Level 5 Diploma in Tattoo Removal (RQF)
Focus Awards · Qualification number 610/0564/2
Our most advanced regulated qualification. Advanced skin science, investigative consultation and the safe delivery of laser and non-laser tattoo removal, assessed by portfolio rather than by exam.
- Level 5
- 46 credits
- 342 guided learning hours
- 460 total qualification time
- Portfolio assessed
- Age 16+
£2,499
Delivered at our Southampton academy. A £999 upgrade route is available with a machine purchase.
New to laser? Start with the package and save 10%.
If you are new to laser, you will need Core of Knowledge laser safety training alongside this diploma. If you do not yet meet the entry requirement, the Level 3 Award in Understanding Human Anatomy and Physiology is one way to meet it. Booked together as the Tattoo Removal Start Up Package the three come to £2,787.30 instead of £3,097.
- Approved Focus Awards centre
- Regulated by Ofqual on the RQF
- Portfolio assessed, no written exam
- Taught in Southampton
- Established 2011
The qualification details on this page, including the level, credits and hours, can be checked on the Ofqual register using the qualification number above.
What this qualification is
An advanced, nationally regulated qualification for practitioners who want to specialise in tattoo removal properly rather than on a short course.
It develops the relevant anatomy and physiology and health and safety knowledge, full client consultation and advanced skin assessment, and the safe delivery of laser and non-laser tattoo removal treatments.
At 342 guided learning hours and 460 total qualification time, this is a genuine commitment. It is a regulated qualification that insurers and licensing officers can verify on the Ofqual register.
Nationally regulated
Awarded by Focus Awards and regulated by Ofqual on the Regulated Qualifications Framework. It carries qualification number 610/0564/2, which anyone can look up free on the public register.
Portfolio assessed
Internally assessed through a portfolio of evidence, including advanced consultation and practical treatment. There are no external written examinations. Available in England.
Delivered by us
Taught at our Southampton academy by an approved Focus Awards centre, with a retired senior nurse as Internal Quality Assurer and a certificated Laser Protection Adviser behind the laser safety content.
Entry requirements
There are three ways in. You need one of the following, not all three.
A Level 3 Beauty Therapy qualification
The most common route. A Level 3 Diploma in Beauty Therapy or equivalent professional qualification.
A Level 3 Award in Understanding Human Anatomy and Physiology
If you do not hold it, we deliver it. It is a regulated qualification in its own right, 8 credits and 70 guided learning hours.
Occupational competence in tattooing
If you tattoo professionally, your existing occupational competence can be the route in. Talk to us and we will tell you honestly whether it will satisfy the centre.
You do not need the Level 4 Laser and IPL qualification before this one. It is a separate qualification, useful in its own right and required by some insurers and councils, but it is not a step on the way to the Level 5.
Also worth knowing
- Learners should be aged 16 or over
- The centre may set additional entry criteria where appropriate, and entry is ultimately at the centre's discretion
- We would rather talk it through with you before you enrol than take a deposit and find the fit is wrong
The units you will complete
A total of 46 credits is required: 31 credits from the three mandatory units, and 15 credits from one optional unit that you choose.
Mandatory units, all three required
| Unit title | Unit reference | Level | Credits | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Skin Science | H/618/5348 | 4 | 9 | 65 |
| Aesthetics Practice Core Knowledge | D/618/5347 | 4 | 12 | 92 |
| Provide investigative consultation and advanced skin assessment | D/617/9967 | 4 | 10 | 75 |
Optional units, choose one
| Unit title | Unit reference | Level | Credits | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laser Tattoo Removal | Y/650/1761 | 5 | 15 | 110 |
| Non-Laser Tattoo Removal | A/650/1762 | 5 | 15 | 110 |
Successful learners are awarded the Focus Awards Level 5 Diploma in Tattoo Removal (RQF).
Learning outcomes
By the end of the diploma you will be able to:
- Understand advanced skin science of facial aesthetics, and explain the physiology of skin conditions.
- Understand the work of medical and non-medical aesthetic practitioners, and the legislation and regulations for non-surgical aesthetic practice.
- Understand the basics of microbiology, pathology, biochemistry and infection control.
- Understand consultation and informed consent, and essential anatomy and physiology.
- Understand and conduct advanced skin assessments and investigative consultations, including skin types and conditions.
- Understand treatments to fade or remove tattoos safely, and the anatomy, physiology and pathology involved.
- Provide treatments to fade or remove tattoos safely.
Duration and delivery
The diploma carries 342 guided learning hours and 460 hours of total qualification time. The taught element runs over four days at our Southampton academy, covering theory, patch testing and supervised treatments on models, followed by assessment and portfolio building. You then complete your portfolio using a separate workbook for each unit, with tutorials normally every 4 to 8 weeks to check your progress and offer support.
How the assessment works
The diploma is internally assessed through a portfolio of evidence, with no external written examination. Knowledge is assessed through written answers in your workbooks. Laser tattoo removal must be observed at least five times to show consistency over time, with before and after photographs taken with written consent. You also complete five supervised clinical case studies, each with a medical history, before and after photographs, a description of the tattoo, and the technique and treatment parameters used. Work is internally quality assured and externally quality assured by Focus Awards.
Insurance
Insurers typically expect manufacturer specific and independent Core of Knowledge training, a risk assessment supported by a Laser Protection Adviser, and current Local Rules. Check your own insurer’s requirements before you treat.
The £999 upgrade route
If you are buying a laser from us as well as training, this qualification costs considerably less.
Every machine we supply comes with Laser Core of Knowledge and CPD training in each treatment the machine performs. That training is CPD certificated, which is a real and useful thing but is not the same as a regulated qualification.
If you want the regulated qualification instead, you can upgrade the tattoo removal element of that included training to this Level 5 Diploma for £999 including VAT. The £2,499 above is the price of the Diploma taken on its own.
Where it can take you
Focus Awards lists these as the natural progression routes from the Level 5 Diploma.
More immediately, it gives you a regulated qualification to show insurers who ask for one rather than a certificate of attendance, and something a licensing officer can check on the Ofqual register.
Do not take our word for it
We would rather you verified this than trusted a logo on a certificate.
- Go to the Ofqual public register and search the qualification number 610/0564/2
- You will see the awarding organisation, the level, the credits and whether the qualification is still being awarded
- Approved centre status is granted by the awarding organisation rather than by Ofqual, so if you want to confirm we are an approved Focus Awards centre, ask Focus Awards directly
- If a provider cannot give you a qualification number, it is not a regulated qualification, whatever the certificate looks like
Questions students ask us most
Do I need Level 4 Laser and IPL first?
No. Level 4 is a separate qualification and is not a prerequisite for this one. The entry requirement is a Level 3 Beauty Therapy qualification, a Level 3 Award in Understanding Human Anatomy and Physiology, or occupational competence in tattooing.
Is there a written exam?
No. The qualification is internally assessed through a portfolio of evidence, including advanced consultation and practical treatment. There are no external written examinations.
How long does it take?
It carries 342 guided learning hours and a total qualification time of 460 hours. How long that takes in calendar terms depends on how you fit it around your work, and we will be honest with you about the workload before you enrol.
What is the difference between this and a CPD tattoo removal course?
A CPD certificate evidences that training was delivered and independently reviewed. A regulated qualification evidences competence assessed against a national standard by an approved centre and externally quality assured by the awarding organisation, and anyone can verify it on the Ofqual register. Both are legitimate. They are not the same thing, and insurers and licensing officers increasingly ask which one you hold.
Do I have to buy a machine from you?
No. The qualification stands on its own at £2,499. The £999 upgrade is simply what it costs if you are buying a laser from us at the same time.
Can I do the non-laser route instead?
Yes. The optional unit is your choice: Laser Tattoo Removal or Non-Laser Tattoo Removal, both 15 credits at Level 5.
Talk to us before you enrol
This is a large qualification and we would always rather talk it through with you first. Message us and we will be honest about the workload and the timescale before you commit.
Ask about the Level 3 if you do not hold one, and about the £999 upgrade if a machine is part of your plan.
SkinTastic Aesthetics Southampton
26 The Avenue
Southampton
SO17 1XL
Telephone: 02381 946394
