Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 1:32 AM AWST
22/07/2026 1:32 AM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Design and apply hair loss therapies
Design and apply hair loss therapies
Unit of competency
National Code
WRHHS409A
WRHHS409A
State Code
S4536
S4536
TGA Status
Deleted
Deleted
DTWD Status
Deleted
Deleted
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
26/09/2006
Field of Education
110303 - Hairdressing
Original Release Date
26/09/2006
Nominal Hours
30
Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to design and apply therapeutic treatment plans to slow or cure hair loss. The unit of competency may apply to a number of roles in the workplace.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Apply hair loss therapy.
- 1.1 Hair loss therapy is determined based on patient assessment and relevant topical treatments and nutritional supplements are selected.
- 1.2 A therapeutic treatment plan including costs relating to the selected therapy is formulated, recorded and confirmed with patient.
- 1.3 Therapeutic treatments are applied according to the confirmed treatment plan, legislative requirements and workplace policies and procedures.
2 Counsel patient and review treatment.
- 2.1 Patient is counselled regarding lifestyle adjustments and self-administered aspects of the therapeutic treatment plan.
- 2.2 Patient questioning and visual examination are used to review and evaluate the benefits of the therapeutic treatment plan.
- 2.3 Therapy is adjusted or varied as an outcome of review where indicated.
RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.
The following variables may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts. Bold italicised text from the performance criteria is detailed here.
Hair loss therapy is limited to treatment for:
genetic hair loss in men and women
loose anagen syndrome
diffuse hair loss as a result of:
iron deficiency
essential fatty acid deficiency
thyroid problems
blood sugar problems
alopecia areata.
Patients may include:
men
women
children
new or regular patients with routine or special needs
patients from a range of social, cultural or ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.
Topical treatments may include:
Dithranol
Rogaine
anti-yeast and anti-bacterial scalp creams.
Nutritional supplements may include:
tyrosine
vitamins
minerals
essential fatty acids
digestive aids.
A therapeutic treatment plan may include:
type of treatment
frequency of use
length of use
how to manage possible adverse effects
time span for improvement in hair loss.
Therapeutic treatments may include:
nutritional supplements
application of topical creams
ultraviolet radiation
lifestyle changes.
Legislative requirements may include:
federal, state and local health and hygiene
occupational health and safety.
Workplace policies and procedures may include:
health and hygiene
comfort and privacy
timeframes for the completion of the service
quality assurance.
Lifestyle adjustments may include:
changing diet
ceasing or moderating alcohol consumption
ceasing or moderating tobacco consumption
increasing exercise
reducing exposure to sunlight
other measures to reduce personal stress.
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.
The following variables may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts. Bold italicised text from the performance criteria is detailed here.
Hair loss therapy is limited to treatment for:
genetic hair loss in men and women
loose anagen syndrome
diffuse hair loss as a result of:
iron deficiency
essential fatty acid deficiency
thyroid problems
blood sugar problems
alopecia areata.
Patients may include:
men
women
children
new or regular patients with routine or special needs
patients from a range of social, cultural or ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.
Topical treatments may include:
Dithranol
Rogaine
anti-yeast and anti-bacterial scalp creams.
Nutritional supplements may include:
tyrosine
vitamins
minerals
essential fatty acids
digestive aids.
A therapeutic treatment plan may include:
type of treatment
frequency of use
length of use
how to manage possible adverse effects
time span for improvement in hair loss.
Therapeutic treatments may include:
nutritional supplements
application of topical creams
ultraviolet radiation
lifestyle changes.
Legislative requirements may include:
federal, state and local health and hygiene
occupational health and safety.
Workplace policies and procedures may include:
health and hygiene
comfort and privacy
timeframes for the completion of the service
quality assurance.
Lifestyle adjustments may include:
changing diet
ceasing or moderating alcohol consumption
ceasing or moderating tobacco consumption
increasing exercise
reducing exposure to sunlight
other measures to reduce personal stress.
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence. It is essential for assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, the range statement and the assessment guidelines of the relevant Training Package.
Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit of competency must be able to diagnose specific hair loss problems, using microscopy if necessary. She/he must decide appropriate therapies based on the patients problem and case history, determine the need for referral to other professionals and communicate information to the patient in a simple, reassuring manner.
Specific evidence requirements
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
knowledge and consistent application of relevant workplace policies and procedures
consistently applying the use of microscopy as a tool in hair loss diagnosis and treatment
consistently applying patient diagnosis to assess where therapeutic hair loss treatment therapies are indicated
consistently applying available therapies in therapeutic hair loss treatment
ability to plan and implement hair loss treatment therapy programs involving topical treatments and/or nutritional therapies
consistently referring patients to other professionals where indicated
consistently and sensitively counselling patients at all stages of the program
accurately and legibly recording relevant data on patient histories.
Context of assessment
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, competency should be consistently demonstrated over a period of time and observed by the assessor and/or the technical expert working in partnership with the assessor. The technical expert may include the trichologist and/or an experienced person at the workplace.
Competency should be demonstrated in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment in a range of situations that may include client interruptions and involvement in other related activities normally expected in the workplace. For further guidance on the use of an appropriate simulated environment, refer to the Assessment Guidelines in this Training Package.
Specific resources for assessment
Competency for this unit should be assessed through access to:
relevant documentation such as:
workplace policy and procedures manuals
workplace forms
occupational health and safety legislation and regulations
an appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment
relevant learning materials
a qualified workplace assessor or assessment team.
Relationship to other units
This unit is a co-requisite for a range of trichology units. It requires an assessment outcome that includes evidence of the application of knowledge of hair loss diagnosis, nutrition and topical treatment therapies to the performance of one or more trichological treatments.
Prerequisite units:
none.
Co-requisite units:
WRHHS406A Develop and apply scalp treatment therapies
WRHHS407A Perform hair loss diagnosis
WRHHS408A Design and provide nutritional therapies.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested.
Observation of the learner performing a range of tasks in an actual or simulated work environment, over sufficient time to demonstrate his/her handling of a range of contingencies. Tasks may include:
identifying patient problem
developing and implementing a hair loss therapy plan including nutritional supplements and topical treatments according to an assessment of client needs
providing complementary advice according to client needs.
Written and/or oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding of the relationship between nutrition and healthy hair and scalp.
Case studies and scenarios involving referrals to and teamwork with other professionals.
Evidence required for demonstration of consistent performance
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, evidence should be gathered through a range of methods to indicate consistent performance.
It can be gathered from assessment of the unit of competency alone, through an integrated assessment activity or through a combination of both.
Evidence should be gathered as part of the learning process.
Assessing employability skills
Employability skills are integral to effective performance in the workplace and are broadly consistent across industry sectors. How these skills are applied varies between occupations and qualifications due to the different work functions and contexts.
Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically in the context of the job role and with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification.
The evidence guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence. It is essential for assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, the range statement and the assessment guidelines of the relevant Training Package.
Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit of competency must be able to diagnose specific hair loss problems, using microscopy if necessary. She/he must decide appropriate therapies based on the patients problem and case history, determine the need for referral to other professionals and communicate information to the patient in a simple, reassuring manner.
Specific evidence requirements
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
knowledge and consistent application of relevant workplace policies and procedures
consistently applying the use of microscopy as a tool in hair loss diagnosis and treatment
consistently applying patient diagnosis to assess where therapeutic hair loss treatment therapies are indicated
consistently applying available therapies in therapeutic hair loss treatment
ability to plan and implement hair loss treatment therapy programs involving topical treatments and/or nutritional therapies
consistently referring patients to other professionals where indicated
consistently and sensitively counselling patients at all stages of the program
accurately and legibly recording relevant data on patient histories.
Context of assessment
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, competency should be consistently demonstrated over a period of time and observed by the assessor and/or the technical expert working in partnership with the assessor. The technical expert may include the trichologist and/or an experienced person at the workplace.
Competency should be demonstrated in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment in a range of situations that may include client interruptions and involvement in other related activities normally expected in the workplace. For further guidance on the use of an appropriate simulated environment, refer to the Assessment Guidelines in this Training Package.
Specific resources for assessment
Competency for this unit should be assessed through access to:
relevant documentation such as:
workplace policy and procedures manuals
workplace forms
occupational health and safety legislation and regulations
an appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment
relevant learning materials
a qualified workplace assessor or assessment team.
Relationship to other units
This unit is a co-requisite for a range of trichology units. It requires an assessment outcome that includes evidence of the application of knowledge of hair loss diagnosis, nutrition and topical treatment therapies to the performance of one or more trichological treatments.
Prerequisite units:
none.
Co-requisite units:
WRHHS406A Develop and apply scalp treatment therapies
WRHHS407A Perform hair loss diagnosis
WRHHS408A Design and provide nutritional therapies.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested.
Observation of the learner performing a range of tasks in an actual or simulated work environment, over sufficient time to demonstrate his/her handling of a range of contingencies. Tasks may include:
identifying patient problem
developing and implementing a hair loss therapy plan including nutritional supplements and topical treatments according to an assessment of client needs
providing complementary advice according to client needs.
Written and/or oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding of the relationship between nutrition and healthy hair and scalp.
Case studies and scenarios involving referrals to and teamwork with other professionals.
Evidence required for demonstration of consistent performance
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, evidence should be gathered through a range of methods to indicate consistent performance.
It can be gathered from assessment of the unit of competency alone, through an integrated assessment activity or through a combination of both.
Evidence should be gathered as part of the learning process.
Assessing employability skills
Employability skills are integral to effective performance in the workplace and are broadly consistent across industry sectors. How these skills are applied varies between occupations and qualifications due to the different work functions and contexts.
Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically in the context of the job role and with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification.
No information