What this course is and who it is for
Core of Knowledge is the underpinning physics and safety training that insurers, Laser Protection Advisers, local authorities and most practical laser and IPL courses expect you to hold before you use a device. This course is delivered entirely online, so you can work through it at your own pace and in your own time.
It is for all staff who use Class 3B or Class 4 lasers, or non-laser light sources such as IPL and LED, in medical, dental or aesthetic practice. It is safety training, not a treatment qualification, and it does not make you competent on a particular machine. You will also need device training from your supplier and a treatment qualification for the procedure. It is accredited CPD, not a regulated qualification, and carries no qualification level.
What you get for your price
- Online lessons covering the whole Core of Knowledge syllabus, with videos, diagrams, slide decks and quizzes
- A student manual and workbook as your study text
- A written assessment marked by an assessor
- Templates for your own clinic: local rules, risk assessment, registers, logs, checklists, audit and incident report
- A client forms pack
- An accredited CPD certificate and a CPD reflective record for your portfolio
- Assessor support by email or telephone
How the course works, step by step
- Buy the course online. It is added to your account on the academy.
- Study the lessons in order and answer the questions at the end of each section (about 2 hours 20 minutes).
- Complete the assessment: multiple choice questions, short written answers and a scenario (about 40 minutes).
- Your assessor marks it and tells you the outcome.
- Once all three parts are passed, your certificate is issued. The course is 3 hours in total.
What the course covers
| Section | What you learn |
|---|---|
| Light, lasers and intense light sources | Wavelength and the spectrum, key terms such as fluence and pulse duration, how lasers and IPL work, and what makes light laser light |
| The hazards: eyes, skin and classification | Eye and skin hazards, laser classes and IPL risk groups, Maximum Permissible Exposure and protective eyewear |
| Controlling the hazards in your treatment room | The controlled area, risk assessment, non-beam hazards, and equipment management and quality assurance |
| How laser and intense light affect tissue | Chromophores, selective photothermolysis, thermal relaxation, tissue effects and recognising adverse effects |
| Safety management, the law and standards | Registration and licensing, the roles of the LPA and LPS, local rules, standards, and what to do after an accident |
| Legislation and official references | An appendix setting out the laws named in the course |
| Assessment | Multiple choice, short answers and a treatment room scenario |
| Templates for your clinic | Ready-to-use templates, plus feedback and a CPD reflective record |
Entry requirements, insurance and scope of practice
You must be 18 or over, with English good enough to read the course and write short answers, and have a computer or device and internet access. No previous laser qualification is needed. Recognition of Prior Learning is not available against this course. If you already hold a Core of Knowledge certificate from another provider that is still within its refresh period, check with your insurer, Laser Protection Adviser or licensing authority whether it is accepted.
Core of Knowledge is safety training and is not a licence to treat. Before you treat clients you need device training, a treatment qualification, Local Rules from a Laser Protection Adviser, insurance that names the treatment, and any licence your local authority requires. We cannot promise any insurer will cover you.
The practical element
There is none. This course is online only and theory only. You do not need to attend the academy.
Assessment and your certificate
The assessment has three parts: 36 multiple choice questions, 11 short written answers, and a scenario about setting up a treatment room safely and responding to an accidental exposure. It is marked by an assessor as pass or refer. You also answer the questions at the end of each section, which form part of your evidence. When you pass all three parts you receive your accredited CPD Core of Knowledge certificate, valid for three years, and a CPD reflective record.
CPD accreditation and how to verify it
This course is accredited by The CPD Group: activity #1005546, 3 CPD credits, listed on the public CPD Register as Online Core Of Knowledge and accredited until 29 September 2029. Skintastic Aesthetic Lasers Ltd is an approved provider, number 777800.
The syllabus follows the core of knowledge content in the MHRA guidance on lasers, intense light source systems and LEDs (2015) and the British Medical Laser Association Essential Standards. There is no statutory approvals body for core of knowledge courses, so we describe the course as following that syllabus, not as approved by those bodies.
Check this course on The CPD Register (activity #1005546)
Price, payment options and enrolling
The price is £199. Pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal. Klarna and Clearpay may also be offered at checkout, subject to status.
After you buy, the course is added to your account on the academy.
Cancellations, refunds, access time and rescheduling
This is a summary. The full wording is in our terms and conditions, which apply to your order.
- Price and VAT. Skintastic Aesthetic Lasers Ltd is not VAT registered, so no VAT is added to the course price. Payment is taken in full when you order.
- Online access. Your access to the online lessons lasts 12 months from the date of purchase.
- Cancelling. At checkout you tick a box to start your online access straight away, and by ticking it you give up the 14 day right to cancel the online materials. Refunds, where they apply, go back to the original payment method within 14 days of us receiving your written cancellation (an email is enough).
- After the cancellation period. Once the 14 days have ended, courses are non refundable, including if you change your mind, cannot attend, fail an assessment, or find that your insurer will not accept the course. Your statutory rights are not affected.
- Your certificate. It is issued once you have completed every required part of the course and passed the assessments.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Core of Knowledge course cost?
The course costs £199. Pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal. Klarna and Clearpay may also be offered at checkout, subject to status.
How long does it take?
The course is 3 hours of self-paced online study, including the assessment, and carries 3 CPD credits. You can take breaks whenever you need to, and breaks are not counted in the 3 hours.
Can I do it at my own pace?
Yes. It is online only and self-paced. You work through the lessons in order, answer the questions as you go, and then complete the assessment.
What qualification do I need first?
None. Core of Knowledge is the starting point for laser and IPL work, so no previous laser or IPL qualification is needed. You need to be 18 or over, have English good enough to read the course and write short answers, and have a computer or device with internet access.
Is the course accredited and how do I check?
Yes. It is accredited by The CPD Group, activity #1005546, 3 CPD credits, and it appears on the public CPD Register as Online Core Of Knowledge. Skintastic Aesthetic Lasers Ltd is an approved provider, number 777800. Use the CPD Register link in the accreditation section above to check it yourself.
Will I get a certificate, and when?
Yes. Your accredited CPD Core of Knowledge certificate is issued when you have passed all three parts of the assessment. Your assessor lets you know the outcome as soon as possible. Ask us if you need an exact timescale.
How long is the certificate valid?
The certificate for this course is valid for three years. MHRA guidance and the BMLA advise re-attending a Core of Knowledge course at least every five years, and sooner after a long absence or a significant change in equipment or practice. Your Laser Protection Adviser, insurer or local authority may ask for it sooner.
Will my insurer cover me?
Core of Knowledge is the safety training that insurers, Laser Protection Advisers and local authorities expect to see. It is not a treatment qualification, so your insurer will also want device training and a treatment qualification. We cannot promise cover, so check with your insurer.
Do I need a machine?
No. This is a theory course with no practical element, and it is not tied to one machine. It does not make you competent on a particular device, so you will need device training from your supplier before you treat.
Does this course replace my treatment training?
No. You need three things before you treat anybody: this course for the hazard, device training from your supplier for the machine, and a treatment qualification for the procedure.
Is there a practical day?
No. The course is online only, with no practical day to book.
What does the course cover?
Light, lasers and intense light sources, the hazards to eyes and skin and equipment classification, controlling hazards in your treatment room, how laser and light affect tissue, and safety management, the law and standards. You also get templates for your own clinic.
What support do I get?
Assessor support is available by email or telephone at any point: 02381 946394 or info@skintasticaesthetics.com. Large-print copies of the manual and forms are available on request.
What if I do not pass first time?
Being referred is a ‘not yet’. Your assessor tells you exactly which questions or points were not met, and you may resubmit those parts once you have reviewed the section.
Can I get a refund?
Please see our terms and conditions, or ask us before you buy.
Is VAT added to the price?
No. Skintastic Aesthetic Lasers Ltd is not VAT registered, so no VAT is added to the course price shown.
How long do I have access to the online lessons?
Your access to the online lessons lasts 12 months from the date of purchase.
Can I cancel and get a refund?
You have 14 days to cancel, but the right to cancel the online materials is lost once your access starts and you have ticked the box at checkout to agree to that. Once the 14 days have ended, courses are non refundable. Refunds that apply are paid to the original payment method within 14 days of us receiving your written cancellation. Full details are in our terms and conditions.
Contact
Skintastic Aesthetic Lasers Ltd, 26 The Avenue, Southampton SO17 1XL.
Phone: 02381 946394
Email: info@skintasticaesthetics.com
You can also message us on WhatsApp through skintasticaesthetics.com.
