC
3.9from 1,562 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are friendly, supportive and approachable
- Studying one subject at a time through the block model
- Staff are welcoming and ready to help
What to weigh up
- Admin can be hard to reach after you finish
- Website for Charles Darwin University (opens in a new tab)
Charles Darwin University
12 campuses, NSW, NT
4.2from 619 Google reviews
What students like
- Admin and support staff are helpful
What to weigh up
- Units vary depending on the lecturer
- Feedback on assessments can vary
- Website for TAFE Gippsland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Gippsland
11 campuses, VIC
3.9from 113 Google reviews
- Course page for TAFE Queensland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
8 campuses, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- Fee
- From $8,480 subsidised
What students like
- Teachers are helpful and supportive
What to weigh up
- Poor communication from admin
- Website for TAFE SA (opens in a new tab)
TAFE SA
26 campuses, SA
4.4from 1,339 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are nice and helpful
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Course information can be unclear
- Website for Box Hill Institute (opens in a new tab)
Box Hill Institute
4 campuses, VIC
3.0from 372 Google reviews
What students like
- Teachers are friendly and supportive
- Course content is practical and relevant
What to weigh up
- Admin replies can be slow
- Course organisation can be inconsistent
- Course page for The Gordon (opens in a new tab)
The Gordon
Geelong City Campus, VIC
4.0from 168 Google reviews
- Fee
- From $10,917 subsidised
What students like
- Teaching staff are supportive and highly professional
- Staff are friendly and helpful
What to weigh up
- Courses can feel loosely organised
What you’ll learn
29 units: 20 that everyone takes and 9 you choose.
- Facial treatments and skin analysis
- Full body massage
- Waxing and hair removal
- Lash and brow treatments
- Manicures and pedicures
- Make-up design and application
See all 20 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.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
It prepares you to work as a beauty therapist in a salon or spa, providing a broad range of treatments such as facial treatments, body massage, hair removal, lash and brow services, and nail and make-up services. You would work relatively autonomously, planning treatments and selecting equipment and techniques.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
This qualification has no entry requirements. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.
How is it different from Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy?
The Diploma of Beauty Therapy is at a higher level than the Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy. This diploma prepares you to work relatively autonomously, planning treatments and selecting appropriate equipment and techniques.