Qualification Information
| VTCT Product Code: BT3D5 | GLH: 375 | Age Restriction: 16 |
| Qualification Number: 601/6984/9 | Units: 0 - 22 | Registration End Date: 31st Jul 2024 |
| Level: 3 |
Additional Information
Documentation for this qualification last amended 1 September 2020
Statement of purpose
Who is this qualification for?
The VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Nail Technologies is a technical level qualification aimed at 16-18 learners who are in a full-time Level 3 education programme and wish to pursue a career as an employed and/or self-employed nail technician.
There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification but in order to optimise their chances of success, a learner will ideally hold a Level 2 qualification or equivalent in nail services.
What does this qualification cover?
This qualification is based on the national occupational standards for beauty therapy and includes all the required elements to work effectively as a nail technician. Learners must achieve all mandatory units which include:
- Health and safety in the salon
- Client care and consultation
- Nail enhancements using light cured gel
- Nail enhancements using liquid and powder
- Electric filing for nails
- Promote and sell products and services
- Cosmetic science for nail enhancements
- Design and apply nail art
- Anatomy and physiology for nail services
- Airbrush nail art
- Gel polish for nails
Throughout this qualification, learners will develop their knowledge and understanding of relevant anatomy and physiology and health and safety. They will also develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to consult with clients and successfully promote and retail products. Learners will develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of a wide range of nail enhancement treatments including application of light cured gel and liquid and powder to create a nail extension, electric filing, gel polish and nail art, whilst looking in greater depth at the science behind these services. In parallel, learners will develop their communication and customer service skills, their awareness of environmental sustainability and their commercial skills, all of which are valued highly by employers. Problem solving and research skills will also be developed.
In addition to completing mandatory units, learners are required to complete two optional units. A variety of optional units are available which include (this list is not exhaustive): contribute to the effective running of a business, spray tanning, working with colleagues in the beauty related industry, how to set up and run a new business, salon reception duties and managing a commercial column.
Why is this qualification the most suitable?
This qualification is one of two VTCT technical level qualifications in nail technologies. In addition to this qualification is the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Nail Technologies, both qualify learners to become nail technicians.
At 375 to 380 guided learning hours (GLH), the Diploma is most suitable for learners who continue, as part of their programme of study to work towards achieving Level 2 English and maths, or those undertaking another qualification in parallel.
The Extended Diploma at 450 to 455 GLH is larger and most suited to learners who have achieved English and maths at Level 2 and wish to focus the majority of their programme on nail technologies, whereby they will develop a broader range of technical skills. Learners may wish to progress from the Diploma to the Extended Diploma.
Which subjects might complement this qualification?
As a service-sector qualification, vocational subjects which may complement this qualification include, customer service, business studies and management, marketing, retail, fashion and photography. Academic subjects that may complement this qualification include maths, English, art and design, design and technology and science.
What could this qualification lead to?
Learners who achieve this qualification are eligible to become members of the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) or Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT). As a nail technician, learners could progress directly into employment in a variety of contexts, which include:
- commercial salons
- destination/day spas
- nail bars or concessions
- independent/self-employed/mobile/home-based settings
- retail and training
- cruise liners
- photographic or media work
Whilst the primary purpose of this qualification is to prepare learners for employment, learners may choose to develop their knowledge and skills further by completing a specialist qualification at Level 4 in one or more of the following areas:
- salon management
- advanced beauty therapy
Who supports this qualification?
This qualification is regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual).
This qualification has been submitted to the Department for Education for teaching to 16-19 year olds from September 2016, and will be first reported in the technical level category of the 2018 16-19 performance tables.
This qualification has been developed collaboratively with employers, professional associations and key stakeholders in the beauty therapy sector. Because of this, the knowledge, skills and competencies gained will provide the best possible opportunity for progression into employment.
This qualification is formally supported by the following organisations:
| Name | Website address |
| British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology | babtac.com |
Qualification Structure
| Unit Code | Unit Ref | Unit Title | Level | Credits | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BT3D5.EX1 | External Examination 1 BT3D5 | 3 | |||
| BT3D5.EX2 | External Examination 2 BT3D5 | 3 | |||
| BT3D5.SYN | Graded Synoptic Assessment BT3D5 | 3 |
| Unit Code | Unit Ref | Unit Title | Level | Credits | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBT109M | H/507/5440 | Nail enhancements using light cured gel | 3 | 50 | |
| UBT110M | K/507/5441 | Nail enhancements using liquid and powder | 3 | 50 | |
| UBT111M | M/507/5442 | Electrical filing for nails | 3 | 30 | |
| UBT113M | A/507/5444 | Cosmetic science for nail enhancements | 3 | 35 | |
| UBT114M | J/507/5446 | Design and apply nail art | 3 | 30 | |
| UBT115M | Y/507/5449 | Anatomy and physiology for nail services | 3 | 20 | |
| UBT116M | L/507/5450 | Airbrush nail art | 3 | 30 | |
| UBT117M | D/507/5453 | Gel polish for nails | 3 | 10 | |
| UBT119M | A/507/5458 | Promote and sell products and services | 3 | 25 | |
| UBT90M | D/507/5517 | Client care and consultation | 3 | 20 | |
| UCO28M | L/507/5626 | Health and safety in the salon | 3 | 30 |
| Unit Code | Unit Ref | Unit Title | Level | Credits | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBT142X | H/507/5499 | Contribute to the effective running of a business | 3 | 25 | |
| UBT143X | R/507/5501 | Working with colleagues in the beauty industry | 3 | 25 | |
| UBT153X | T/507/5507 | Spray tanning | 3 | 20 | |
| UCO29X | D/507/5629 | Salon reception duties | 3 | 25 | |
| UCO30X | Y/507/5631 | Social media marketing for a hair or beauty business | 3 | 25 | |
| UCO31X | D/507/5632 | Planning and implementing promotional activities | 3 | 25 | |
| UCO32X | T/507/5636 | Managing a commercial column | 3 | 25 | |
| UCO33X | A/507/5637 | How to set up and run a new hair or beauty business | 3 | 25 |
*For full details of the Rules of Combination for this qualification please see the Qualification Specification/Record of Assessment book.
Documents
*To find specifications for individual units, click on the "Structure" tab of your chosen qualification, select the unit code in the left hand column and on the new page click on the "Download unit book" tab under the unit title.
Centres approved to run this qualification
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