Education in aesthetics: how to become a successful aesthetic trainer, examiner and assessor

Many universities offer courses in aesthetic medicine, such as Queen Mary University of London, UK, and The University of Manchester, UK

Aesthetics is a practical subject, similar to many other healthcare specialties. Within the specialty, new skills are often gained through attending learning experiences led by aesthetic sector educators, such as clinical trainers. Many practitioners often see trainer, examiner and assessor roles as part of their natural clinical progression within the specialty, often akin to becoming a specialist or consultant within a medical specialty.

It is easy to think that a trainer can just turn up and dispense their knowledge and expertise to learners. While there are some brilliant trainers out there, we have all attended courses or sessions that were less effective. If you consider why this is, then you will conclude that there are many reasons for this variation. Furthermore, trainers may find themselves acting in an assessor or examiner capacity. There are specific regulatory requirements around who can be an assessor or examiner. It is essential that assessors separate themselves from their teaching role to remain impartial. These roles require additional skills and attributes—experience and knowledge alone are not enough.