Qualifi Level 5 Unit AP602 Advanced Aesthetic Procedures: Micro-Needling (D/651/7027) Assessment Brief 2026

Qualifi Level 5 Unit AP602 Assessment Brief 2026

Unit Aim

• The aim of this unit is that Aesthetic Practitioners will develop the knowledge and professional skills required to safely and effectively perform micro-needling procedures for skin rejuvenation on the face, neck and body.
• Practitioners will learn to assess client suitability, consult professionally, manage risks and complications, deliver procedures aligned with bespoke plans, and evaluate to improve practice.
• This unit is based on the 2025 Level 5 Aesthetic Practitioner – Skin Rejuvenation apprenticeship occupational standards: https://www.instituteofapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship- standards/st1238
• This unit has also been mapped to the JCCP and CPSA standards and codes of practice regarding the application of legal, ethical, clinical and professional guidelines.
• Aesthetic Practitioners will maintain current and valid First Aid at Work qualification or equivalent and be able to carry out the functions of Basic Life Support (BLS), infection control and complication management.

This Unit Coexists Alongside Qualifi Unit:

• CO506: Advanced skin science for aesthetic practice.

Aesthetic Occupational Standards – KSBs

Knowledge

• K1: Legal and organisational requirements: equality, diversity and inclusion, health, safety, infection control for aesthetic skin rejuvenation procedures, management of and safe use of products, storage, handling and disposal of skin rejuvenation products, tools and equipment, informed consent, storage and maintenance of client records, advertising and marketing.
• K3: Ethical, environmental and sustainability principles relating to the provision of aesthetic procedures for skin rejuvenation.
• K4: Organisational Standard Operating Procedures, procedural protocols and manufacturer’s guidance for aesthetic procedures for skin rejuvenation.
• K11: Relative and absolute contraindications with presenting conditions and its impact on skin rejuvenation.
• K12: The expected and potential adverse contra-actions of procedures, adverse effects, complications and risks, and the physical sensation that may occur.
• K13: Processes for completing assessments with clients at different touch points to inform skin rejuvenation procedures, client and skin consultation: client welfare assessment, lifestyle, declared medical status, skin evaluation and analysis to formulate personalised procedure plan.
• K14: Approaches to address client concerns, expectations and desired outcomes against the procedure objectives in relation to what can be achieved.
• K15: Theories that underpin the assessment of client’s physical, psychological, and emotional suitability for the aesthetic procedures.
• K16: The types of advice, choices, instructions given to clients and types of information sought including confirmation and consultation at different touch points of the service, preparation requirements of the client prior to the procedure, the expected and potential adverse contra-actions and the impact of client non-compliance with instructions.
• K17: The purpose and content of administrative forms and plans completed for procedures: client consent forms, pre-procedure plans, procedure plans, procedure records and visual media.
• K18: Approaches and uses of skin classification systems and skin assessment tools in skin rejuvenation.
• K19: The types, uses, limitations, risks and impacts of regulated and non-regulated products, and their active ingredients, tools and equipment used in skin rejuvenation including topical anaesthetics and adjunctive topical skin products during the procedure.
• K20: How and why, you should monitor the health, wellbeing and safety of the client pre, during and post procedure including skin reaction using dynamic risk assessments.
• K21: The corrective actions and immediate intervention required when adverse reactions occur.
• K22: Complication management and emergency plan implementation during procedures including Basic Life Support.
• K23: How client skin should be prepared pre-procedure and managed post procedure to control risks and maximise rejuvenation results.
• K31: The principles of controlled inflammation and micro-injury procedures, and its relationship to wound healing stages, as a mechanism to achieve skin rejuvenation.
• K33: The methodologies of different types micro-needling up to 1.5mm, with and without preparation of the face and up to 2.0mm micro-needling on the body.
• K34: The techniques used for different types of micro-needling up to 1.5mm: with or without preparation of the face.
• K35: The techniques used for different types of micro-needling up to 0.25 – 2.0mm: with or without preparation of the body.
• K36: The impact of micro-injury procedures and benefits gained using micro-needling on the face and the body including the impact of needle depth, stitch frequency, procedure duration, practitioner techniques, devices, procedure frequency and duration on the procedures.
• K37: The necessary precautions that should be implemented for micro-injury procedures using micro-needling on the face and the body.
• K50: Use of reflective techniques, research and feedback to plan professional development and to inform future procedures and recommendations.
• K51: Strategies used to promote business growth, increase retail sales, and encourage clients to book additional procedures and services.

Skills

• S1: Apply safe, ethical, environmental and sustainable procedures for aesthetic skin rejuvenation, in line with legal, regulatory and organisational requirements.
• S2: Carry out client welfare assessments, skin evaluation and analysis to inform the skin consultation to ensure suitability of planned skin rejuvenation procedures.
• S3: Consult clients on planned procedures including identification of absolute and relative contra-indications, client concerns, expectations, procedure objectives and desired outcomes to inform the skin rejuvenation procedure plan proposal, options and cooling off period.
• S4: Conduct client skin assessments to ensure suitability of planned skin rejuvenation procedures using the skin classification system including suitability of skin products for priming in preparation for the procedure.
• S5: Establish client approval for skin rejuvenation procedures and informed client consent of plans and instructions at different stages leading up to the planned procedure including confirmation of the plan, informing the client about potential and the expected contraindications, potential adverse effects, complications and management of the risks of the proposed procedure, the physical sensation that may occur and options for pain management and client instruction and requirement for pre-procedure preparation.
• S7: Create and maintain client records for skin rejuvenation procedures: consent forms, client welfare and skin assessments, consultation records, procedural records, photos of undertaking procedures.
• S8: Produce skin rejuvenation procedure plans, using client consultation, assessments and information including a risk assessment plan.
• S9: Prepare for procedures in line with organisational standard operating procedures (SOP), procedural protocols and manufacturer’s guidance.
• S10: Advise clients on how to control risk and maximise rejuvenation results with the correct pre and post procedure requirements considering lifestyle restrictions, appropriate products and ingredient actives.
• S11: Maintain the client’s comfort and safety and monitor skin reaction throughout the procedure, responding to expected and adverse reactions.
• S12: Mange risk using dynamic risk assessment of workspace, procedure, and client.
• S13: Create emergency plans for client skin rejuvenation procedures.
• S14: Manage complications during skin rejuvenation procedures.
• S15: Select and use products, tools, and equipment to conduct skin rejuvenation procedures: micro-needling
• S19: Conduct invasive skin rejuvenation micro-injury procedures using micro needling for the face and neck, to meet the objectives of bespoke procedure plans: intraepidermal 0.25-1mm micro-needling, intradermal 1-1.5mm micro-needling.
• S20: Conduct invasive skin rejuvenation micro-injury procedures using micro needling for the body, to meet the objectives of bespoke procedure plans: intradermal 0.25-2mm micro-needling.
• S27: Provide the client with post procedure instructions and advice to prevent risk and maximise rejuvenation results in line with the procedure plan including suitability of different types of products on the skin, procedures that should be avoided, other lifestyle considerations.
• S28: Use self-reflection, feedback and professional development activities to improve areas of personal performance for future skin rejuvenation procedures on clients and improve approaches to practice and client outcomes.
• S29: Promote retail product sales and additional procedures and services.

Behaviours

• B2: Works professionally and ethically within own level of authority, responsibility and competence and recognises when to seek support or assistance.
• B3: Embraces and values equality, diversity and inclusion, treating everyone with dignity and respect.
• B4: Adapts communication style to the audience to build rapport and positive relationships with colleagues and the public.

Learning Outcomes, And Assessment Criteria

 Indicative Content

Client Consultation

• Building rapport and gathering personal welfare, medical, and aesthetic history
• Exploration of client concerns, expectations, and desired outcomes
• Informed consent and cooling-off period
• Management of expectations and explaining likely results over time

Skin Assessment And Classification

• Fitzpatrick scale and Glogau skin ‘photoaging’ classification
• Skin types, skin conditions (e.g., acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, laxity, fine lines)
• Identification of absolute and relative contraindications
• Assessment of pre-procedure skin health and lifestyle factors

Treatment Planning

• Establishing treatment objectives
• Selection of micro-needling depth and techniques (intraepidermal vs intradermal)
• Planning number and frequency of sessions
• Recommended skin priming (e.g., retinoids, antioxidants)
• Risk assessment and client suitability
• Selection of appropriate serums and actives (e.g., hyaluronic acid, peptides)

Preparation And Hygiene

• Standard operating procedures (SOP) and manufacturer’s guidelines
• Use of universal infection control precautions, clean and disinfected environment, effective handwashing
• ANTT aseptic non-touch technique
• Use of PPE (gloves, masks, visors, eyewear, apron), sharps safety, sterilised tools and equipment and skin preparation to reduce risk of infection
• Equipment safety checks – needle cartridges, pen depth calibration
• Client preparation: numbing protocols, skin cleansing, and disinfection
• Topical anaesthetics licensed for use in the UK (topical, local infiltration, field block and nerve block)

Treatment Areas

• Micro-needling: face, neck, chest, hands, cellulite, stretchmarks and scars on the body

Micro-Needling Procedure

• Manual and Power Assisted
• Recognition of treatable and untreatable dermatological skin conditions
• Adjunctive topical skin products used with micro needling e.g. Retinoids, Tyrosine inhibitors, antioxidants and pain management strategies
• Depth and needle selection for the face, neck and body
• Advanced techniques: cross-hatching, stamping, linear passes
• Adapting technique to different skin zones (thinner vs thicker skin)
• Combining micro-needling with products (e.g. serums) and other procedures (e.g. LED)
• Expected skin responses
• Recognition of high-risk areas of treatment/danger zones
• Potential adverse effects, complications, risks and mitigation

Health And Safety

• Dynamic risk assessment during treatment
• Preventing cross-contamination and maintaining aseptic technique
• Sharps disposal and post-treatment sanitation protocols

Post-Procedure Care Instructions

• Immediate aftercare (cooling, hydration, avoidance of actives)
• Long-term care (sun protection, gentle skincare, avoidance of irritants)
• What to expect in the wound healing process (redness, micro-crusting, dryness)
• Red flag symptoms and when to refer to or contact a healthcare professional

Product And Lifestyle Advice

• Recommended post-care products (hydrators, barrier repair, SPF)
• Lifestyle considerations: avoiding heat, exercise, and UV exposure
• Supplementary or maintenance treatments to optimise results
• Continuing care requirements

Documentation And Reflection

• Recording procedure notes, reactions, and outcomes
• Reviewing client feedback and photographic evidence
• Reflective practice to identify areas for improvement
• Continuous professional development (CPD)

Legislation

• The Data Protection Act and UK GDPR 2018
• Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) 2003 inc. 2018 amendment
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000
• The Freedom of Information Act 2000