10788NAT Diploma of Personal Care Formulation

10788NAT Diploma of Personal Care Formulation

Formulating cosmetic and personal care products can be as varied as the companies who offer them. The 10788NAT Diploma of Personal Care Formulation has been developed to provide a comprehensive approach to teaching the formulation of safe, stable and efficacious personal care products for the hair, hands, body and face. It also covers the development of products from the concept stage and through reverse engineering. Learners are taught how to prepare a variety of personal care products, adapt formulations to suit organisational requirements and develop products based on the latest industry advances.

$9,900
VET Student Loans approved course*. Please click here for further information.

*VET Student Loans will not be approved for students who do not meet eligibility requirements. A VET Student Loan gives rise to a HELP debt that continues to be a debt due to the Commonwealth until it is repaid.

(To view full schedule of fees, click here)

For information on AACDS' withdrawal and refund policy, please click here.

  • Year 12 completion (Certificate of Education) OR
  • National Certificate IV level qualification OR
  • Completion of theLanguage Literacy and Numeracy Test (LLN)

This course consists of 18 units of competency

  • Full-time: approx. 24 hrs/week over 12 months
  • Part-time: approx. 12 hrs/week over 24 months
  • Online 
  • The course comprises of 18 electronic text books provided as part of the enrolment package
  • On-line lectures to support learning and activities within the texts
  • Box of raw materials and packaging to work through various practical activities and prepare assessment samples
  • 6 written assessments (workbooks) comprising theoretical questions and workplace simulated scenarios
  • 1 practical assessment workbook and submission of practical samples with relevant stability and technical information
  • Hands on practical workshops to consolidate skills in development and formulation of various products
  • Online exam

You will need to purchase or have access to the following equipment (this list is provided for those students who do not have access to specialised equipment and are studying in a home-based situation):

  • 2 hot plates (normal or electric stove top)
  • White lab coat for formulating workshops

On successful completion of this course leads to the issuance of an AQF Diploma and entitles the student to the letters Dip Form Chem and the title 'Cosmetic Chemist' or 'Formulation Chemist'.

This course will benefit the following careers

  • Research and Development Scientists
  • Formulating Chemists
  • Production/Compounding Managers and assistants
  • Regulatory Affairs personnel dealing with product safety, claims and ingredient compliance

This course is ideal for

  • Research and Development personnel
  • Compounding personnel
  • Raw material suppliers
  • Product development personnel in the practical development of products
  • Technical staff involved in practical development and/or manufacturing

Please note: These outlines are to be used as a guide only. Your units will be confirmed upon receiving a personalised schedule.

PCFEC1001 - Investigate and evaluate cosmetic ingredients
PCFECS002 - Evaluate cosmetic ingredient and formula safety
PCFECR003 - Evaluate compliance requirements of cosmetic ingredients
PCFCPI004 - Apply chemistry principles to select cosmetic ingredients 
PCFMCI005 - Plan microbiological control of cosmetic ingredients and manufacturing environment
PCFSPF006 - Select preservatives for personal care formulas

PCFRMF007 - Select rheology modifiers for personal care formulas
PCFSLF008 - Select lipids for personal care formulas
PCFFEO009 - Select fragrances or essential oils for personal care formulas
PCFSEF010 - Select emulsifiers for personal care formulas
PCFSSF011 - Select surfactants for personal care formulas
PCFPCA012 - Develop personal care aerosol formulas

PCFPST013 - Plan and interpret stability testing
PCFDFB014 - Develop a formula from a product development brief
PCFSCF015 - Prepare skin care formulas
PCFHCF016 - Prepare hair care and styling formulas
PCFHAF017 - Prepare highly active skin and hair formulas
PCFREF018 - Reverse engineer a product formula

All students receive a complimentary 12 month membership with the Australian Society of Cosmetic Chemists (ASCC). (Subject to ASCC approval). This membership allows you to have access to the ASCC recruitment site and subscription to the Science of Beauty Magazine.


On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Develop safe, stable and effective formulas for a range of personal care products
  • Provide technical documents to support the safety, stability and performance claims of a product
  • Develop products from a product development brief and communicate necessary changes
  • Accommodate industry innovations into formulations without impacting on stability
  • Reverse engineer and/or adapt formulations to suit company requirements
  • Satisfy safety and regulatory obligations in the development of cosmetic and personal care products

Before you start the online application form, you will need:

  • A certified copy* of your year 12 Certificate OR other formal qualification/s
  • Certified passport OR
  • Certified birth certificate
  • Certified Australian citizenship
  • Certified scanned copies of pre-requisite qualification/s*

Please note: (If you are applying for VET STUDENT LOANS, you must provide proof of an Australian citizenship).

USI Number: To enrol in a Nationally Accredited course you must have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) You can apply for your USI here. The application process only takes 5 minutes. It is compulsory for you to have a USI and we encourage you to apply for it as soon as you can and preferably BEFORE your enrolment is finalised. 

*A Certified Copy is a copy of an original document that has been verified as being a true copy after the original document has been sighted. Any of the following persons are authorised to certify official documents: Justice of the Peace, Lawyer, Dentist, Pharmacist, Medical Practitioner, Veterinarian, Accountant, Police Officer or Teacher). Click here for certification guidelines. 

As part of the enrolment process, you will be required to post a hard copy of your identification and the certified copy of your year 12 Certificate or formal qualification/s.

Please note: If you do not hold a year 12 Certificate, or other formal qualifications, you will be required to sit an online Language, Literacy and Numeracy test (LLN). This requirement is stipulated by the Department of Education and Training in order to access a VET Student Loan

COURSE AT
A GLANCE

COURSE START
Monthly start date

COURSE MODE
Full Time
Part-Time

STUDY MODE
Online

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