FAQs

You can find your lifetime registration number on any certificate that you have been awarded. If you do not know your number then you can contact customer support who will be happy to supply you with your registration number. The number is useful for requesting a replacement or e-certificate, or to ensure accurate registration should you change centres.

+44 (0) 2380 684500

You should also have a Unique Leaner Number (ULN) if you are studying in England, Wales or Northern Ireland or a Scottish Candidate Number (SCN) in Scotland. Where ULN/SCN numbers are supplied at registration point by centres, VTCT will print them on your certificate.

Further information about ULNs can be found here

Further information about SCNs can be found here

A portfolio is a record of supporting information to confirm that you have the skills necessary to complete your qualification. Not all VTCT qualifications require you to build a portfolio and your centre will advise you. It can either be built in the form of hardcopy evidence or as an e-portfolio.

At the end of your course, your portfolio will become your property** to show to potential employers.

**Whilst a portfolio is generally the property of the learner, there may be circumstances that prevent a centre being able to release it at the time of a learner requesting it. This is a matter for you (the learner) and your centre of study to discuss.

You can find out how to get a replacement certificate on our certification page.

You will need to provide VTCT with the following:

• Your original certificate(s) and unit transcript(s)**
• A signed covering letter explaining why you are requesting the change of name
  • the letter must include a return address
  • the letter must include a contact number so that VTCT can call you to take payment (there is a £37.50 fee per certificate for this service). If you have an email address please also include this so that you can be contacted should VTCT not be able contact you by phone.
  • ** If you have lost the original certificate(s) please indicate this within the covering letter

A certified copy of your identification (do not send originals):

• Passport
• Birth certificate
• Driving licence

A certified copy of the legal documentation confirming the name change (do not send originals):

• Marriage / civil partnership certificate
• Decree absolute
• Change of name deed or deed poll
• Public announcement
• Police report (change of name due to personal safety)

How do I get a copy of a document certified?

The above documentation must be posted to us for the attention of the Processing Department (our address can be found at the very bottom of every page on our website), recorded delivery recommended. Once received VTCT will make contact with you to take payment. 

Where the above criteria has not been fully met, VTCT retain the right to refuse requests for name changes.

VTCT approves centres, colleges/private training providers, to offer our qualifications, but cannot advise which centres are running particular courses at any time.

To find out which centres are approved to offer a particular qualification:

1. Go to the Find a Qualification page
2. Locate the qualification you wish to study and select it
3. Click on the APPROVED CENTRES tab

To find out which centres are approved to offer VTCT qualification:

1. Go to the Find a place to study page
2. Use the search criteria to locate centres near you

Please contact centres directly to find out which courses they are currently running and to obtain further details such as cost and duration.

VTCT accredits centres to offer our qualifications. To find information on course costs you would need to contact an accredited centre directly.

To find out which centres are approved to offer a particular qualification:

1. Go to the Find a Qualification page
2. Locate the qualification you wish to study and select it
3. Click on the APPROVED CENTRES tab

To find out which centres are approved to offer VTCT qualification:

1. Go to the Find a place to study page
2. Use the search criteria to locate centres near you

If you have a learning difficulty, physical disability, health or other support need that may affect your learning, assessments or tests, your centre can make arrangements to support you and inform VTCT as necessary. It is important that you discuss any requirements you wish to declare with your centre on induction or at the start of your learning experience.

If you are practising on real clients in the workplace then adequate treatment liability insurance is essential. It is vital as a learner and also when you go on to practise that you have appropriate treatment liability insurance to cover you if you are working on clients. Your centre will usually have insurance to cover you in the workplace whilst you are training.

Learners are required to attend on specific occasions when required by VTCT External Quality Assurers (EQA). Learners are randomly selected for sampling by the EQA and these learners must attend the visit. Failure to attend the visit may result in certification being delayed and you may be required to attend the next EQA visit.

If you have been selected and cannot attend on the day specified please speak to your centre of study to discuss.

VTCT only retains learner addresses and postcodes when centres add them to registration files. The recording of postcodes at the time of registration helps us to check Unique Learner Numbers (ULNs) and names. It also helps us to be able to load your results to your national Personal Learning Record (PLR).You will only need to notify your current college or training centre if you change your address during your period of study to ensure your certificates are posted out correctly by the college/centre.

Yes you can, as long as you move to another VTCT approved centre that offers the course you are studying. You may need to negotiate any training fees and re-registration with your new college/centre.

VTCT accredits centres to offer our qualifications. To find information course durations you will need to contact an accredited centre directly.

To find out which centres are approved to offer a particular qualification:

1. Go to the Find a Qualification page
2. Locate the qualification you wish to study and select it
3. Click on the APPROVED CENTRES tab

To find out which centres are approved to offer VTCT qualification:

1. Go to the Find a place to study page
2. Use the search criteria to locate centres near you

Recognition of Prior Leaning (RPL) is a method of assessment that considers whether you can demonstrate that you can meet the assessment requirements for a unit in a qualification through knowledge, understanding or skills that you already possess and do not need to develop through a course of learning.

You may possess skills and knowledge that have not been acquired through formal learning, (e.g., through work experience and/or other related learning that has not been formally certificated). This means that you may be able to proceed directly to assessment without further study, using evidence from un-certificated learning.

You must speak with college/centre if you think the above may apply and they will advise you.

VTCT is the leading specialist awarding organisation in the UK for qualifications in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy with over 55 years’ experience of awarding qualifications both within the UK and Internationally. Two years ago VTCT acquired ITEC Awarding Organisation and ITEC branded qualifications are now awarded by VTCT. VTCT is officially recognised by Ofqual – Recognition Number: RN5198. Ofqual are the UK Office reporting directly to the UK Parliament for qualifications and regulation.

Each VTCT qualification bears a QAN number, which provides assurance of validity and authenticity and that it is on the RQF – Regulated Qualifications Framework. The UK regulatory framework articulates with the EQF – European Qualifications Framework for recognition of qualifications by international employers, governments and professional associations.

The European Union recognition of professional qualifications mapped to the EQF is enshrined in law through the Lisbon Recognition Agreement reference Article 13 Directive 2005/36/EC.

Further information of VTCT’s credibility as a UK and International Awarding Organisation and the validity of VTCT qualifications:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofqual/about#who-we-are – Confirmation that Ofqual are the UK Office reporting directly to the UK Parliament for qualifications and regulation

• https://www.gov.uk/check-awarding-body-recognised– Can independently check that VTCT is recognised by Ofqual

• https://register.ofqual.gov.uk/ – Can check recognition status of either a Qualification or an Organisation on the register

• https://register.ofqual.gov.uk/Search?category=Organisations&query=VTCT&status=Available%20to%20learners – Proof that VTCT is recognised. Recognition Number: RN5198

• Ecctis provides information and advice on qualifications worldwide.

• https://www.vtct.org.uk/europass/ Europass – VTCT branded qualifications have been aligned to the EQF, and we provide Europass Certificate Supplements for VTCT qualifications, which validates skills and qualifications across Europe for mobility and employability. Furthermore, we have market recognition with employers for our VTCT (iTEC) qualifications

We confirm that for all the qualifications being delivered Internationally, VTCT qualifications are Externally Quality Assured by us and meet with our assessment strategy, which is audited and regulated by Ofqual.

All our qualifications can be found on our website, bear the QAN number and provide detail of the learning hours and assessment requirements: http://www.itecworld.co.uk/find-a-qualification/

It is strongly recommended that you contact the Embassy or High Commission of your intended destination country, as they will be able to advise you about the transferability of qualifications and any other evidence which may be needed to work and to gain insurance.

Europass service

This is a service shared across Europe and is made up of five documents designed to help learners highlight their qualifications in an effective way to prospective employers and higher/further education providers across Europe. It is free and enables people to present their competences, skills and abilities in a clear, understandable way, removing the barriers sometimes faced when applying for jobs or continuing education abroad – https://www.vtct.org.uk/europass/

Once you have received your certificate, if you hold a VTCT Diploma (37 credits or above) or Certificate (13 to 36 credits) at Level 4 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland), Level 7 (Scotland), or Level 6 (Ireland) and the certificate was dated after 1st January 2012, you may put the appropriate format below after your name:

If you hold a Diploma (37 credits or above) or Certificate (13 to 36 credits) at Level 3 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland), Level 6 (Scotland), or Level 5 (Ireland), and received your certificate after 1st January 2012, you may put the appropriate format below after your name:

If you hold a Diploma (37 credits or above) or Certificate (13 to 36 credits) at Level 2 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland), Level 5 (Scotland), or Level 4 (Ireland) you may put the appropriate format below after your name:

Yes. Please visit our Badges page for further information.

Certificates:

If you believe that your college/centre of study made an error when they registered your details with VTCT then you need to contact your college/centre so that they can inform VTCT.  You will need to provide your certificate and unit transcript, and a copy of your ID to your college/centre of study to support your request as VTCT will require these (e.g. Passport, Driving Licence, Birth Certificate).

If you have changed your name since receiving your certificate, please see the above FAQ I have changed my name, can I have a replacement certificate in my new name?

E-test or other documents:

Please speak with your college/centre of study so that they can inform VTCT. You will likely need to provide a copy of your ID to support your request (e.g. Passport, Driving Licence, Birth Certificate).

Once claimed by your centre of study, VTCT generally dispatch certificates to the centre of study within 20 working days. The college or private training provider that you trained at will arrange for the certificate to either be sent on to you or they may require you to collect it. Please speak with your college or private training provider to clarify the arrangements for you to receive your certificate.

If you have completed any units within your qualification, your college/private training provider can, for some qualifications, apply for certificates of unit credit to recognise your competence. You may incur additional costs for this service with your college/private training provider. This does not apply to all qualifications, e.g. where the assessment of the units is by means of a synoptic or overarching assessment.

You can write, marking the envelope ‘Confidential’, direct to the VTCT Chief Academic Officer. We guarantee that we will not disclose to your centre the source of your communication.

Your training centre is the organisation that is responsible for delivering your course and who you have signed up to and paid money to. If you have a complaint against your centre you must take this up with centre through their complaints process. In some cases, once you have exhausted your centre’s complaints procedure you may be able to escalate your complaint to VTCT, the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman (SPSO) and/or the Regulators, further information on when you can escalate your complaint and our service level agreements please see VTCT’s Complaints Policy.

If you are having trouble obtaining a complaints policy from your centre you can contact VTCT who will contact the centre to request a response – qualityassurance@vtct.org.uk

Notify your exam Invigilator immediately. Your Invigilator will refer the matter immediately to the Exams Officer.

If you are registered as a learner to a VTCT centre that has closed down and or gone into administration and you believe you are an abandoned learner, please contact us using the links below for support and guidance.

Customer Support  and/or  Quality Assurance

You may also find our Learner Charter helpful.

Complete and submit the ‘Become a VTCT Training Provider’ and ‘Centre Approval Application’ on the Become a Centre page. You will then be contacted by a Business Development Manager to discuss your plans (during busy periods this may be up to 4 weeks). Following successful discussions, you will be invited to complete and submit a full application form, available from your Business Development Manager.

You can find details of our current approval fee on our website on the become a training provider page.

The time taken to undertake an approval can vary significantly however an average enquiry should take 6 – 8 weeks to get from the point of application submission to final confirmation.

VTCT and ITEC dual approved qualifications assessed via continual assessment require that you employ an appropriately qualified Assessor and Internal Quality Assurer (these roles cannot be held by the same member of staff).

In addition another team member will be required to fulfil the role of Exam Invigilator, so as to maintain the impartiality of the Assessor and IQA.

You can find details of the qualifications required for Assessors and IQA’s in the VTCT Centre Qualifications Requirements document.

VTCT and ITEC Dual award qualifications assessed by Final Examination have no requirement for an appropriately qualified IQA. Assessor education and experience requirements can be found IQA’s in the VTCT Centre Qualifications Requirements document.

No, the Assessor and Internal Quality Assurer roles involve providing oversight and validation of the judgements made by the other. Therefore these roles need to be undertaken by separate individuals.

Not all roles need to be nominated at point of application but approval cannot be achieved until all staff are approved.

You can see our recommended equipment requirements in our VCT Centre Qualification Requirements document.

No, prospective centres must not advertise or promote qualifications until they have received confirmation of approval from VTCT. This is because there is no guarantee that approval will be given.

VTCT qualifications are designed for in person teaching and assessment. This makes teaching our qualifications remotely impractical. The only exception to this is our theoretical anatomy and physiology qualifications.

VTCT requires that Centres maintain a separation of the theory teaching area and the commercial or trading space of your premises.

You can find further details of premises requirements in section 1.1 in the VTCT Centre Qualifications Requirements document.

Unfortunately not. As our VTCT centre approval process requires our team to visit and evaluate the centre premises. If your premises are not permanent this would possible as a fair assessment cannot be made.

On submission of your become a centre enquiry form, a dedicated account manager will be assigned to review your enquiry and collaborate with you to support you through your application.

No, we require that Teaching Assessors and Internal Quality Assurance staff be professionally competent and hold regulated qualifications appropriate to the qualification.

You can find more information on the professional and educational perquisites for staff in our VTCT Centre Requirements document.

VTCT is unable to support or provide any expertise or assistance with the process of securing government funding.

VTCT do have some resources available to assist approved centres to produce their schemes of work.

Available resources can be accessed by approved centres via our Centre Management Portal (Linx2). Access to the Linx2 portal will be provided post approval.

In addition many of our Hair/Barbering and Beauty Qualifications have learning Pathways available in the Pivot Point learning platform. You can find more information on our Pivot Point page

VTCT does not provide or recommend specific text books for our qualifications.

However, you can find some teaching and learning resources in our Centre Management Portal (Linx2). Access to the Linx2 portal will be provided post approval.

LAB is a complete online learning system that helps enhance the delivery of iTEC and VTCT Level 2/3 Hairdressing and Barbering qualifications and Level 2/3 Beauty Therapy qualifications.

Tutors can use LAB to deliver Pivot Point resources which are designed to accommodate different learning styles and add their personally-curated library of resources. This allows the best of both worlds, which will create a dynamic and diverse collection of teaching tools.

Tutors can organise educational content to support their schemes of work through customised learning paths, in a virtually paper-free environment. When doing so, there is full accessibility to all teaching and learning resources in the same sequence you present them. LAB can also tracks learner progress through built-in formative assessments and reporting features.

All our centres are assigned a dedicated account manager who will not only support you through the application process, but will also be a focused point of contact for your future engagement with VTCT.

We maintain comprehensive guides for all our systems and processes and can provide bespoke training for centre personal on these as required.