The ever-evolving landscape of aesthetic practice demands that practitioners continuously upscale their knowledge and skills. Main routes to achieving this are Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses and Ofqual regulated courses. However, as the industry remains unregulated, the quality and credibility of many available courses come into question. Today, we will delve deeper into the distinction between CPD and Ofqual regulated courses, punctuated by the impending government plans to regulate aesthetic practice.
What are CPD Courses?
CPD stands for Continuous Professional Development, which encourages learning to ensure practitioners can confidently and effectively deal with the ever-changing demands of their field, such as aesthetic practice. Although helpful, it’s important to mint the fact that CPD accreditation does not dictate the quality of the course or the educational provider. CPD is popular due to flexibility, affordability, and its capacity to cater to specific learning needs.
What are Ofqual Regulated Courses?
Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) regulated qualifications maintain a certain standard of education and ensure consistency in quality. Ofqual regulates exams, qualifications and tests in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland. The courses may be more comprehensive and are processed through an accredited Ofqual regulation awarding organisation.
CPD vs Ofqual Regulated Courses
While the CPD accreditation provides ample flexibility and specificity, it does not necessarily mean that the course is of high quality; it merely means the course meets the CPD’s defined learning objectives.
On the contrary, Ofqual Regulated courses or qualifications endorse high standards of learning, as they are consistent, valid and benchmark their qualifications against a regulated framework.
Regulation in Aesthetic Practice
Although booming with popularity, the aesthetic industry notably remains unregulated in the UK. This means anyone, whatever their background or experience, can set up a business and carry out treatments with minimal training. The lack of regulation can lead to misleading representations of qualification levels and, consequently, risks for service consumers.
The UK Government’s Plans to Regulate the Industry
Recognising this flaw, the UK government is planning to revolutionise the field by introducing firm regulations in aesthetic practice. The Department of Health and Social Care in England has recently sought advice from Health Education England (HEE) to tackle the issue. The HEE has recommended a requirement for practitioners to achieve approved qualifications, thereby ensuring that customers are in safe, knowledgeable hands.
The regulatory proposal is expected to incorporate a minimum qualification requirement for non-surgical treatments. This would protect consumers from substandard practitioners, raising the overall standard of the industry and providing reassurance to those seeking such treatments.
For a system of aesthetic training that encompasses the highest standards of patient safety, practitioners are encouraged to seek credible, high-quality training programs. While CPD courses are useful for specific training, Ofqual regulated qualifications provide a comprehensive level of education, adhering to stringent guidelines and standardised learning objectives.
To conclude, there are pros and cons for both CPD and Ofqual regulated courses. As the aesthetic practice industry awaits inevitable regulation, it is essential for aspiring aesthetic practitioners to research their training thoroughly to ensure quality education. Meanwhile, as consumers, we eagerly anticipate the government’s regulatory plans to ensure those providing treatments are indeed qualified to do so. We are hopeful about the promising developments in aesthetics education and anticipate a future with safer, more reliable solutions within the industry.