ITEC Beauty Therapy study materials
ITEC Beauty Therapy study resources

ITEC Level 3 Diploma in Beauty Therapy Treatments study plan

ITEC Beauty Therapy · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Health, safety and hygiene in the salon (including infection control, sterilisation and waste disposal) & Anatomy and physiology relevant to beauty therapy (skin, hair, nails, muscles, circulation, lymphatics, endocrine and nervous systems)

  • Map the salon infection-control chain (client → tool → surface → therapist → waste) and label every break point on a one-page diagram

  • List the standard PPE, hand-hygiene moments and disinfection versus sterilisation distinctions used in UK beauty salons, and state which method suits metal tools, brushes, towels and porous items

  • Identify the main skin, hair and nail structures on a blank diagram and describe the function of each in two sentences

  • Classify the salon waste streams (general, clinical/contaminated, sharps, chemical) and state the correct disposal route for each

  • Draft a 10-question self-test on health and safety terminology and score yourself without notes

Your checkpoint

A two-page infection-control and waste-disposal flowchart plus a labelled skin/hair/nail anatomy diagram, both self-marked and corrected

Week 2

Anatomy and physiology relevant to beauty therapy (skin, hair, nails, muscles, circulation, lymphatics, endocrine and nervous systems) & Health, safety and hygiene in the salon (including infection control, sterilisation and waste disposal)

  • Explain the structure and function of the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous layer, and link each layer to at least one treatment implication

  • Describe the circulation and lymphatic systems in enough detail to justify massage direction, pressure and drainage strokes

  • Explain the endocrine and nervous systems' influence on skin conditions and pain perception during treatments

  • Compare three disinfection products by active ingredient, contact time and material compatibility, and note the salon's COSHH-style safety requirements

  • Rehearse safe moving and handling and equipment checks for a treatment bed, steamer and magnifying lamp

Your checkpoint

A one-page 'anatomy to treatment' reference sheet covering skin layers, circulation, lymphatics and nerves, plus a completed product comparison table for three disinfectants

Week 3

Skin analysis, facial treatments and skincare products & Client consultation, contraindications and treatment planning

  • Perform a structured skin analysis routine (cleanse, visual inspection, magnification, palpation) and record findings using Fitzpatrick and skin-type descriptors

  • Identify at least eight contraindications and explain whether each is absolute or relative and what action to take

  • Match cleansers, exfoliants, masks and moisturisers to three contrasting skin profiles and justify each choice

  • Produce a client consultation script that covers consent, medical history, allergies, expectations and record-keeping

  • Practise adapting a facial sequence for oily, dry and sensitive skin without changing the core massage movements

Your checkpoint

Three completed mock consultation and skin-analysis records, each with a justified product and treatment plan

Week 4

Body massage and body treatments (including electrical and mechanical equipment) & Client consultation, contraindications and treatment planning

  • Sequence a full-body massage in a logical order and name the muscles being worked at each stage

  • Describe the safe use of two electrical or mechanical body devices, including contraindications, settings and aftercare

  • Explain how pressure, rhythm and direction change physiological effects, and demonstrate each in a short practical run-through

  • Build a treatment-planning template that links client goals, contraindications, equipment choice and review date

  • Explain how to check and maintain body equipment before and after use

Your checkpoint

A full-body massage and body-treatment protocol, including equipment safety checks and a completed treatment-planning template

Week 5

Hair removal techniques (waxing, threading and depilatory methods) & Lash and brow treatments (tinting, perming, shaping and lash extensions)

  • Compare waxing, threading and depilatory methods by hair growth cycle, skin suitability, duration of result and risk

  • List the contraindications and aftercare rules for hair removal on the face, underarm, leg and bikini area

  • Describe the patch-test, tinting and perming procedures for lashes and brows, including timing and developer strengths

  • Explain lash-extension application, aftercare and removal, and identify signs of an adverse reaction

  • Practise shaping brows and mapping lash placement using measurements rather than guesswork

Your checkpoint

A side-by-side hair-removal and lash/brow comparison chart with contraindications and aftercare for each method

Week 6

Manicure, pedicure and nail enhancement services & Product knowledge, chemistry and ingredient awareness

  • Sequence a manicure and a pedicure, naming tools, filing direction, cuticle care and sterilisation steps between clients

  • Compare natural-nail services with gel, acrylic and wrap enhancements, including preparation, application and removal

  • Identify nail and skin conditions that must be referred rather than treated, and state why

  • Explain pH, surfactants, humectants, emollients, preservatives and acids, and link each to a product you use

  • Read three product ingredient lists and predict function, irritation risk and correct client match

Your checkpoint

A manicure/pedicure and nail-enhancement procedure sheet plus an ingredient-decoding table for three real products

Week 7

Make-up application and cosmetic camouflage & Professional conduct, ethics, data protection and client care

  • Select and apply make-up for day, evening and photographic looks, adjusting for skin tone, undertone and lighting

  • Explain cosmetic camouflage principles for scarring, vitiligo, bruising and redness, including colour correction and setting

  • Summarise professional conduct duties: consent, confidentiality, scope of practice, referral and record retention

  • Explain data-protection obligations for client records, photographs and marketing consent in a salon

  • Draft responses to two ethical scenarios, such as refusing a treatment or handling a client complaint

Your checkpoint

A make-up and camouflage look book with three documented looks plus a written ethical and data-protection scenario response

Week 8

Business practice, retail, promotion and professional development & Client consultation, contraindications and treatment planning

  • Build a retail recommendation process that links consultation findings to products and follows up at review

  • Calculate treatment pricing that covers product cost, time and overheads, and explain the margin

  • Plan a simple promotional campaign with one channel, one offer and a measurable target

  • Map a continuing-professional-development plan covering the next 12 months and the evidence to keep

  • Run two timed mock exams across all domains and review every wrong answer against source notes

Your checkpoint

A one-page business and CPD plan with pricing worked example, promotion outline and mock-exam score log

Milestones

Week 2: Can explain skin layers, circulation, lymphatics and nerve function from memory and justify three treatment implications without notes

Week 4: Can deliver a full consultation and body-massage plan end to end, naming contraindications and equipment safety checks, scoring at least 80% on a self-marked checklist

Week 6: Can compare waxing, threading and depilatory methods and sequence a manicure and pedicure, identifying referral conditions, with no more than two errors on a self-test

Week 8: Two timed mock papers across all 12 domains both scored at 75% or above, with every incorrect answer reviewed and corrected in writing