Special treatment licence (personal)

In order to work as a therapist in a licensed special treatment establishment in the Borough of Wandsworth you must be registered with us (unless you fall within an exempt category laid out below). Anyone who gives treatments needs to be registered with us, including those who hold a premises licence in their own right (if they also give treatments). For a definition of a special treatment, please see the A-Z of Treatments/Therapies in the Related Downloads.

• A medical practitioner duly registered with the General Medical Council
• A bona fide member of a body of health practitioners (an exempted body)
• A person registered under the Health Professions Order 2001, solely for the practice or profession for which they are registered.
• In the case of Acupuncture, a dentist registered under the Dentists Act 1984
• In the case of ear piercing, members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

These persons will therefore not need to register with the council. However, if you give two or more treatments but are only a member of an exempt organisation for one of them, then you will need to register for the other treatment. For any exempted treatments, you will need to ensure that there is a copy of your up-to-date exemption membership and insurance available at each premises where you work. A list of exempt bodies can be found in the Related Downloads. 

Eligibility criteria

In order to be registered you must have gained the necessary nationally or internationally recognised qualifications in the treatments you intend to provide. If you are seeking registration to carry out body piercing, branding, beading, scarification, tattooing and other similar highly specialist treatments, you will need to attend an interview before registration is granted. You will need to supply references and proof of where you carried out your apprenticeships/training. You will be expected to have certified training in the area of hygiene. As and when nationally recognised qualifications become available, we will expect new applicants to have these qualifications.

Application evaluation process 

Registration is free. You will need to complete the application form and provide original proof of identity, original certificates of qualifications and original proof of address. Alternatively you can provide legally certified copies of these items. In addition you must provide two passport-size colour photographs of yourself.  For more information, please see the guidance notes in Related Downloads.  

Will tacit consent apply?  

What can I do if my application is refused?

In the first instance, please contact:

What if I am unhappy with a condition imposed?

Please contact Wandsworth Council at the address above in the first instance.

What if I have a query about my registration?

If you have a query about a permit issued by us, please contact Wandsworth Council at the address above.

European services directive

If you think that the council has not complied with the European services directive by imposing requirements or conditions in respect of your application that are discriminatory, unfair, or disproportionate, please contact:

Email: solvit@bis.gsi.gov.uk

Consumer complaints about a person giving special treatments

Email: licensing@wandsworth.gov.uk

Trade Associations and other sources of information 

• British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC)
• Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT)
• British Association of Skin Camouflage
• Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (SCP)