Welcome to the VTCT Level 2 Certificate in Nail Treatments course.

Guided Learning Hours

The minimum guided learning hours (GLH) to achieve this qualification is 183GLH.

Primary Outcome

The primary outcome of the VTCT Level 2 Certificate in Nail Treatments is to prepare you to enter the specific sector of beauty therapy as a nail technician. All the units in this qualification relate directly to the specific job role of nail technician.

Overview

The VTCT Level 2 Certificate in Nail Treatments is a substantial vocational qualification that will prepare you for a career as a nail technician. This qualification is designed for learners aged 16 years or over and will support you to gain employment as a nail technician.

This is a vocational qualification and includes all the required elements to work effectively as a nail technician including, mandatory units covering the following: providing manicure and pedicure treatments, health and safety and client care and communication.

You will also have the opportunity to further develop your understanding and skills by completing the following additional units - maintaining (gel) nail enhancements, and providing nail art. The structure of this qualification will enable you to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required for the role of nail technician.

Throughout this qualification you will develop your knowledge and understanding of relevant anatomy and physiology, health and safety, client care and nail products and equipment. You will also develop a range of technical skills enabling you to prepare and enhance the nails and cuticles on the hands and feet using different techniques. You will also develop interpersonal skills that will assist you to communicate effectively with clients.

What could this qualification lead to?

This qualification will prepare you for employment as a nail technician. You will also be eligible to join a professional association and gain insurance as a nail technician. Career opportunities as a nail technician exist in a variety of contexts, including:
- Working in a commercial nail or beauty salon.
- Working in a retail concession nail bar.
- Working independently/self-employed/mobile/home-based settings.

Whilst the primary purpose of this qualification is to prepare you for employment as a nail technician, you may choose to develop your skills further by undertaking qualifications at Level 3, these include:

- Level 3 Award in Nail Art
- Level 3 Diploma in Nail Technology

This qualification allows you to gather evidence in a realistic working environment or real working environment without the need for fee paying clients.

Who supports this qualification?

This qualification is based on the beauty therapy National Occupational Standards (NOS) and is recognised by the UK's leading professional association, the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) as being fit for purpose for preparing you for a career as a junior nail technician. Holders of this qualification are eligible to become a professional member of BABTAC. Further information on BABTAC membership can be found here.

NOS - National Occupational Standards

Units in this qualification have been mapped to the relevant NOS (where applicable). This qualification is regulated on the Regulated Qualifications Framework. This qualification is approved and supported by the Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA), the standard setting body for hair, beauty, nails and spa qualifications.

Pre-requisites

There are no prior qualification requirements. Your centre will have ensured that you have the required knowledge, understanding and skills to enrol and successfully achieve this qualification.

How this course is assessed

VTCT qualifications are assessed and quality assured by centre staff at the training venue you have enrolled with.

Work will be set to improve your practical skills, knowledge and understanding.

For practical elements, you will be observed by your assessor.

All your work must be collected in a portfolio of evidence and cross-referenced to requirements listed in this record of assessment book.

Your centre will have an internal quality assurer whose role is to check that your assessment and evidence is valid and reliable and meets VTCT and regulatory requirements.

An external quality assurer, appointed by VTCT, will visit your centre to sample and quality-check assessments, the internal quality assurance process and the evidence gathered.

You may be asked to attend on a different day from usual if requested by the external quality assurer.

The record of assessment book is your property and must be in your possession when you are being assessed or quality assured, there will be a module coming up where you will be able to view, download & print the assessment booklet. It must be kept safe. You and your course assessor will together complete this book to show achievement of all learning outcomes, assessment criteria and ranges. 

Units

There are 6 units to complete for this course, these are listed below for you:

UV20483 - Follow health and safety practice in the salon

UV20453 - Client care and communication in beauty related industries

UV20470 - Provide manicure treatments

UV20471 - Provide pedicure treatments

UV20472 - Provide nail Art

UV20399 - Provide and maintain nail enhancement

Portfolio of Evidence

As part of this qualification you are required to produce a portfolio of evidence. A portfolio will confirm the knowledge, understanding and skills that you have learnt.

This will be in electronic format.

I, as your assessor, will provide guidance on how to prepare the portfolio of evidence and how to show practical achievement and understanding of the knowledge required to successfully complete this qualification. There is a module on this.

There is a VTCT Log booklet along with the portfolio of evidence that will serve as the prime source of evidence for this qualification. You will be able to download this in a later module.

Evidence in the portfolio may take the following forms:

• Observed work

• Witness statements

• Audio-visual media

• Evidence of prior learning or attainment

• Written questions

• Oral questions

• Assignments

• Case studies

All evidence should be documented in the portfolio and cross-referenced to unit outcomes.

Constructing the portfolio of evidence should not be left to the end of the course.

Case Studies

To achieve this qualification you must carry out and document evidence of the following case studies:

3 treatments for EACH of the following therapies:

• Manicure
• Pedicure
• Nail Art
• Gel Nail enhancements (to include overlay, overlay and tips, and maintenance)

Your tutor / assessor will discuss with you what is to be covered for each treatment.