Self-test: Is a course to become a beautician (certified) the right thing for me?
Test here whether a job as a beautician (certified) suits you and whether you are on the right path with a corresponding part-time training course.
Are you interested in training as a beautician with a federal qualification? Then you've come to the right place with one of these courses:
- Cosmetician EFZ / Cosmetician EFZ
- Cosmetician in medical cosmetics with federal certificate (BP)
- Cosmetician with federal diploma (HFP)
Cosmetician with school certificate: What does your everyday working life look like?
Beauticians care for and beautify the body, especially the face, hands and feet of their customers. At the beginning of a treatment, they clarify the customer's wishes, assess the condition of their skin and suggest appropriate treatments.
A facial treatment includes cleansing of the face, neck and décolleté, exfoliation and removal of blackheads and impurities. Finally, the skin is nourished and relaxed with a face mask and a gentle massage. A cosmetic treatment includes plucking the eyebrows and possibly tinting the eyebrows and eyelashes.
Hand and foot care can be completed with nail polish. The beauticians also offer various methods for removing body hair and treating cellulite. Before each treatment, they prepare the workplace and then clean, disinfect and sterilize the tools used.
In the final sales meeting, they advise the customer on suitable home care and sell them the appropriate products.
Administrative tasks include constantly updating the customer file, checking product stocks and ordering and checking products.
Question 1:
Do the activities described meet your expectations? Would you like to work as a beautician (certified)?
Great!
If you like the most important tasks of a beautician, then you are basically right for a job in the field of cosmetics and beauty. Then the next question is about whether this training is right for you now.
If you don't like all the activities, think in detail about what exactly you would and wouldn't like about them.
For example: you would like to work on your face and skin, but prefer to do so in a medical context rather than a cosmetic one. Or you like cosmetics and beautification, but prefer to work on hands and feet rather than the face. Or you would rather talk to customers and advise them on fashion, trends, colors, etc. than work on them with your hands.
If you find out for yourself what you would like better, take a look at the following course examples to see if any of them might suit you better:
- Eyebrow styling (cert.)
- Relaxation coach (cert.)
- Nutrition consultant / Nutrition trainer / Nutrition trainer (certified)
- Color therapist (certified)
- Foot care (cert.)
- Foot reflexology (certified)
- Health consultant (certified)
- Fashion (cert.)
- Nail designer (certified)
- Natural cosmetician (certified)
- Pedicure (Cert.)
- Permanent make-up (cert.)
- Reflexology (certified)
- Stylist (Cert.)
- Make-up artist Make-up artist (certified)
Or take a look at various job advertisements. Perhaps you will find ones that only require the activities that interest you the most. If so, you are on the right track with this further training.
If you don't like the activities, take a look at the numerous other further training opportunities. You will find a large selection on Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch.
Are you still looking for your vocation? OurGuide "Finding your own calling"can support you in this.
Target group and skills: Who is cosmetics training suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?
The beautician training with the school's own certificate is aimed at the following target group:
People who want to become self-employed in a cosmetic profession or who want to expand their existing skills to include the care and design of the face, skin, hands and feet. For example:
- Hairdressers / Hairdressers
- Re-entrants in the beauty and cosmetics sector
- People who enjoy beauty and interacting with other people
The following skills and characteristics are required for a successful career as a beautician:
- Interest in cosmetics and beauty
- Craftsmanship
- Good eyes and good color sense
- Sensitivity and precision
- Enjoy interacting with people
- Good manners
- Sense of order and cleanliness
- Service orientation
- Sufficient start-up capital to start your own business
Question 2:
Do you belong to one of the target groups for this training course and do you have the necessary personal qualities?
Great!
- Are you already self-employed and have a broad and in-depth knowledge of cosmetics? Then you probably belong to the target group for the following federal qualifications:
- Cosmetician EFZ / Cosmetician EFZ
- Cosmetician Medical Cosmetics (BP)
- If you don't have the necessary personal qualities and skills, you won't be happy in this role. Look out for training opportunities that offer a technical specialization that better suits your skills.
- If you are unsure whether you are well suited to such a role, it is best to discuss this with your line manager or career advisor. You can find suitable providers of career advice and career coaching here:
Requirements for admission to beautician training:
The following requirements are generally stated for admission to the beautician course:
- Minimum age 18 years
- Enjoy dealing with people and have a well-groomed appearance
Question 3:
Do you meet the requirements for admission?
Great! Now for the next question...
If you are not yet of legal age, talk to the provider. There may be an opportunity to start your beautician / beautician training.
If you are not yet of legal age, talk to the provider. There may be an opportunity to start your beautician / beautician training.
Subject matter and content of the training
Schools that offer beautician training leading to a "school certificate" compile their learning content independently. The course content can therefore differ from provider to provider.
The course offered also plays a role here. For example, is it a basic course for beginners/returners/intermediates or a course for advanced learners or professionals?
The following topics are often covered in a basic beautician course:
- Anatomy
- Dermatology (skin structure, functions, etc.)
- Hygiene
- Facial treatment (skin cleansing, peelings, masks etc.)
- Special treatments, e.g. for acne
- Chemistry / Physics
- Make-up
- Hair removal
- Manicure
- Pedicure
- Massage techniques
Tip: In the yes-answer you will receive suitable help on the question: How do I find the right school and course?
Question 4:
Are you interested in this content, would you like to acquire knowledge in these subject areas?
Great! You can look forward to exciting and instructive hours in which you will broaden your knowledge horizon and skills - aspects that are in demand on the job market and increase your career and salary opportunities.
Note: As already mentioned, schools with a beautician course leading to a "school certificate" determine the course content independently.
It is therefore advisable to compare the offers with each other. You can find the following assistance on Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch:
- Evaluation toolwith numerous evaluations from former course participants on various courses.
- Guide "How to choose the right training provider": Here you will find, among other things, a checklist with points that you can use to compare the schools with each other. You can download the guide here.
If you are only partially interested in the content of the beautician training course, take a look at other training and further education courses in related areas. You may find a course that suits you better.
For example:
- Eyebrow styling (cert.)
- Relaxation coach (cert.)
- Nutrition consultant / Nutrition trainer / Nutrition trainer (certified)
- Color therapist (certified)
- Foot care (cert.)
- Foot reflexology (certified)
- Health consultant (certified)
- Fashion (cert.)
- Nail designer (certified)
- Natural cosmetician (certified)
- Pedicure (Cert.)
- Permanent make-up (cert.)
- Reflexology (certified)
- Stylist (Cert.)
- Make-up artist Make-up artist (certified)
Obviously the typical subject areas of beautician training are not your thing. Take a look at other training courses instead. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a wide range of options.
Costs and financing of further training
The costs for training as a beautician are determined independently by the schools. They therefore differ from school to school and from offer to offer (e.g. basic course and intensive course).
Calculate the following costs for a part-time basic training course lasting six months:
- Course feesBetween CHF 5,370 and CHF 9,000, which usually includes the examination fee.
- Some providers requireExtra costsfor teaching materials, training documents, etc.
Please contact the provider of your choice directly for information on possible extra costs.
Question 5:
Are you able to pay for the course?
Great! Here's another tip: If you are able to pay the full amount in advance, ask the school of your choice whether they offer a special discount for full payment in advance.
Information on financial support options from the employer, federal government, canton, foundations or through loans from the Education Promotion FoundationEducaSwissyou will receive in ourGuide "How to finance your further training properly".
Most schools allow you to pay the course costs in installments. Most schools charge a small surcharge for payment in installments.
Ask your employer whether they will contribute to the costs.
Perhaps there is someone in your private circle who will support your further education project with a loan. A bank or credit institution may also support you with an educational loan. You will be able to repay some of the borrowed funds immediately after the professional examination with the federal contribution.
Information on financial support options from the employer, federal government, canton, foundations or through loans from the Education Promotion FoundationEducaSwissyou will receive in ourGuide "How to finance your further training properly".
Information on financial support for temporary workers from "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, can be found athere.
Most schools allow you to pay the course costs in installments. Most schools charge a small surcharge for payment in installments.
Ask your employer whether they will contribute to the costs.
Perhaps there is someone in your private circle who will support your further education project with a loan. A bank or credit institution may also support you with an educational loan. You will be able to repay some of the borrowed funds immediately after the professional examination with the federal contribution.
Information on financial support options from the employer, federal government, canton, foundations or through loans from the Education Promotion FoundationEducaSwissyou will receive in ourGuide "How to finance your further training properly".
Information on financial support for temporary workers from "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, can be found athere.
Duration of study, training options, teaching format and learning effort
- Cosmetician training is generally designed to be part-time.
- The duration of training courses to become a beautician (certified) varies greatly and depends on the provider and the course offered: As a rule, courses last between 3 and 6 months.
- The beautician courses are available at different levels and in different formats: for beginners and advanced as well as the classic and intensive formats.
- The timetables are put together independently by the schools. This means that there can also be differences from school to school. Lessons often take place on one or two weekdays per week or on two evenings per week. Depending on the school, they may also take place on selected Saturdays.
- The course generally takes place as face-to-face teaching. Depending on the situation, theory lessons can be offered in an online format (e.g. online lessons or hybrid lessons).
- Thanks to the extra-occupational concept of the course, you can apply and deepen the learning material in practice straight away. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week as a precaution.
Question 6:
Can you find the time for lessons and self-study?
Great!
Tip for self-study: It often helps to organize yourself into study groups. It also makes sense to stick with it right from the start and schedule fixed study times. Good learning effects can be achieved by creating summaries and mind maps. Flashcard systems help with memorization. There are many tools and ideas to make learning easier. You can obtain the guide "The personal learning strategy" free of charge if you register with a school via Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch.
If you don't have that much time, get in touch with the providers and clarify whether you can possibly complete the course over more than three semesters.
If you still don't have enough time, check whether you can create space for yourself elsewhere. Perhaps someone close to you can take on certain tasks for you for the duration of your training?
Degree, diploma and title
If you fulfill the conditions of the respective provider for taking the exam (usually at least 80% of the lessons attended), then you may take the final exam.
At most schools, it consists of a theoretical part and a practical part. In the practical part, for example, you have to carry out a facial treatment on a person and/or apply make-up to a person. The experts not only pay attention to correct execution, but also to points such as time, accuracy, creativity and customer service.
Diploma and title
Successful graduates receive a school-specific certificate / diploma from the respective school: "Cosmetician [name of school] (cert.)"
Question 7:
Do you have the confidence to pass the beautician training course?
Great!
Here are some general success factors on the way to a new training qualification:
- Regular attendance of lessons
- Actively contribute your questions, don't leave anything half-understood in the room!
- Interest in the topic and active participation in class
- Detailed preparation and follow-up of the lesson material at home
- Committed cooperation in group work, processing of case studies, etc.
- Participation in learning groups for regular exchange
- Intensive exam preparation: practise exam situations and gain exam experience, e.g. in simulation exams.
If you are unsure, we recommend that you attend an information event on this course.
Arrange a personal consultation appointment with the school of your choice. Explain your interest and your concerns and see how your counterpart reacts to which points and what they recommend.
Ask the school management about support options. Also consider whether you would like other support, for example from learning therapists or coaches, autogenic or mental training.
Here are some general success factors on the way to a new training qualification:
- Regular attendance of lessons
- Actively contribute your questions, don't leave anything half-understood in the room!
- Interest in the topic and active participation in class
- Detailed preparation and follow-up of the lesson material at home
- Committed cooperation in group work, processing of case studies, etc.
- Participation in learning groups for regular exchange
- Intensive exam preparation: practise exam situations and gain exam experience, e.g. in simulation exams.
If you are not at all confident about passing the final exam but would like to complete the training, it is best to arrange a personal consultation appointment with a school. Explain your interest and your concerns and see how your counterpart reacts to which points and what they recommend.
Ask the school of your choice whether there are any support options for you.
Also consider whether you would like other support, for example from learning therapists or coaches, autogenic or mental training. You can find suitable offers here:
No, the beautician certificate does not suit you. What a pity? - Maybe not, because there are so many other options for further training. One or the other will certainly suit you much better.
Check which other further training courses are suitable for you. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
Cosmetician training is probably not the right further training goal for you.
Are you surprised or disappointed? Perhaps take the test again and see where your ideas or possibilities deviate from the ideal job. Perhaps this will point you in the direction of more suitable further training.
Then see which other further training courses interest you. ToEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
This is a half-hearted result: the beautician training course does not seem ideal for you. Or is it perhaps the form of training that doesn't suit you or doesn't fit well in terms of organization?
See which other further training courses are suitable for you. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
The beautician training course is not ideal for you - or is it?
If you are unsure, it is best to attend the providers' information events. There you can find out more about further training and discuss your personal options and questions directly with the specialist representatives present.
Directly to the schools:
This training seems to suit you.
As a next step, we recommend that you attend an information event at suitable schools and obtain details of the exact costs and dates.
Directly to the schools:
This course seems to be made for you!
The best thing to do now is to attend information events at the schools you are interested in and find out everything you need to know about the specific content, costs and dates.
Directly to the schools:
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin