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Key details

Course area
Hair and Beauty
Student types
16 - 18 coursesCourses for 19+ students
Course type
Full-time Further Education course
Course level
Level 2
Start date
Tuesday 1st September 2026
Location
Wheeler Gate 14-16 Wheeler Gate, Nottingham, NG1 2NB
Course code
Parent course code:C036109 Child course code: Q036110
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Course introduction

VRQ Level 2 in Barbering is a qualification that provides knowledge, understanding and core skills required to be a barber. This is a great course for anyone who wants a career in barbering. You will be taught all the basic skills to be able to have a lifelong career in this incredible industry.

You need to be highly motivated and demonstrate a keen interest in your chosen subject. The ideal candidate will be a good communicator and listener with excellent social skills, demonstrate a degree of creative skills and flair with a good personality and physical stamina.

Units include:

  • Advise and consult with clients
  • Shampoo, condition, and treat the hair and scalp
  • Develop and maintain effectiveness at work
  • Cut men's hair
  • Cut facial hair to shape using basic techniques
  • Dry and finish men's hair
  • Create basic outlines
  • Colour and lighten men's hair

Our barbering lecturers will offer you a wide range of expertise, guidance and support whilst delivering an interesting course. 100% commitment to our learners is our passion and sharing our industry experience is a huge enjoyment we will provide.

You will work in a commercial salon carrying out services/treatments on paying clients in addition to studying the underpinning knowledge required to pass the end of unit tests. Practical skills will be assessed when carrying out services on paying clients which will be mapped against the City and Guilds grading criteria of pass, merit, or distinction. 

A student trimming a client's beard using a cut throat razor

You will be encouraged to participate in a 30-hour work placement while you are studying.

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Course information

1 year

VRQ Level 2 Certificate in Barbering

You will need:

You’ll need 4 GCSEs at grades 9–3 (A*–D), including English and maths – one of English or Maths must be grade 9–4 (A*–C).

Functional Skills Level 1 can be used as equivalent to GCSE grade 3 (D) and Functional Skills Level 2 can be used as equivalent to GCSE grade 4 (C) or above.

Students aged 19+ without evidence of English and maths qualifications will complete an initial assessment. Results will need to reflect a grade of a 3 and 4 in English and maths.

All students must undertake and pass a practical dexterity test prior to enrolment to ensure you are suitable for this course.

If you are a progressing student, you must also have achieved 90% attendance and successfully completed and passed your previous course. Please speak to your tutor regarding your progression options. Offers of a place on the course are dependent on your qualifications and practical aptitude.

To achieve this qualification, you be assessed through a range of methods including practical observations on paying clients and oral questioning, in addition to online unit end tests and preparing a portfolio of evidence.

The practical assessments are graded Pass, Merit or Distinction with the online unit tests being a Pass or Fail.

There are a variety of progression routes open once the Level 2 barbering qualification has been achieved including:

  • NVQ Level 3 Barbering
  • VRQ Level 3 Diploma in Hairdressing for Colour Technicians

Kit will be provided and you will be expected to wear professional dress that is all black.

It is essential that you have access to a number of male clients to bring along to sessions to ensure a quality experience.

As part of your studies, you will be required to complete work experience to support the development of your skills and behaviours to enable you to be successful within the industry.

Please note: your timetable may include one late evening per week.

Students aged 16-18 do not have to pay tuition fees.

If you are aged 19 or over you may still be eligible for funding. Check out our Financial Help pages to find out more!

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss National, please visit our EU Settled Status scheme page for more information. 

Careers related to this course

Hairdressers and Barbers

Potential Earnings

£27,215.90

Average Earnings

£15,940.99

Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).

Pathways

Service Enterprises

People in these occupations provide a variety of services, including property and estate services, home care, hairstyling and beauty services, cleaning, and funeral services.

Skills

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
View more about this career

Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.

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