Professional Ethics
This domain tests how a beauty professional behaves when the client is a person with rights, a medical history and money, not just a face. Expect questions on informed consent, confidentiality, scope of practice, honest pricing and advertising, professional boundaries and record keeping.
Rules that are examined
- Informed consent: the client must understand the treatment, benefits, risks, alternatives and cost before it starts. Written consent is required for minors, with a guardian, and for chemical or electrical services.
- Scope of practice: perform only what your qualification covers. Refer medical conditions such as persistent rashes, changing moles or suspected infections to a doctor; do not diagnose.
- Confidentiality: personal and medical information is shared only with the client's permission, or where withholding it would put someone at risk.
- Advertising: no cures, no medical claims, no before/after images without consent; prices must be transparent.
- Boundaries: no treatment under pressure, no lending or borrowing money, no personal relationship during service.
- Records: dated consultation cards, patch-test results and products used, stored securely.
Worked example
A regular client asks for a deep acid peel because a friend had one, but you hold a basic facial qualification only. Reasoning: the peel is outside your scope, so the ethical answer is to explain what you can safely offer, describe the referral route to a qualified practitioner, and record the conversation. Doing the peel because the client insists would breach both scope of practice and insurance.
Traps that cost marks
Treating a signed form as a substitute for explanation; assuming a skin condition is just cosmetic; discussing one client's treatment with another; promising a medical result to win a booking.