Are Online Beauty Courses Worth It? Online, Virtual and Blended Training Explained

Before the pandemic, we saw a flutter of online courses pop up across different areas of the industry, but in person training was still widely favoured. Delegates would often travel miles to reach a good educator.

When the pandemic hit and our industry shut down, educators and academies everywhere took to the online world and embraced its potential, some would say without fully thinking through the consequences of this way of learning. Therapists and technicians jumped at the chance to learn during the lockdowns and upskill ready for reopening.

It is safe to say online learning boomed over 2020 and 2021. For a large number of skills, it was temporarily accepted by accreditation companies and awarding bodies alike.

How the picture has changed since lockdown

In 2022 the picture shifted again. Many accreditation and awarding bodies returned to their usual ways of delivering, with a few continuing to support online courses for certain skills or under set guidelines. Delegates began to return to face to face training.

Since then, some insurance companies have refused to cover online only training, or courses that aren't on their list of recommended providers. So before you buy any course, it is worth checking what your own insurer will accept.

Regulation is moving too. In England, the Health and Care Act 2022 gave the government the power to introduce a licensing scheme for non surgical cosmetic procedures. A House of Commons Library briefing notes that the 2023 consultation on the scheme received 11,848 responses, and in August 2025 the government confirmed a green, amber and red approach based on risk. Even treatments such as LED and IPL are expected to sit in the lowest risk tier, with practitioners needing to meet agreed standards. At the time of writing, the scheme is not yet in force and no start date has been announced. Rules differ from country to country, so wherever you work, check what your local regulations require from your training.

Should I still buy an online course?

To answer that, start with the outcome you want. What exactly do you need from this course? How will you benefit from it? And will it be enough to satisfy your insurance, and to give you the practical ability to treat clients safely?

The way a course is delivered makes a huge difference. A study of MIT and Harvard's online courses, reported by Inside Higher Ed, found that just 3.13% of all participants completed their course in 2017 to 2018, compared with 46% of learners on the paid, verified track. Commitment, support and structure change everything, and that is just as true for beauty training.

In my opinion, there are three main types of course that get grouped together as online learning.

1. Online courses

Online means no interaction with a tutor at all during the learning, beyond an automated welcome or log in email. The content is usually a video to watch or a manual to download and read, sometimes with a link to a YouTube demonstration, which may not even be the tutor's own work.

This type of course is fantastic for extending and refining skills you already have. You should already be qualified and competent in the foundations, and the course teaches a refinement you can keep practising until you are confident. It should also be something that won't harm a client's safety, health or results if you get it slightly wrong while learning. Nail art, advanced nail enhancement techniques, lash mapping, competition work and add ons to facials are good examples.

Online should be the side dishes on your menu, not the main meal.

2. Virtual courses

Virtual learning gives you live interaction with the tutor over the internet, usually through Zoom or a similar video call, where the camera can clearly show a demonstration of the skill. An overhead demo works well for nails, lashes and facial work, but it also relies on the tutor having the same clear view of each learner so they can give feedback.

It works best for skills enhancement courses where you are already competent in the main skill, or for delivering the theory before a practical day on site. Videos and manuals are often sent afterwards or hosted on a learning platform, and case studies are a common way to assess competency.

You get a level of interaction you simply don't get from a purely online course. You can ask questions, ask for steps to be repeated and, most importantly, get feedback on your work in real time. Virtual learning can really suit people who are time poor, or who feel anxious in a room full of other learners.

Again, it is not ideal for a skill that is brand new to you, or for advanced work where hand positioning is key and a tutor may need to physically adjust you for client safety.

3. Blended learning

Blended learning is a mix of the above, completed before face to face training takes place. It might be a virtual call with a theory manual, or an online platform with videos, links and downloads to work through before your practical sessions.

The aim is to deliver the foundation knowledge before the hands on part of the course, so you can break the learning into bite sized chunks and then consolidate it during the practical training. It still won't suit every type of learner, and how well it works depends on how it is delivered and how interactive the platform is, but it has real scope to work brilliantly.

Top tips for buying online beauty courses

• Decide on the outcome you need. If it is a brand new skill and foundation learning, it should take place in person. If it is a skills enhancement, is this a way you enjoy learning?
• Read your insurance policy. Does it say how your training must be delivered? Will it accept some online or virtual learning?
• Ask how the learning will take place if the provider doesn't make it clear. Videos? A live call? YouTube clips? A manual? Face to face?
• Most importantly, ask how you will be assessed. How will your competence be verified? A case study, a theory or practical exam, a video case study, or an in person assessment?
• Check who accredits or awards the certificate. When does that body allow video assessment? Does it only accept online or virtual courses for certain skills, and is the provider working within its guidelines? Our guide to accreditation and qualifications explains the difference.
• Check the endorsement is current. If a provider lets its accreditation lapse, the course could be deemed invalid.
• Ask about the refund policy in case the course turns out to be unsuitable.
• Look for a complaints procedure and an appeals procedure in case you are unhappy with the course or disagree with an assessment result.
• Find out what support is in place if you struggle. Is there a deadline for case studies, and a cost to extend it?
• Ask about community support, such as a private group or chat for learners.
• Check what equipment you need and whether the recommended suppliers are reputable.

It is also worth checking the person behind the course. Our guide to researching who is teaching you covers what to look for in an educator, and teaching qualifications for beauty educators explains what their credentials mean.

In summary

Online courses, in all their forms, clearly have positives. When they are marketed with integrity and offer the same quality as in person training, they can be a great asset to our industry and to your business.

While training remains largely unregulated, it is down to us as buyers to shop wisely, ask deeper questions and press for the answers we need, so we get the right course for us, delivered in the right way.

Substandard courses will keep appearing as long as people keep buying them. So let's educate our colleagues who are new to the industry and help them find great training, and show our clients that we invest in professional courses with real outcomes that protect their health and the quality of our work.

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