1. About these terms

These Recognition of Prior Learning Terms and Conditions apply where a learner applies to Cosmetic College for Recognition of Prior Learning, also known as RPL, in connection with a regulated qualification, training programme or assessment route.

These terms apply in addition to Cosmetic College’s general course booking terms, learner agreement, payment terms, complaints policy, appeals policy, privacy policy and any awarding body requirements applicable to the relevant qualification.

Where there is any conflict between these RPL terms and the requirements of the awarding body, regulator or qualification specification, the awarding body, regulator or qualification requirements will take priority.

2. What Recognition of Prior Learning means

Recognition of Prior Learning is a formal process through which a learner’s existing training, qualifications, professional experience, case studies, treatment records and other supporting evidence may be reviewed against the requirements of a qualification.

RPL may allow a learner to avoid repeating certain elements of formative training where they can demonstrate that they already have the required knowledge, understanding, skills and experience.

RPL is not a shortcut to certification. It does not automatically remove the need to complete theory exams, assignments, observed practical assessments, portfolio evidence, case studies, internal quality assurance, external quality assurance or any other qualification requirements.

3. No guarantee of approval

Submission of an RPL enquiry, application, evidence checklist, certificates, case studies or payment of an evidence review fee does not guarantee that RPL will be approved.

Cosmetic College may approve, partially approve, decline or request further evidence before making a decision.

A learner will not be accepted onto an RPL route until Cosmetic College has reviewed the learner’s evidence and confirmed the outcome in writing.

4. Eligibility to apply

Eligibility requirements vary by qualification.

A learner may be required to provide evidence of prior regulated qualifications, CPD training, treatment experience, insurance history, case studies, consultation records, consent forms, before and after photographs, treatment notes and any other evidence reasonably required by Cosmetic College or the awarding body.

Meeting the minimum eligibility criteria to apply does not guarantee that the learner’s evidence will be accepted for RPL.

5. Evidence standards

All evidence submitted for RPL must be:

Valid: relevant to the qualification, unit, learning outcome or assessment requirement being claimed.
Authentic: genuinely completed by the learner and not copied, purchased, fabricated, altered or misrepresented.
Sufficient: detailed enough to demonstrate competence, knowledge and experience against the relevant requirements.
Current: recent enough, or supported by continuing professional practice, to demonstrate that the learner remains competent.
Reliable: capable of being checked, verified or reviewed by Cosmetic College, assessors, internal quality assurers, external quality assurers or the awarding body.

Cosmetic College may refuse evidence that is incomplete, unclear, unverifiable, inconsistent, outdated, unsafe, unreliable or not mapped sufficiently to the relevant qualification requirements.

6. Learner responsibility for evidence

The learner is responsible for submitting complete, accurate and truthful evidence.

The learner must ensure that all certificates, case studies, treatment records, consultation forms, consent forms, insurance documents and supporting materials are genuine and lawfully obtained.

The learner must not submit evidence belonging to another person or evidence that falsely represents their own training, experience or treatment history.

Where client information is included in case studies or treatment records, the learner is responsible for ensuring that the information is shared lawfully and appropriately. Client names and identifying information should be anonymised unless there is a lawful basis and appropriate permission to share that information.

Cosmetic College may request original documents, additional verification, references, insurer confirmation, awarding body confirmation or further supporting information where required.

7. False, misleading or unsafe evidence

If Cosmetic College reasonably believes that a learner has submitted false, misleading, fabricated, altered, unsafe or non-authentic evidence, Cosmetic College may:

Reject the RPL application.
Withdraw the learner from the RPL route.
Decline enrolment.
Cancel any offer made.
Notify the awarding body where required.
Record the matter on the learner file.
Refuse a refund where permitted by law and by these terms.

Take any further action reasonably required to protect qualification integrity, learner safety, client safety, awarding body compliance and Cosmetic College’s legal or regulatory position.

8. RPL application stages

The RPL process will usually involve the following stages:

Initial eligibility enquiry.
Initial review by admissions or an appropriate member of staff.
Request for evidence.
Payment of an evidence review fee, where applicable.
Formal review of evidence by Cosmetic College.
Identification of any evidence gaps.
Confirmation of outcome.
Issue of an RPL route offer, gap training requirement or standard route recommendation.
Enrolment, where the learner chooses to proceed.

Cosmetic College may change or adapt this process where required by the qualification, awarding body, evidence submitted or circumstances of the learner’s application.

9. Possible RPL outcomes

Following review, Cosmetic College may issue one of the following outcomes:

Approved for RPL route: the learner’s evidence is sufficient to proceed on the relevant RPL route, subject to completion of any remaining qualification requirements.
Approved with gaps: the learner may proceed, but must complete additional evidence, assessment, training, case studies, observed practice or other requirements.
Further evidence required: the application cannot progress until the learner provides additional information or documents.
Not approved for RPL: the learner’s evidence does not meet the required standard for RPL.
Standard route recommended: the learner is advised to complete the full training route instead of the RPL route.

The outcome will be based on the evidence submitted, the qualification requirements, awarding body expectations and Cosmetic College’s academic and quality assurance judgement.

10. What RPL may reduce

Where approved, RPL may reduce or remove the need to attend certain formative training sessions that duplicate learning, skills or experience the learner can already evidence.

RPL may reduce training attendance, training duration or training fees, depending on the qualification and evidence accepted.

RPL does not automatically reduce assessment, quality assurance, registration, certification, administration, portfolio, examination, practical assessment or awarding body requirements.

11. What RPL does not remove

Unless confirmed in writing by Cosmetic College, RPL does not remove the requirement to complete:

Qualification registration.
Learner induction.
Theory learning.
Assignments.
Portfolio work.
Case studies.
Treatment evidence.
Internal assessments.
External theory examinations.
Observed practical assessments.
Summative assessments.
Internal quality assurance.
External quality assurance.
Any additional requirements set by the awarding body.
Any gap training or further evidence identified during review.

12. Qualification and awarding body requirements

All RPL decisions are subject to the relevant qualification specification, assessment strategy, awarding body policy, centre approval requirements and quality assurance requirements.

Cosmetic College may be required to amend, withdraw or revise an RPL decision if the awarding body, external quality assurer, regulator or qualification specification requires this.

Cosmetic College cannot guarantee that an awarding body, insurer, employer, regulator, local authority or third party will accept a learner’s prior training, RPL evidence, qualification outcome or scope of practice in a particular way.

13. Fees

RPL may involve one or more of the following fees:

Initial eligibility check fee.
Formal evidence review fee.
Course enrolment fee.
Assessment fee.
Awarding body registration fee.
Examination fee.
Practical assessment fee.
Gap training fee.
Additional evidence review fee.
Resubmission fee.
The applicable fees will be confirmed before payment is taken.

Unless stated otherwise, any RPL route price is subject to evidence review and may change if further evidence, training, assessment or gap work is required.

14. Evidence review fee

Where Cosmetic College charges an evidence review fee, this fee covers the administrative, academic and quality assurance work required to review the learner’s submitted evidence.

The evidence review fee does not guarantee approval onto an RPL route.

Where stated in writing, Cosmetic College may deduct the evidence review fee from the learner’s final course fee if the learner is approved and proceeds to enrolment.

If the learner does not proceed, is not approved, fails to submit sufficient evidence, or does not respond to requests for further information, the evidence review fee may not be refundable once the review work has started, except where required by law.

15. Cancellation rights and refunds

Where a learner purchases an RPL service online, by telephone or away from Cosmetic College’s premises, the learner may have statutory cancellation rights.

If the learner asks Cosmetic College to begin the evidence review, assessment preparation, administration or other services during any statutory cancellation period, the learner agrees that Cosmetic College may begin providing those services immediately.

If the learner cancels after work has started, Cosmetic College may charge for the work already carried out up to the date of cancellation, where permitted by law.

If the evidence review has been fully completed during the cancellation period at the learner’s express request and with the learner’s acknowledgement, the learner may lose the right to a refund for that completed service, where permitted by law.

Refunds for course enrolment, training, assessment, registration, examination or gap training will be dealt with under Cosmetic College’s general course booking terms, unless specific RPL terms have been agreed in writing.

Nothing in these terms affects the learner’s statutory rights.

16. Timescales

Cosmetic College will use reasonable efforts to review RPL enquiries and evidence within the timescales stated on the website or in written communication.

Timescales may be extended where:
Evidence is incomplete.
Documents are unclear or require verification.
Further information is required.
The application is complex.
Staff, assessor, IQA or awarding body input is required.
The learner delays in responding.
External quality assurance or awarding body confirmation is required.

Cosmetic College is not responsible for delays caused by incomplete evidence, third-party verification, awarding body processing times or learner non-response.

17. Evidence gaps and additional requirements

If Cosmetic College identifies evidence gaps, the learner may be required to complete additional work before progressing.

This may include further case studies, written work, practical training, observed treatments, tutor support, portfolio completion, examinations, practical assessments or other evidence.

Additional work may incur additional fees.

A learner is not entitled to certification until all qualification and assessment requirements have been completed and confirmed.

18. Practical assessment and competence

Where practical assessment is required, the learner must demonstrate safe, competent and professional practice to the required standard.

Prior experience does not guarantee successful practical assessment.

If a learner does not meet the required practical standard, Cosmetic College may require further training, reassessment, additional evidence or withdrawal from the assessment route.

Cosmetic College may stop or refuse a practical assessment if there are concerns about safety, competence, professionalism, client welfare, treatment suitability or compliance.

19. Insurance, prescribing and legal practice requirements

RPL approval, course enrolment or qualification achievement does not guarantee that the learner will be able to obtain insurance, prescribe or administer prescription-only medicines, register with a local authority, join a professional register, gain employment or practise independently.

The learner is responsible for ensuring that they meet all legal, insurance, professional, local authority, prescribing, medical oversight and scope of practice requirements relevant to the treatments they intend to offer.

Cosmetic College does not provide legal, insurance, medical, prescribing or regulatory advice.

20. Learner conduct

Learners applying for RPL must behave honestly, professionally and respectfully throughout the process.

Cosmetic College may decline or terminate an RPL application where a learner behaves abusively, dishonestly, aggressively, disruptively or in a way that undermines the integrity of the qualification or the safety of staff, learners, models or clients.

21. Data protection and confidentiality

Cosmetic College will process learner data and submitted evidence in accordance with its privacy policy and applicable data protection law.

RPL evidence may include personal data and, in some cases, special category data. Learners must ensure that any third-party or client information included in evidence is shared lawfully.

Cosmetic College may share relevant learner evidence, records and assessment documentation with assessors, internal quality assurers, external quality assurers, awarding bodies, regulators or professional advisers where necessary for the administration, quality assurance, audit, compliance or defence of the RPL process.

22. Retention of evidence

Cosmetic College may retain RPL applications, evidence checklists, assessment decisions, review notes, learner communications and supporting documents for audit, quality assurance, awarding body, legal, regulatory or complaints purposes.

Retention periods may vary depending on the qualification, awarding body requirements and legal obligations.

23. Appeals and complaints

If a learner disagrees with an RPL decision, they may request clarification or submit an appeal in accordance with Cosmetic College’s appeals process.

An appeal must be based on grounds such as procedural error, unreasonable assessment of evidence or relevant evidence not being considered.

A learner cannot appeal simply because they disagree with an academic, assessor or quality assurance judgement where the correct process has been followed.

Complaints about service, communication or administration should be raised through Cosmetic College’s complaints procedure.

24. Changes to RPL routes

Cosmetic College may amend, suspend or withdraw an RPL route where required due to changes in qualification specifications, awarding body requirements, centre approval, assessment strategy, regulation, insurance expectations, safety considerations, staffing, operational capacity or business requirements.

Where a learner has already paid for an RPL review or enrolled onto an RPL route, Cosmetic College will take reasonable steps to explain any changes and provide an appropriate alternative, revised route, credit, refund or next step where required by law and by the applicable booking terms.

25. Marketing and website information

Information on Cosmetic College’s website, adverts, social media, emails or marketing materials is for general guidance only.

Any references to reduced training, accelerated routes, fast-track options, RPL eligibility or example prices are subject to individual evidence review and written confirmation.

The learner must not rely on general website information as confirmation that they have been approved for RPL.

Only written confirmation issued by Cosmetic College after evidence review will confirm the learner’s RPL outcome.

26. Final certification

Final certification is subject to:

Successful completion of all required assessment components.
Submission and acceptance of all required evidence.
Payment of all outstanding fees.
Internal quality assurance.
External quality assurance, where applicable.
Awarding body processing and approval.
Compliance with all qualification and centre requirements.

Cosmetic College cannot guarantee a specific certificate issue date, as certification may depend on awarding body processing times and quality assurance requirements.

27. Limitation

Cosmetic College will provide the RPL review and any related training or assessment services with reasonable care and skill.

Cosmetic College is not responsible for losses arising from:

The learner submitting incomplete, false or inadequate evidence.
The learner failing to meet qualification or assessment requirements.
The learner failing to obtain insurance or third-party recognition.
Awarding body decisions or processing delays outside Cosmetic College’s control.
The learner misunderstanding the difference between RPL approval, assessment completion and final certification.

Nothing in these terms limits or excludes liability where it would be unlawful to do so.

28. Agreement

By submitting an RPL enquiry, paying an RPL evidence review fee, uploading evidence or enrolling onto an RPL route, the learner confirms that they have read, understood and accepted these Recognition of Prior Learning Terms and Conditions.

The learner also confirms that all evidence submitted is accurate, authentic and their own, and that they understand RPL is subject to review and is not guaranteed.