Do I need Certificate III first?

In practice yes. This one is written for hairdressers who already hold the trade and are leading others.

Only two core units - is that right?

Yes. The register sets just two and leaves the other nine to electives, so two people can hold this qualification and have studied very different things.

SHB40216 Certificate IV in Hairdressing

About this qualification

SHB40216 assumes you can already cut and colour. The two core units are about the next part — giving technical leadership to a team, and researching trends and putting them into your own work.

Everything else is elective, which is unusual. The register hands the shape of this qualification to you and your provider, so what it means in practice varies a lot between salons.

Eleven units: two core, nine elective.

Roles it maps to

Where this qualification leads, per the national register.

Senior Stylist Salon Educator Colour Technician Floor Manager

Where it sits

The hairdressing line, from the basin through to running the salon.

Certificate IISHB20216 Salon Assistant
Certificate IIISHB30416 Hairdressing
Certificate IV · you are hereSHB40216 Hairdressing
DiplomaSHB50216 Salon Management

What it covers

2Core units

9Elective units

Eleven units: two core plus nine electives — four from Group A, three from Group A or B, and two more from Group B, elsewhere in the SHB package, or another current package.

The 2 core units, required by everyone:

SHBHTLS001 Provide technical leadership to hairdressing teams
SHBHTLS002 Research and use hairdressing trends to advance creative work

For a full list of elective units, visit training.gov.au →

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Certificate III first?: In practice yes. This one is written for hairdressers who already hold the trade and are leading others.
Only two core units — is that right?: Yes. The register sets just two and leaves the other nine to electives, so two people can hold this qualification and have studied very different things.

Other registered providers

Filtered by where each provider is based, not where they can deliver.

NSW

TAFE NSWRTO 90003

Deliver and assess · NSW
WA

North Metropolitan TAFERTO 52786

Deliver and assess · WA
WA

South Regional TAFERTO 52790

Deliver and assess · WA
NSW

Skilled Select Academy (Aust) Pty LtdRTO 45128

Deliver and assess · National
SA

Clip Joint Academy of Hairdressing Pty Ltd as trustee for the Clip Joint Academy Unit TrustRTO 0186

Deliver and assess · SA
WA

School of Hairdressing Pty LtdRTO 1896

Deliver and assess · WA
VIC

Melbourne Institute of Nails & Beauty Pty LtdRTO 21851

Deliver and assess · National
VIC

Modern Communications Australia Pty. Ltd.RTO 21863

Deliver and assess · VIC
VIC

Melbourne College of Hairdressing Beauty Therapy & Natural Medicine Pty LtdRTO 21943

Deliver and assess · National
QLD

Academies Australasia Hair & Beauty Pty LtdRTO 32488

Deliver and assess · QLD
VIC

The Centre of Excellence Pty LtdRTO 3687

Deliver and assess · National
SA

Colour Cosmetica Academy Pty LtdRTO 40055

Deliver and assess · National
Find more providers

12 of 19 providers shown — search the register for the rest
training.gov.au →

More in Hairdressing and Beauty

Other qualifications in the SHB training package, nearest level first.

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Certificate IV in Hairdressing

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