From Salon to Educator: Could Teaching Be Your Next Career Move?
You've spent years developing your skills, building your experience and helping your clients. But have you ever considered sharing that knowledge with the next generation of therapists?
For many beauty, massage, and holistic therapy professionals, teaching is a natural progression. It allows you to use everything you've learned in a different way, while opening up opportunities for career development, business growth, and additional income.
And the exciting thing is that you don't necessarily have to stop working with clients to become an educator.
At Holistic Therapies Training Academy (HTTA), we regularly speak to experienced professionals who would love to teach but aren't sure how to begin.
That's why we've created our new FREE From Salon to Educator Career Guide, exploring 21 different ways to share your skills and grow your career.
My Journey from Therapist to Educator
My own journey began in aromatherapy and holistic therapies in 2003.
I loved working with clients, learning new treatments and discovering more about the industry. But as my experience grew, I became increasingly interested in sharing that knowledge with others.
In 2007, I moved into teaching and established Holistic Therapies Training Academy.
Since then, my career has developed into teaching, assessing, internal quality assurance, mentoring and supporting other professionals as they explore their own education careers.
One of the most rewarding things about teaching is seeing someone's confidence grow.
It's not simply about passing on information. It's about helping another person recognise what they're capable of achieving.
And you might be surprised at just how many opportunities there are.
1. You Don't Have to Give Up Your Existing Business to Teach
One of the biggest misconceptions about becoming an educator is that you need to make a complete career change.
That isn't necessarily the case.
You could continue seeing clients while delivering occasional workshops, offering specialist training or working with an established training academy.
Some educators teach one day a month. Others gradually develop teaching into a larger part of their business.
The important thing is finding an approach that works for your experience, interests and circumstances.
2. Teaching Could Be Particularly Valuable for Salon Owners
If you own a salon, spa or therapy business, developing your teaching skills could offer several benefits.
Think about how much your business spends on external staff training.
There may be opportunities to deliver certain training internally, helping your team develop consistent skills and treatment standards while reducing some external training costs.
You might also be able to develop specialist workshops for professionals outside your business.
For example, a salon owner with the appropriate qualifications, expertise, insurance and course approvals could offer training in their specialist subject to external learners.
This could create an additional income stream alongside the salon's existing services.
Of course, teaching staff internally and offering externally accredited qualifications are not the same thing. You'll need to check the requirements for the training you intend to deliver.
But the potential is worth exploring.
3. There Are More Teaching Opportunities Than You Might Think
When people imagine becoming a teacher, they often picture standing at the front of a classroom.
In reality, you can share your knowledge in many different ways.
You could:
Deliver practical workshops for qualified therapists
Teach part-time with an established academy
Provide specialist training for salon and spa teams
Develop continuing professional development (CPD) courses
Create online educational resources and recorded lessons
Support learners with practical skills and revision
Progress into vocational assessment
Develop a training business of your own
Our free guide explores 21 potential teaching opportunities, helping you identify the ones that best suit your interests and experience.
4. What Qualifications Do You Need to Become an Educator?
A common starting point is the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET).
This introductory teaching qualification develops knowledge and skills in planning, delivering, and evaluating learning.
It can be a suitable foundation for professionals looking to begin their teaching journey.
However, holding an AET qualification doesn't automatically mean you can teach every subject or deliver regulated qualifications.
You'll also need appropriate occupational qualifications and experience, together with any relevant training provider, accreditation, awarding organisation and insurance requirements.
As your career develops, you may wish to explore additional qualifications such as:
Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA)
For professionals interested in assessing learners' vocational knowledge and practical competence.
Level 4 Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)
For suitably experienced professionals who wish to support the quality and consistency of assessment.
At HTTA, we can help you explore which pathway is appropriate for your goals.
5. Can You Create Your Own Accredited Courses?
Yes, this can be an option for appropriately qualified and experienced professionals.
You might have developed a specialist technique, have extensive experience in a particular treatment or recognise a training need within your industry.
Creating a course involves much more than demonstrating a treatment, though.
You'll need to consider learning outcomes, lesson plans, assessment, resources, learner support, insurance and the requirements of your chosen accreditation organisation.
It's also important to understand the difference between an accredited CPD course and an Ofqual-regulated qualification.
Both have their place, but they operate under different requirements.
6. How Much Could You Earn from Teaching?
Teaching income varies considerably depending on your subject, experience, delivery model and business costs.
Some educators work for established training providers and receive an agreed teaching fee.
Others run their own workshops and receive income directly from learner bookings.
For example, a workshop with six learners paying £75 each would generate £450 in gross sales.
However, this isn't the same as profit.
You'll need to account for preparation time, venue costs, resources, insurance, administration, marketing and other expenses.
For salon owners, the financial benefits might also include reduced external staff-training expenditure and opportunities to generate income from external learners.
The key is to look at teaching as a sustainable professional service rather than simply an additional treatment to sell.
7. How Do You Know If Teaching Is Right for You?
You don't have to be the loudest person in the room to become a good educator.
Some of the most effective teachers are patient, approachable professionals who enjoy explaining things clearly and helping others feel comfortable.
Ask yourself:
Do I enjoy helping colleagues learn new skills?
Am I confident in my subject knowledge?
Would I enjoy supporting someone else's development?
Am I willing to develop my teaching and assessment skills?
Could teaching complement my current career or business?
If you answered yes to several of these questions, teaching could be worth exploring.
Download Your FREE From Salon to Educator Career Guide
If this article has sparked your interest, I'd love to help you explore the possibilities further.
I've created a free 18-page career guide specifically for beauty, massage, complementary therapy, sports and wellbeing professionals.
Inside the guide, you'll discover:
21 ways to share your skills and develop your career
Opportunities for salon owners and experienced therapists
Teaching, assessing and quality assurance pathways
Real HTTA learner experiences
Practical considerations around earnings and training costs
A 90-day action plan to help you get started
You'll also discover how to access my FREE Salon to Educator Masterclass.
Your Next Chapter Could Begin Here
When I began my career in therapies, I couldn't have imagined everything that would follow.
Moving into education gave me opportunities to develop professionally, meet wonderful people, and support others in achieving their ambitions.
If you're thinking about teaching, you don't need to have your entire future mapped out.
Sometimes the first step is simply exploring what's possible.
And I'd love to help you do that.
Karen xx
Karen Ashton
Founder, Holistic Therapies Training Academy
Teach • Learn • Grow
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