ProQual Aesthetics Courses in London: Level 3 to Level 7
The regulated route from your first aesthetics qualification to the Level 7 Diploma in Aesthetic Practice, including the ProQual L5 and L6 Diplomas in Aesthetic Practice, taught and assessed at our academy in North London.
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What a ProQual qualification tells people
ProQual is an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual. When you hold a ProQual aesthetics diploma, an independent body has set the standards, your assessor has observed you meeting them, and ProQual’s external verifiers have checked that assessment. That is a very different thing from a certificate of attendance.
Clients may never ask for a qualification number, but insurers, employers and prescribers may well do. Every course on this page has one, and you can look it up yourself on Ofqual’s register.
What is the difference between a certificate and a diploma?
Broadly, a certificate covers a focused area, such as one treatment, while a diploma is larger and covers a wider range of units at that level. The qualification title always tells you which it is.
Every ProQual level we teach
Figures are from ProQual’s current specifications. TQT is total qualification time; GLH is guided learning hours.
| Qualification | Number | TQT / GLH | Entry (summary) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 Diploma in Pathway to Aesthetic Practice | 610/4465/9 | 385 / 190 | No formal entry requirements | Level 3 |
| Level 4 Diploma in Aesthetic Treatments and Skin Science | 610/4475/1 | 635 / 442 | Level 3 Pathway (or equivalent), or 5+ years’ beauty experience; 18+ | Level 4 |
| Level 4 Certificate in Skin Treatment Using Laser, IPL and High Energy LED Devices | 610/4839/2 | 280 / 230 | Level 3 Pathway + Level 4 laser safety award; 18+ | Level 4 |
| Level 5 Diploma in Aesthetic Practice | 610/5201/2 | 435 / 320 | Regulated Level 4 + valid Regulated Level 3 Basic Life Support; 18+ | Level 5 |
| Level 6 Diploma in Aesthetic Practice | 610/4498/2 | 535 / 400 | Regulated Level 4, or 5 years’ experience, + basic life support; 18+ | Level 6 |
| Level 7 Diploma in Aesthetic Practice | 610/4479/9 | 660 / 380 | Level 5 or 6 Diploma + Level 6 anatomy and professional practice + basic life support, or registered nurse or doctor; 18+ | Level 7 |
| Level 3 Award in Basic Life Support, AED and Anaphylaxis | 610/7070/1 | 4 / 3 | None; 16+ | Basic life support |
Where would you start?
Start at Level 3
- No formal entry requirements
- Learn skin, anatomy and pathology first
- Then Level 4 for hands-on treatments
Level 3 or Level 4
- Level 2–3 therapists usually start at Level 3
- 5+ years’ verifiable experience can open the Level 4 Diploma
- Add basic life support before Level 5
Level 5 or Level 6
- Level 5 for Microneedling and peels
- Level 6 for boosters, Mesotherapy and more
- Either leads on to Level 7
Straight to Level 7
- Enter through the healthcare route
- Complete all six units and observed treatments
- No prior aesthetics diploma needed
How ProQual courses are assessed
Every ProQual aesthetics diploma is pass or fail and built on a portfolio of evidence. Our assessors mark it, our internal verifier checks it and ProQual’s external verifiers sample it.
- Knowledge is shown through written work and professional discussion.
- Practical skill is observed during supervised hands-on training and backed by photos or video. ProQual says an assessor’s report on its own is unlikely to be enough.
- Observation numbers rise with the level: at least five for each criterion on the Level 4 laser certificate, six for Level 5 and 6 treatments such as Microneedling and peels, and ten for Level 7 toxin and filler competences.
New ProQual Level 6 and 7 from 2027
In September 2026 ProQual published two new qualifications that start on 1 January 2027: the Level 6 Diploma in Aesthetic Practice and Injectable Procedures (610/7962/5) and the Level 7 Diploma in Aesthetic Practice and Injectable Procedures (610/7957/1). Both raise the entry bar, add an English-language requirement and require non-prescribers’ treatments to be supported by a registered prescriber and supervised by an assessor who holds Level 7 with at least three years’ experience.
ProQual’s new specifications do not say whether the current diplomas close. If you are partway along the pathway, talk to us so we can plan around the dates.
ProQual pathway FAQs
Is ProQual a recognised awarding body?
Where should I start on the ProQual pathway?
Can I use years of experience instead of qualifications?
How are ProQual diplomas assessed?
What is changing in 2027?
Do I need basic life support?
Find your place on the pathway
Send us what you already hold and we will tell you which ProQual level you can start, and what it leads to.