Why Choose a City & Guilds Accredited Hairdressing Academy

By Denise Cilliers

When you are choosing where to train as a hairdresser, accreditation is one of those things that is easy to overlook and expensive to get wrong. A qualification from an unaccredited or poorly accredited academy might not be recognised by employers, or might close doors you did not even know existed. Here is what City and Guilds accreditation actually means, and why it is worth paying attention to.

What Does “City and Guilds Accredited” Actually Mean?

City and Guilds is a UK based awarding body that has been assessing vocational skills, including hairdressing, for well over a century. When an academy is accredited to offer City and Guilds qualifications, it means an independent, internationally recognised body has reviewed the training programme, the assessment process and the standards being taught, and approved it against a recognised benchmark.

This is different from a national qualification alone. In South Africa, hairdressing academies are typically accredited through the QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations), which governs the National Certificate in Hairdressing. City and Guilds sits alongside this as an additional, internationally recognised layer.

Why Accreditation Matters When Choosing a Hairdressing Academy

Not every hairdressing course you find is properly accredited. Some are run informally, without oversight from a recognised body, which means the certificate at the end may not be recognised by employers, salons or other institutions. Proper accreditation gives you a few concrete guarantees:

• Your training is measured against an established, external standard, not just the academy’s own opinion of what you have learned
• Employers and salons are far more likely to recognise and trust the qualification
• You have a genuine paper trail if you ever need to prove your qualification, whether for a job, a visa application, or further study

See our accreditation details in full

National Qualification vs International Recognition

A National Certificate in Hairdressing, recognised through QCTO, is enough to work as a hairdresser in South Africa. City and Guilds is optional, and is generally added alongside your national qualification rather than instead of it. The main reason to add it is international recognition. If you ever want to work abroad, particularly in the UK, a City and Guilds qualification is far more widely understood by international employers than a purely national one.

It is worth thinking of it less as a choice between the two, and more as deciding whether you want your training to open doors beyond South Africa as well as within it.

What You Gain by Adding City and Guilds to Your Training

A City and Guilds Level 3 hairdressing qualification typically covers a wide range of modules, from core skills like cutting, colouring and styling, through to more specialised areas such as colour correction, bridal hairstyling, salon reception duties and health and safety practice. Because it is assessed against an international standard, it also tends to push your practical skills further than a national qualification alone.

See the full City and Guilds module list

How to Check an Academy’s Accreditation

Before enrolling anywhere, it is reasonable to ask an academy directly for their accreditation numbers, both their QCTO registration and, if they offer it, their City and Guilds centre number. A legitimate academy should be able to provide this without hesitation. You can also ask what happens if you need to prove your qualification later, and whether the certificate you receive references these accreditation bodies directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City and Guilds accreditation compulsory?

No. It is typically offered as an optional addition alongside a national hairdressing qualification, not a requirement to work as a hairdresser in South Africa.

Do I need City and Guilds to work in South Africa?

No. A National Certificate in Hairdressing, recognised through QCTO, is sufficient to work as a hairdresser within South Africa. City and Guilds becomes more relevant if you want international recognition.

Can I add City and Guilds after I have already qualified nationally?

This depends on the academy. It is generally offered alongside your national training rather than as a completely separate, later addition, so it is worth discussing timing directly with your academy.

How do I know if an academy is really accredited?

Ask directly for their QCTO and City and Guilds accreditation numbers. A legitimate academy will be able to provide these without hesitation.

Does City and Guilds cost extra?

Yes, it is typically offered as an optional extra alongside the national qualification fees. Check with your academy’s fee breakdown for the current cost.