Cert IV Beauty Therapy study guide
Cert IV Beauty Therapy · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The SHB40121 Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy is a nationally recognised Australian qualification, released 16 December 2021 and recorded as current on the National Training Register. It supersedes, and is not equivalent to, SHB40115. The qualification reflects the role of beauty therapists who deliver lash and brow treatments, nail services, make-up, massage and waxing, communicate with clients to recommend treatments and services, and sell retail skin care and cosmetic products. Graduates work independently with limited guidance, solve non-routine problems, take responsibility for their own outputs and provide limited guidance to others, typically in beauty salons and spas. Topics on this exam: Core units and Elective units. The Cert IV Beauty Therapy study guide has 2 sections and about 699 words.
01Core Units: Safe, Client-Centred Beauty Practice
Core units build the non-negotiable foundation of every treatment you will perform: infection control, workplace health and safety (WHS), client consultation and communication, and professional conduct. Questions in this domain test whether you can apply principles to a realistic salon scenario, not just recite definitions. Understand the chain of infection and where you break it: hand hygiene before and after every client, correct use of personal protective equipment, single-use items where required, and the difference between cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation. Know which items are single-use versus reusable, and how tools are processed between clients.
358 words, about 2 min02Elective Units: Treatment Skills and Salon Operations
Electives let you specialise, typically across skin treatments, hair removal, lash and brow services, make-up, massage and salon retail or operations. Questions test applied technique, contraindication screening, equipment safety and client aftercare for the specific modality. Know skin analysis, cleansing and exfoliation principles, product selection by skin type and condition, and massage movements. Understand when to avoid active ingredients or mechanical exfoliation, such as compromised barrier, active breakouts or recent cosmetic procedures.
341 words, about 2 min