Professional Practice, Ethics and Salon Management
What this domain tests
Professional practice questions test scope of practice, ethics, insurance, consent, confidentiality, record keeping, consumer law and day-to-day salon management.
Core rules and concepts
- Work within training, insurance and employer policy; refer medical, injectable and prescriptive treatments.
- Informed consent is specific, documented and revocable. Keep records accurate, legible, secure and retained per policy and GDPR.
- Confidentiality covers client identity, images, treatment details and payment data. Obtain separate consent for social media use.
- Consumer protection requires clear pricing, accurate descriptions, receipts and complaint handling.
- Stock control: rotate using FIFO, check expiry, store according to label, label decants and keep Safety Data Sheets.
- Financial management: price for product, time, overheads and profit; track retail and treatment margins.
- Staff: induction, training records, supervision and safe systems of work.
Worked example
A client asks for a fat-dissolving injection because a friend had one. Reasoning: this is outside beauty therapy scope; it is a prescription-only medicine procedure requiring medical training and governance. Decline, explain the boundary, offer a consultation for safe alternatives such as massage or body care, and document the refusal and referral.
Traps that cost marks
- Assuming insurance covers every modality.
- Posting before-and-after photos without specific consent.
- Keeping vague or altered records.
- Offering cash discounts without receipts.
- Allowing untrained staff to perform advanced treatments.