Care Quality Commission (CQC - England)

The UK Government is introducing a mandatory licensing scheme in England to ensure a consistent standard of safety and professionalism across the non-surgical cosmetic sector. Expected to be fully operational by July 2026, the scheme will make it a criminal offence to carry out specified cosmetic procedures without a personal practitioner license and a licensed premises.

England is officially adopting a Red-Amber-Green (RAG) system to categorise treatments based on risk:

Green
(Low Risk):
Procedures like superficial chemical peels. These will require a basic practitioner license and premises license from the council

Amber
(Medium Risk):
This includes Botox, dermal fillers, and microneedling. Non-medics can perform these, but only if they have “clinical oversight” from a named regulated healthcare professional

Red
(High Risk):
Procedures like thread lifts or deep peels. These are being restricted to CQC-registered premises and, in many cases, restricted to healthcare professionals only

In terms of what this means for beauty therapists, aesthetic practitioners and businesses offering aesthetic treatments, the 2026 transition focuses on three pillars of compliance:

1. Mandatory Licensing:

Every practitioner must hold a personal license, and every clinic must hold a premises license issued by their Local Authority.

2. Accredited Training:

The government is moving toward a standard where practitioners must hold Ofqual-regulated qualifications (likely Level 4 or 5) to be eligible for a license.

3. The Under-18 Ban:

It remains a strict criminal offence to provide any of these cosmetic procedures to anyone under the age of 18, regardless of parental consent.

While the formal licensing process is rolling out throughout 2026, practitioners are encouraged to audit their current training and insurance immediately. By September 2027, full enforcement is expected to be in place across the UK, ensuring that every patient receives treatment in a safe, regulated, and professional clinical setting.

This page will be updated regularly as the legislation evolves and the changes are rolled out.

to discuss how we can support you to get ready for the upcoming changes.