How to Become a Clinical Trainer at Harley Academy

Many of you have asked us how to become a clinical trainer at Harley Academy, so let’s explain!

We spoke to Dr Emily Mehta, Chief Product Officer, and Simona Slezenkovska, Head of International Delivery, to find out more about this sought-after career pathway.

Dr Emily is responsible for developing our aesthetics courses and ensuring they’re delivered to the highest standards. Simona manages our faculty and leads on recruitment for new Clinical Trainers, as well as our Clinical Placement.

Read on for their insights if you’re interested in developing a career in aesthetics education…

What does a Clinical Trainer do?

Before we get into the entry requirements, let’s first explore what it means to be a Clinical Trainer at Harley Academy.

Also known as ‘mentors’, our Clinical Trainers are responsible for teaching our trainees in person and through remote observation, and managing the admin related to these sessions. 

This includes, but is certainly not limited to:

• Holding sessions such as our Foundation Training in Medical Aesthetics and Cosmetic Dermatology modules
• Mannequin practice for beginners
• Taking trainees through in-person theory recaps
• Holding practical mentoring sessions, where they oversee and support trainees through entire appointment cycles, providing guidance through all aspects of patient interactions including the consultation and treatment
• Conducting remote and in-person Observation Days for live clinic shadowing
• Marking cases and signing off logbooks for Level 7 trainees
• Completing all relevant medicolegal documentation for all cases
• Providing feedback and support to trainees
• Sharing feedback with internal teams to support course development and trainee initiatives, so the business can continue to innovate and raise standards.

Typical hours are 9am-6pm, at least two days per week, which can include Saturdays.

What we look for in a Clinical Trainer

Our team works so well because every single person is a great fit and truly enjoys what they do. We work hard to ensure all our faculty members meet our high standards in terms of their academic and professional achievements, practical experience, and also their ability to teach with passion and patience.

Required qualifications

 ”All of our trainers are UK regulated prescribing medical professionals with a qualification in aesthetic medicine,” says Dr Emily Mehta.

“That could be the Harley Academy Level 7, but it could also be a Master's degree from a university or a diploma from another institution.”

Experience and personal qualities

Dr Emily notes that our faculty are “all regularly practicing aesthetics with a good level of experience in injectables. We look for at least 100 cases in both of the key modalities.”

What stood out to you about your mentoring experiences at Harley Academy? In addition to the quality of our teaching, we hope you felt that your mentors were:

• Friendly
• Approachable
• Patient
• Knowledgeable 
• Adaptable to both your needs and those of the patient.

Passion for education and teaching

“Most importantly, our Clinical Trainers all have a genuine passion for education, for teaching, and want training to be a key part of their aesthetic medicine career,” confirms Dr Emily. 

“Our mentors all work regularly for us, at least two days a week. This provides them with variety. It allows us to help them to develop the wide range of skills needed to deliver our courses, and it makes them a significant part of our social and collaborative team.”

Whilst experience as an educator is obviously welcomed, it’s definitely not a deal breaker. 

“Some qualities cannot be taught, and these are the aspects that make candidates truly stand out to us,” shares Simona Slezenkovska.

“Above all, we want competent practitioners who are passionate about what they do and understand that being a mentor requires tireless patience. No two learners are the same, so we need confident, inspiring individuals who can adapt. Medics who pride themselves on making their trainees’ journey a seamless and supported one really stand out and do well at Harley Academy.”

Pathway to becoming a Clinical Trainer at Harley Academy

You can apply to our Clinical Trainer roles via our website whenever they’re advertised, as long as you meet the advertised requirements. As Dr Emily has explained, this involves:

• Being a regulated healthcare professional - usually our applicants are doctors, dentists or nurses - registered with your UK professional board (GMC, GDC, NMC, etc)
• Having successfully completed a postgraduate aesthetics qualification such as the Level 7 in Cosmetic Injectables
• Holding a valid UK prescribing qualification
• Having reached at least 100 cases of botulinum toxin and 100 in soft tissue injectables
• Being able to display a genuine passion for and interest in education and teaching.

Gaining real-world clinical experience

To reach the threshold of 100 toxin and 100 soft tissue filler treatments required for Clinical Trainers, you’ll need to enter private practice. You cannot rely on your training cases alone. 

Whether you work as a sole clinician or an aesthetic practitioner within an existing business, you’ll need to demonstrate your skills both through documentation, and a practical assessment as part of the Clinical Trainer interview process.

But if you can’t find a job without experience, how do you get this experience in the first place..? Whether you’re looking to forge a career in aesthetics training or not, this question comes up regularly.

How do you gain the necessary practical experience?

We’ve previously explored this topic in relation to trying to find a job as a newly qualified injector.  

There are two ways in which Harley Academy can support you in reaching this threshold.

Clinical Placement programme

Harley Academy Level 7 trainees who have completed their practical sessions, and recent graduates can apply to join our Clinical Placement programme. This merit-based learning extension involves a four-month placement at our London or Manchester clinics. It is exclusively open to prescribers who have undertaken our Level 7 or Level 7+ courses.

Designed to build confidence and competence, the Clinical Placement allows you to run regular clinics with patients provided for you. Consolidate your Level 7 skills through regular practice, with the comfort of knowing support is still on hand from our faculty. 

Additionally, you’ll expand your offering, learning new treatments including advanced botox, and receive career advice. We’ll also provide you with a reference and anonymised cases you can use for your interview portfolio, when trying to get your first job in aesthetics.

Whilst this step is not mandatory to becoming a Clinical Trainer at Harley Academy, it can provide you with the experience and confidence you need to shine at interview. Many of our Junior Clinical Practitioners took this pathway into their role.

Junior Clinical Practitioner roles

We recently created an entry-level faculty position to help suitable candidates wishing to become a Clinical Trainer achieve the appropriate level of experience. 

Our Junior Clinical Practitioner role involves holding Diamond clinics at The Academy Clinic, treating aesthetic patients with botox, fillers, polynucelotides, Profhilo and more. This regular experience will help those who wish to progress to Clinical Trainer level move towards the requisite case numbers.

This position can also help to build confidence and develop a deeper understanding of clinical practice, as well as our teaching methods.

It’s a great opportunity to experience life working in aesthetic medicine education and to see if it’s for you, whilst continuing to develop as a clinician.

Junior Clinical Practitioner roles are advertised on our website, and you do not have to have trained with Harley Academy to apply.

Ready to take the next step in your aesthetics career?

If you’re looking to work at Harley Academy and want to join our team as a Clinical Trainer or Junior Clinical Practitioner, keep an eye on our website. All faculty vacancies are advertised there, along with a link to find out more and submit your application.

For those of you interested in applying for our Clinical Placement, whether at Harley Academy London or Manchester, you can do this via our website.

If you’re not quite there yet, we hope this information is a useful - and inspiring! - roadmap that can guide you as you progress towards your goals. Want personalised advice on shaping your medical career and the aesthetics training needed to help you achieve your career objectives? Book a call with our dedicated Courses team for a chat about your options. They've helped thousands of healthcare professionals plot their pathway to success and are ready to share their knowledge with you, too!

All information correct at time of publication