Prepare your RPL portfolio/RPL evidence guides
Hairdressing & Beauty
Beauty Therapist (SHB50115) — RPL Evidence Portfolio Guide
Diploma of Beauty Therapy
Evidence portfolio guide for beauty therapists seeking RPL for SHB50115.
Last updated 8 September 2026
Who this guide is for
- Beauty therapists working in salons, day spas or clinics
- Overseas-trained therapists seeking Australian recognition
- Therapists performing facials, body treatments, waxing and specialised services
1. Visual evidence guidelines (photos & videos)
To satisfy independent RTO assessment criteria, submit 15 photos of demonstrations on consenting models and 15 video clips (about 45 seconds each).
Use consenting models or colleagues — never paying clients without written consent. Blur faces and remove names and phone numbers from every file.
Category A — Facial and skin treatments
Mandatory- Skin analysis, consultation and contraindication checks
- Cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, mask and massage routines
- Electrical facial equipment (galvanic, high frequency, microdermabrasion)
- Treatment plans and home-care programs
Category B — Body, hair removal and specialised services
Mandatory- Body massage, wraps, scrubs or spa treatments
- Waxing, tinting, lash and brow services
- Day, evening and occasion makeup
- Manicure, pedicure and nail treatments where offered
Category C — Clinic operations, safety and client care
Mandatory- Client records, consent forms and treatment histories
- Equipment sterilisation and infection control
- Stock management, retail recommendations and product knowledge
- Bookings, payments and client follow-up
These task counts are our standard preparation guidance. Your assessing RTO may set different requirements — we confirm them before you start collecting.
2. Acceptable vs unacceptable visual evidence
Acceptable evidence (do this)
Unacceptable evidence (avoid this)
3. Supporting documents checklist
- Photo identification (passport or Australian driver licence)
- Résumé listing every beauty role, salon or clinic, and dates
- Employment reference from a salon owner or clinic manager confirming services
- Payslips, tax records or PAYG summaries
- Overseas beauty qualifications or transcripts with translations if needed
- Redacted treatment records or service logs
- Infection control, product or equipment training certificates
4. How to organise and submit your portfolio
1. Plan demonstrations across categories
Cover facials, body treatments and clinic operations over several sessions.
2. Protect client privacy
Blur faces and remove names and phone numbers from every file.
3. Add a signed treatment log
A supervisor-signed monthly record verifies the services you performed.
4. Name files by task
Use a pattern like CategoryA_Facial_Microdermabrasion_01.mp4 for each file.
5. Submit and attend follow-up
Expect a live demonstration or interview on contraindications and skin science.
5. Why portfolios get sent back
- Missing demonstrations from the facial, body or clinic operations categories
- Client images without documented consent
- No supervisor reference confirming your treatments
- Videos not showing technique, or omitting consultation and aftercare
- Hygiene or contraindication failures visible
- Documents that cannot be linked to the claimed employment period
6. Questions we get asked
Can I use models instead of clients?
Yes. Consenting models, colleagues or yourself are preferred. The guide is designed to avoid paying-client photography entirely.
What if my salon does not have electrical equipment?
Show the equipment you do use and discuss gaps with us early — a short gap-training or supervised demonstration may be arranged.
Is Certificate III required first?
Not always. Many candidates are recognised at diploma level directly where their experience covers the full scope.
Who assesses the portfolio?
An independent registered training organisation. Skills Connect prepares and reviews your evidence; we do not issue the qualification.
Not sure your evidence is strong enough?
Take the free skills check, or book a call and we'll review what you already have before you spend weeks collecting the wrong things.
See the full Beauty Therapist pathway page for qualification, licence and visa outcomes.
Skills Connect (EDUTEK PTY LTD) prepares and reviews RPL evidence. Assessment and certification are carried out by an independent registered training organisation or assessing authority.
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