CO₂ Fractional Laser CPD Training Course
Advanced laser training for qualified practitioners, 100% online at your own pace, taught on the MED-870+ FOCXEL fractional CO₂ system which we supply, and for which we are the UK Responsible Person registered with the MHRA. Your hardback manual and workbook is posted to you free of charge (UK).
What this course is
This is advanced laser training in fractional CO₂ treatment, for qualified practitioners who already work with lasers. It is taught on the MED-870+ FOCXEL fractional CO₂ system, using both the fractional scanning head and the UltraPulse surgical head. We supply the system, and we are the UK Responsible Person registered with the MHRA for it. The theory is written for first-time CO₂ users, and teaching follows the operator and clinical user manual for the system, so the settings and safety framework are those you will work from in clinic.
It covers skin rejuvenation, fine lines and texture, acne marks, scars, stretch marks, pigmentation, and benign lesion removal with the UltraPulse surgical head. It covers facial and body skin treatments and lesion work, and includes a step-by-step tutorial on removing milia from the eyelid with the pen handpiece. It does not otherwise cover treatment around the eyes, or intimate and gynaecological applications. This is cosmetic training, and results vary between individuals.
What you get for your price
- Online lessons on the academy for the 12 hours 15 minutes of online study, covering all eleven sections and the legislation appendix
- Narrated videos with diagrams and downloadable slide decks
- A filmed step-by-step CO₂ treatment tutorial
- An auto-marked check-your-knowledge quiz in each lesson, and written activities
- Your hardback student manual and workbook, posted to you free of charge (UK)
- A pack of client form templates to adapt for your own clinic, including consent forms
- Your final assessment answered online, with feedback by email
- Accredited CPD certificate (16 credits), available on the course page once every lesson and quiz is complete, and a CPD reflective record
- An optional free practical half day with a trainer demonstration and treatments on three models, for students whose insurer requires face-to-face training
How the course works, step by step
- Enrol. Buy the course and it is added to your account. Your hardback manual and workbook is posted to you free of charge (UK).
- Study online (12 hours 15 minutes). Work through the online lessons at your own pace, using your workbook.
- Answer your assessment online. Part A (24 multiple choice questions, pass mark 100%) is marked automatically and the correct answers to any you miss are emailed to you to write in your manual. Part B (43 short written answers) is read with the help of an AI assistant, with feedback by email.
- Get your certificate. It is available on the course page once every lesson and quiz is complete. There is no trainer or assessor sign-off.
- Optional: if your insurer requires face-to-face training, email us after the theory and we will arrange the free practical half day at our Southampton academy.
That makes 16 hours as accredited, and 16 CPD credits.
What the course covers
| Section | What you learn |
|---|---|
| 1. What a CO₂ laser is | The 10,600 nm wavelength, history, ablative and non-ablative lasers, what fractional CO₂ can and cannot treat |
| 2. How it works on skin | Absorption by water, the three zones made by a spot, fractional versus full-field, healing and collagen, and how each setting changes the effect |
| 3. Skin, healing and skin types | Skin structure, how it heals after laser, and how skin type affects risk |
| 4. Your teaching device | The MED-870+ FOCXEL screen and controls, the fractional scanning head, the three spacers and the UltraPulse head |
| 5. Laser safety | Eyewear, the Laser Controlled Area, plume management, fire safety and daily checks |
| 6. Consultation and contraindications | Who is suitable, contraindications, deferral periods, consent and record keeping |
| 7. Settings | The parameters for each indication, and how to adjust them safely for the individual |
| 8. Step-by-step treatment | Protocols for rejuvenation, scars, stretch marks, pigmentation and lesion removal |
| 9. Sessions and evidence | Intervals between sessions and the clinical evidence |
| 10. Aftercare and complications | The healing timeline, aftercare, side effects and when to refer |
| 11. Law and practice | Professional practice, registration and licensing, plus the legislation appendix |
| Assessment and records | Your online final assessment, client forms and the optional practical record |
What you learn in the online lessons
The technology and how the laser interacts with skin
- The 10,600 nm CO₂ wavelength and why it is absorbed by water in the tissue
- Vaporisation, carbonisation and coagulation, and how the skin’s repair response drives collagen remodelling
- Fractional treatment compared with full field resurfacing: coverage, healing time, comfort and risk
- Class 4 classification under BS EN 60825-1, the RF metal tube source
Reading and setting the parameters
- Power, point energy, point dwell, point distance, scan interval, scan times, scan shape and scan mode
- How each setting changes depth and thermal effect, and what goes wrong when one is set too high
- Working out fluence, and why a 0.15 mm spot produces a high fluence even at modest energies
- The seven scan shapes, and drawing custom shapes for irregular scars and lesions
Laser safety and the controlled area
- Protective eyewear to BS EN 207 marked for 10,600 nm, and why tinted lenses or loupes offer no protection
- Total blockout corneal shields for the client, and additional protection of surrounding tissue
- Nominal ocular hazard distance, maximum permissible exposure, and the role of your Laser Protection Adviser
- Setting up a Laser Controlled Area: signage, access control, door interlock, key switch and emergency stop
- Surgical plume management: capture at the treatment site, ULPA and carbon filtration, FFP3 respiratory protection and filter disposal
- Electrical requirements, earthing, a dedicated supply, and moving the device safely
Consultation, assessment and contraindications
- Skin assessment and treatment planning by indication and skin type
- Contraindications including pregnancy and breastfeeding, photosensitivity and photosensitising medication, bleeding disorders, active infection or inflammation, a history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring, and recent retinoid use
- Deferral periods after peels or resurfacing, after sunburn, and after botulinum toxin or dermal filler
- Consent, realistic expectations, clinical photography and record keeping
Your teaching device: the treatment heads and the three spacers
- The fractional scanning head and the UltraPulse surgical head on the MED-870+ FOCXEL
- Tall, mid and short spacers, and how spacer choice sets non ablative, micro ablative or deep ablative depth
- Fitting, changing, cleaning and caring for each head, and matching the head to the correct mode on the touchscreen
- Test firing on a thermal target card, patch testing, and the principle of starting low
Treatment protocols
- Skin rejuvenation, fine lines, pores and texture
- Acne marks and acne pitting
- Surgical, burn and traumatic scars
- Stretch marks (striae)
- Pigmentation and freckling
- Lesion work with the UltraPulse head: skin tags, milia, verrucae and other benign growths, with control of minor bleeding
- The manufacturer’s recommended starting parameters for each indication, and how to adjust them safely for the individual client
- Clinical endpoints: what controlled ablation looks like, how to clear carbonised residue, and when to stop
Maintenance, aftercare and managing adverse responses
- Checks before every session: aiming beam alignment, test fire on a thermal card, interlock, emergency stop and eyewear condition
- Cleaning and disinfecting treatment heads, lens care with lens paper and 99.9% alcohol, and keeping a maintenance and calibration log
- The healing timeline: erythema, micro crusting, scab separation and pigment recovery
- Barrier repair and hydration, infection prevention, and strict photoprotection
- Recognising and managing prolonged erythema, post treatment infection, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and hypertrophic scarring
- Review appointments, when to refer, and how to document an adverse response
Before and on your optional practical day
- Finish all of the online theory first.
- Wear practical, comfortable clothing with no loose jewellery, and remove rings and watches before practical work.
- Bring your manual, your Core of Knowledge laser safety certificate and your laser and light qualification certificate.
- Your date is arranged with you by email once you have finished the theory.
Entry requirements, insurance and scope of practice
- A regulated Level 3 qualification (usually Anatomy and Physiology), or equivalent
- An up-to-date accredited Core of Knowledge laser safety certificate
- A regulated laser and light qualification at Level 4 as a minimum (Level 5 or above preferred)
- Insurance that covers fractional CO₂ treatment, before you treat clients. Check with your insurer before you book
This course is for qualified laser practitioners only. The device is a Class 4 medical laser and may be operated only by trained, qualified practitioners working within the scope of their training, insurance and local authority licensing. We accept Recognition of Prior Learning for the laser and light qualification, but not in place of a current Core of Knowledge certificate. Completing the course does not on its own make you competent to treat every client.
The optional free practical half day
The practical half day is free of charge and is only for students whose insurer requires face-to-face training. It is not part of your assessment and has no effect on your certificate. It runs from 09:30 to 13:30 at 26 The Avenue, Southampton SO17 1XL, which is 3 hours 45 minutes of guided practical learning after a 15 minute break, and you arrange it by emailing info@skintasticaesthetics.com after you have finished the online theory. Skintastic provides the models. Each is patch tested before treatment and signs a model disclaimer. The day is taught on the MED-870+ FOCXEL, using both the fractional scanning head and the UltraPulse surgical head.
The programme is:
- 09:30 Welcome and housekeeping (15 minutes)
- 09:45 Trainer demonstration: machine set-up and checks, thermal card test and patch test, fractional treatment and UltraPulse lesion removal (20 minutes)
- 10:05 Model 1: patch test, then fractional skin rejuvenation (50 minutes)
- 10:55 Break (15 minutes)
- 11:10 Model 2: patch test, then UltraPulse benign lesion removal (45 minutes)
- 11:55 Model 3: patch test, then fractional treatment of scarring or skin texture (50 minutes)
- 12:45 Debrief (45 minutes)
- 13:30 Finish
You treat three models: fractional skin rejuvenation, benign lesion removal with the UltraPulse head, and fractional treatment of scarring or skin texture. The practical checklists and model record sets are an optional practical record that you fill in yourself, and there is no sign-off. The CPD reflective record is a portfolio document that you complete yourself. Nobody can promise that an insurer will accept the practical day, so check with yours.
Assessment and your certificate
Everything is answered online. Part A has 24 multiple choice questions, with a pass mark of 100%. It is marked automatically, and the correct answers to any you miss are emailed to you so that you can write them in the Notes section of your manual. Part B has 43 short written answers, all in your own words and read with the help of an AI assistant, and you receive feedback by email. Each lesson also has an auto-marked check-your-knowledge quiz. A “not yet” is not a failure: review the lesson and answer again.
Your accredited CPD certificate is available on the course page once every lesson and quiz is complete. There is no trainer or assessor sign-off. This is accredited CPD, not a regulated qualification, and it carries no qualification level. It shows that you have completed the course; you remain responsible for being competent and insured before you treat clients.
CPD accreditation and how to verify it
This course is accredited by The CPD Group, activity #1017976, for 16 CPD credits. Skintastic is a CPD Group approved provider (number 777800). Check this course on The CPD Register (activity #1017976) The provider listing is here.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course you should be able to:
- Explain in simple terms how a CO₂ fractional laser works
- Identify each treatment head and spacer and say what it is used for
- Describe the main controls and how they affect the treatment
- Select appropriate starting parameters for common treatments
- Carry out the key laser safety checks and describe the controlled area
- List the main contraindications
Price, payment options and enrolling
The price is £799. Pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal. Klarna and Clearpay may also be offered at checkout, subject to status. After you buy, the course is added to your account on our online academy, where you complete the course.
Cancellations, refunds, access time and rescheduling
This is a summary. The full wording is in our terms and conditions, which apply to your order.
- Payment. The course price is taken in full when you order.
- Online access. Your access to the online lessons lasts 12 months from the date of purchase.
- Cancelling. At checkout you tick a box to start your online access straight away, and by ticking it you give up the 14 day right to cancel the online materials. Refunds, where they apply, go back to the original payment method within 14 days of us receiving your written cancellation (an email is enough).
- Optional free practical half day. The practical half day is free of charge and optional. You may move your date once, free of charge, if you tell us in writing at least 14 days before it. If you tell us later than that, or do not attend, the day is treated as used, and a further date may be offered at our discretion. Moving or missing the practical day does not affect your course or your certificate.
- After the cancellation period. Once the 14 days have ended, courses are non refundable, including if you change your mind, cannot attend, fail an assessment, or find that your insurer will not accept the course. Your statutory rights are not affected.
- Your certificate. It is issued once you have completed every required part of the course and passed the assessments.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the CO₂ fractional laser course cost?
The price is £799. You can pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal, and Klarna and Clearpay may also be offered at checkout, subject to status.
Is the course really 100% online?
Yes. All the teaching and all of the assessment are done online, at your own pace. Your hardback manual and workbook is posted to you free of charge (UK). The practical half day is optional and free, and is only for students whose insurer requires face-to-face training.
How long does the course take?
It is accredited for 16 hours in total: 12 hours 15 minutes of online study, plus the optional free practical half day at our Southampton academy, which is 3 hours 45 minutes of guided practical learning from 09:30 to 13:30 after a 15 minute break.
Can I study at my own pace?
Yes. The online course is done in your own time, at your own pace. If you choose the optional practical half day, finish the online theory first and we will arrange your date with you by email.
What qualifications do I need first?
You need a regulated Level 3 qualification (usually Anatomy and Physiology) or equivalent, a current Core of Knowledge laser safety certificate, and a regulated laser and light qualification at Level 4 as a minimum (Level 5 or above preferred). If you are unsure whether yours qualifies, contact us before you book. We accept Recognition of Prior Learning for the laser and light qualification, but not in place of a current Core of Knowledge certificate.
Is the course accredited and how do I check?
Yes. It is CPD accredited by The CPD Group, activity #1017976, worth 16 CPD credits. You can check it yourself on The CPD Register using the link in the CPD accreditation section above. It is accredited CPD, not a regulated qualification, and it does not carry a qualification level.
Will I get a certificate and when?
Yes. You receive your accredited CPD certificate on the course page once every lesson and quiz is complete. There is no trainer or assessor sign-off. You also complete a CPD reflective record for your portfolio.
Is the hardback manual and workbook really free?
Yes. Your hardback student manual and workbook is posted to you free of charge (UK) when you enrol. You use it as your workbook while you study online, and you write the correct answers to any Part A questions you miss in its Notes section.
Will my insurer cover me?
We cannot promise that. You need insurance that covers fractional CO₂ treatment specifically before you treat clients, so check with your insurer before you book. Some insurers require face-to-face training, which is what the optional free practical half day is for, but nobody can promise that an insurer will accept it, so check with yours.
Do I need to own a CO₂ laser?
No. The course teaches on the MED-870+ FOCXEL fractional CO₂ system, using both the fractional scanning head and the UltraPulse surgical head. You do need training on the laser you will use in your own clinic.
Can I use any CO₂ laser after the course?
This is a general fractional CO₂ course, so the science, safety, consultation, technique and aftercare apply to any fractional CO₂ laser. The teaching device is one machine, and in your own clinic you must always follow the manufacturer’s manual for the laser you use.
Where is the optional practical half day and how do I arrange it?
The optional practical half day is at Skintastic Aesthetic Lasers Ltd, 26 The Avenue, Southampton SO17 1XL, from 09:30 to 13:30. Finish the online theory, then call 02381 946394 or email info@skintasticaesthetics.com to arrange your date. If you cannot get to Southampton, you can still finish the whole course online.
Who supplies the models?
If you attend the optional practical half day, Skintastic provides the models. Each is patch tested before treatment and signs a model disclaimer.
Does the course cover treatment around the eyes or intimate areas?
Only in part. It covers facial and body skin treatments and lesion work, and includes a step-by-step tutorial on removing milia from the eyelid with the pen handpiece. Other treatment around the eyes, and intimate and gynaecological treatments, are not covered, and need further advanced training, specific eye protection and insurance cover.
What support do I get?
You can contact us by phone or email at any point, and your feedback emails tell you what to review if an answer is not yet complete.
What if I do not pass first time?
A “not yet” is not a failure. Review the lesson and answer again. Part A can be retaken, and the correct answers to any question you miss are emailed to you. Written answers are read with the help of an AI assistant and you receive feedback by email saying what to review.
Can I get a refund?
Please read our terms and conditions, or contact us before you buy and we will answer your question.
What do I bring on the optional practical half day?
Bring your Core of Knowledge laser safety certificate and your laser and light qualification certificate, and your manual. Wear practical, comfortable clothing with no loose jewellery, and remove rings and watches before practical work.
How long do I have access to the online lessons?
Your access to the online lessons lasts 12 months from the date of purchase.
Can I cancel and get a refund?
You have 14 days to cancel, but the right to cancel the online materials is lost once your access starts and you have ticked the box at checkout to agree to that. Once the 14 days have ended, courses are non refundable. Refunds that apply are paid to the original payment method within 14 days of us receiving your written cancellation. Full details are in our terms and conditions.
What if I need to move my optional practical half day?
You may move your optional practical half day once, free of charge, if you tell us in writing at least 14 days before it. After that, or if you do not attend, the day is treated as used, and a further date may be offered at our discretion. This does not affect your course or your certificate.
Contact us
Skintastic Aesthetic Lasers Ltd, 26 The Avenue, Southampton SO17 1XL
Phone: 02381 946394
Email: info@skintasticaesthetics.com
