Our Beauty Therapy Courses Are the South Island’s Oldest Beauty Therapy Programmes
Our New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy course teaches you the basics on how to become a beauty therapist. This beauty course includes facials, manicures, waxing, eye treatments, makeup, body massage, spray tanning, and even more. After that, you can continue on into the New Zealand Diploma in Beauty Therapy course to gain the final skills and knowledge you need to be employable in this industry. This programme is NZQA-approved, leading to an NZQA qualification, the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy, so you can rest assured your qualification will be recognised.
You can also enrol for the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy and New Zealand Diploma in Beauty Therapy at the same time through our New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy and New Zealand Diploma in Beauty Therapy.
Choose one of these quick links or scroll down for more information.

Quick Links about the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy Course
Quick Facts about the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy Course
2026 Programme Fees for the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy Course
New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy (Level 4) [NZ3444] [123802-2]
Student loans available
Extra expenses apply
* Fees for 2026 confirmed 15 August 2025. See Special Notes for info.
More Facts about the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy Course
Level
4
Credits
120
Prospectus Code
NZ3444
Duration
40 weeks plus holidays
Location
Christchurch
Attendance
Full-time
Face-to-face and self-directed study
Inside class
20 hours per week
Outside class
10+ hours per week
Ākonga / Students
per class
12
Intakes
February
July
Approvals
NZQA-Approved
ITEC-Approved
Approved for loans
What You’ll Learn in the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy Course
This details of this programme are:
| Programme Name | Level | PC Code | NZQA Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy | 4 | NZ3444 | 123802-2 |
Overall, you will learn these subjects in the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy course:
What You’ll Learn in the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy (Level 4) [NZ3444]
Professional Standards
- Client care and communication
- Hygiene and sterilisation
- Professionalism
- Items and events relating to accidents
- Care of electrical equipment
Consultation
- Consultation before the treatment
- Making a treatment plan
- After the treatment
Manicure and Pedicure
- Contraindications to manicure
- Manicure products and tools
- Both manicures and pedicures
Skin Care and Facials
- Facial contraindications
- Contraindications to both basic electricals
- Facial cosmetic products
- Manual facial treatments
- Basic facial electrical treatments
Eye Treatments
- Contraindications to eye treatments
- Eye products
- Enhancing both eyebrows and eyelashes
Makeup
- Contraindications to makeup
- Makeup and cosmetics
- Make-up services
Waxing
- Contraindications to waxing
- Waxing products
- Waxing treatments
Swedish Massage
- Contraindications to massage
- Massage products
- Swedish body massages
Body Wraps and Exfoliation Treatments
- Contraindications to both body wraps and exfoliations
- Body wrap products
- Both body wraps and exfoliation treatments
Spray Tanning
- Contraindications to spray tanning
- Spray tanning products
- Spray tanning treatments
Anatomy and Physiology
- Human anatomy and physiology for beauty therapy
- Skin anatomy and physiology
- Nail anatomy and physiology
- Hair anatomy and physiology
Electricity and Basic Physics
- Electricity and basic physics
Basic Beauty Nutrition
- Basic nutritional advice for beauty
Reception and Client Sales
- Reception services and skills
- Selling to clients and transaction services
Business Awareness
- Helping run a small beauty business
Want to know more about the components and subjects in the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy programme?
You can learn about component names, codes, outcomes, credits and levels by also downloading the Courses in the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy Programme fact sheet.
You will need the most updated version of Adobe Acrobat Reader or a similar PDF reader installed in order to view the file.
Alternate Download Link
Entry Requirements for the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy Course
All applicants must:
- Have successfully achieved:
- the National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) (Level 1) or an equivalent qualification, or
- an NZQA-approved qualification or an equivalent qualification at a higher level, or
- If 20 years old or older and without any qualifications, show evidence of the ability to successfully achieve and succeed in the programme, and
- Communicate effectively in all areas of English to a suitable and appropriate level.
Ākonga a Aotearoa / domestic students must:
- Be at least 16 years old by the programme’s start date.
International students must:
- Be at least 18 years old by the programme’s start date
- Meet the English language requirements set forth by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)
We reserve the right to allow special entry to an ākonga / student where she demonstrates an extraordinary ability which compensates for a deficiency in one or more of the areas above. Our programmes are selected entry programmes, so applicants who demonstrate a strong record of academic achievement (for example, NCEA Level 3 versus NCEA Level 1) may rank higher in the selection process. If your originals are not in English, you will need to have a certified translator translate the document into English for your application.
Ākonga / Students with Medical Conditions
- You may need to provide medical diagnosis and medical clearance to undertake study with us to ensure your health and safety.
- You must have and maintain a good standard of health so you meet the attendance criteria.
- You may need to supply a model for treatments you are unable to be a model for.
Ākonga / Students with Learning Conditions
- You may need to provide us with any written reports on your learning conditions from a qualified professional to help us help you during the course.
- You may need help from a specialist tutor outside of class.
Ākonga a Aotearoa / Domestic Students Who Speak English as a Second Language
- You may need to provide evidence of suitability for the programme through adequate use and understanding of English.
Further Information on Entry Requirements
International students must also meet the English language requirements.
You can find more information on our entry requirements on our Entry Criteria page in the Enrolment section of our Web site.
Recognised Qualifications Available from the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy Course
The National School of Aesthetics Qualifications
You can gain up to one qualification when you successfully complete your New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy course.
When you successfully complete all the requirements of the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy (Level 4) [NZ3444] (123802) programme, you will gain*:
- New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy (Level 4) [NZ3444]
* We generally issue this qualification at graduation at the end of the diploma programme if you are taking both programmes.
Optional International Qualifications
You can sit international examinations also. These are extra expenses so you cannot use a student loan to pay for them. You may need to complete further study and work.
You can gain these qualifications when you successfully complete your international examinations:
- ITEC Diploma for Beauty Specialists
Your Options after the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy Course
Ākonga / students who gain the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy (Level 4) [NZ3444] have various options after they graduate, including:
Employment Options
- Junior beauty therapist in a clinic
- Pharmacy counter
Employment Options with Further Study and Experience
- Cruise ship beauty therapist
- Product company representative
- Brand manager
- Account manager
- Clinic manager
- Clinic owner
- Beauty therapy tutor
Further Study Options
Further Study Options We Can Offer You
- New Zealand Certificate in Nail Technology (Level 4) [NZ3443]
- New Zealand Diploma in Beauty Therapy (Level 5) [NZ3445]
Further Study Options at Other Providers
- New Zealand Certificate in Spa Therapy (Level 5) [NZ3457]
- New Zealand Diploma in Wellness and Relaxation Massage (Level 5) [NZ2740]
- New Zealand Certificate in Business (Introduction to Small Business) (Level 3) [NZ2454]
- New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching (Level 5) [NZ2993]
- Further professional development in beauty therapy subjects
Dates, Times, Costs, and More Details about the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy Course
2026
We are not accepting applications for 2026 programmes until the dates listed below.
Please note:
- You can apply for both the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy and the New Zealand Diploma in Beauty Therapy at the same time.
- We can offer you both programmes at once so you can fast track your career and complete both the certificate and diploma in 18 months.
July 2026
Starts
20 Jul 2026
Finishes
18 June 2027
Attendance
Monday through Friday
9 AM to 1 PM every day
Domestic Fees
$12,447* NZD
International Fees
$24,560* NZD
Classes
2
Applications for the July 2026 intake open 1 March 2026.
See Special Notes for more information.
Ākonga a Aotearoa / domestic students may be eligible for student loans and allowances.
Special Notes about the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy
- All prices are in New Zealand dollars.
- All prices include 15% GST.
- See Application and Enrolment Dates for further information. You should apply for your course as soon as enrolment opens to avoid disappointment.
- We need at least 8 ākonga / students to be enrolled 2 weeks before the course starts in order to proceed with it.
- * 2026 programme fees are estimated at the moment based on the proposal by the Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills via the Annual Maximum Fee Movement (AMFM) to increase fees 6.0% from 2025 prices.
- * 2026 programme fees were confirmed by the Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills on 15 August 2025 via the Annual Maximum Fee Movement (AMFM) increase from 6.0% from 2025 prices.
- All ākonga / students: This is a selected entry programme. You must pay a $150 non-refundable successful application fee when you enrol. Your student loan or the Fees Free scheme will not pay your successful application fee, so they will not pay it back to you. Therefore, the non-refundable successful application fee is a charge outside of your programme fees and extra expenses.
- International Students: Please see the International Students section.
- International students must pay all their fees when they enrol.
- The National School of Aesthetics reserves the right to alter or change details, prices, dates, et cetera, on the courses at the school whenever changes are needed.
- This information was correct when we published it (02/2026).
- Extra expenses apply, and most must be paid for before you start your course.
- Payment plans are not available.

