New standard for beauty schools to be introduced

Ireland will be the first country in Europe to introduce a standard for beauty and holistic therapy schools when details are published this year.

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) in association with the National Agency for Beauty Therapy Education and Training (Nabtet) has worked since 2004 to develop the minimum standard, IS 380.

It will include stringent guidelines on issues such as the qualification of trainers, the standard and maintenance of equipment, and the quality of training provided to students.

The standard is to be introduced in response to the growing numbers of schools around the country.

There are approximately 60 beauty and holistic therapy schools operating in Ireland, as well as a growing number of practitioners dealing with continuously evolving technology.

Under current conditions, anyone can set up a beauty or holistic therapy school without a background in the industry, and offer training for the industry's recognised qualifications.

Though the new standard will be voluntary, it will make it easier for students to differentiate between schools. It will apply to schools offering qualifications recognised by the National Qualification Authority of Ireland (NQAI).

The main topics addressed in the standard include: management responsibility; resource management (which addresses how schools are set up); hygiene and disposal of hazardous substances; equipment maintenance and calibration; and analysis of methods and how to improve them.

Once the standard is published, Nabtet, in conjunction with NSAI, plans to develop a certification scheme for beauty schools.

Linda Hendy, NSAI standards officer, said the new standard will be beneficial for the industry. She said shortfalls in some schools include equipment that is not maintained and a high number of students with not enough equipment to go around. There are also a small number of "fly-by-night" schools.

"This will give an assurance to students that they are getting a certain level of training," she added.

Helen Kelleher, president of the Federation of Holistic Therapists of Ireland, said the key to improving standards in the beauty industry in Ireland is to improve the training standard.