Occupational Summary
A Holistic therapist, Spa therapist or Wellbeing therapist apprentice on a Level 3 apprenticeship delivers tailored holistic and wellbeing experiences in spa, medi‑spa, leisure and beauty settings. They create, implement and adapt treatment plans using holistic therapy principles to calm or stimulate the sensory perceptions of the body and mind, supporting physical, emotional and mental balance. Apprentices carry out treatments such as aromatherapy, acupressure, holistic massage, Indian head massage and lymphatic drainage, provide post‑treatment aftercare and recommendations, manage treatment time and client safety, contribute to the commercial effectiveness of the business, and work individually or as part of multi‑disciplinary teams while liaising with other health and non‑health practitioners and reporting to a manager or lead practitioner where applicable.
The Level 3 Wellbeing and Holistic Therapist apprenticeship comprises 80 KSBs (knowledge, skills and behaviours), typically lasts 20 months and has a maximum funding band of £9,000. End-point assessment is conducted via a knowledge test, observation with questions and a professional discussion.
View official Skills England source text
This occupation is found in wellbeing environments; Spa, Leisure, Holistic or Wellness Therapy centres, Medi-spas and Beauty salons, although these environments are expanding due to the continuing demand for lifestyle wellness including para medical, health care environments and businesses implementing wellbeing corporate responsibility. The broad purpose of the occupation is to create, implement and adapt tailored holistic and wellbeing experiences, in a variety of environments, meeting and managing treatment and experience outcomes in private, secure and safe environments. Wellbeing and Holistic therapists complete treatments and wellbeing experiences via holistic therapy principles, theories and applications to calm or stimulate the sensory perceptions of the body and mind in the pursuit of optimal functioning and balance of the physical, emotional and mental aspects of daily life. This results in a dynamic state of equilibrium and wellbeing for the client. Wellbeing therapists deliver specific treatments such as; aromatherapy, acupressure (manual digit pressure massage applied by the hands to specific points on the face or body) and holistic massage (therapeutic hands-on massage therapy that affects the clients physical, emotional and mental wellbeing), Indian head massage, lymphatic drainage and wellness experiences. They provide post treatment aftercare and make future recommendations. They contribute to the commercial viability and effectiveness of the business to enhance the client experience. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with other health and non-health care practitioners including therapists such as beauty, spa, wellbeing and holistic as part of multi-disciplinary teams and sometimes and clinical specialists. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for the time management of the treatments and wellbeing experiences they deliver, the safety and wellbeing of themselves and the clients. They can work as individuals or as part of diverse teams to provide a wellbeing offering to clients, reporting to a manager or lead practitioner if part of a multi-disciplinary team.
What's in the Delivery Pack?
Every section is tailored specifically to the ST0685 standard, using official KSB data, the published assessment plan, and sector-specific context.
KSB Interpretations
Plain-English interpretation of every Knowledge, Skill and Behaviour
EPA Preparation
End-point assessment readiness, gateway checklist and method guidance
Delivery Risks
Occupation-specific risks, mitigations and early warning signs
Delivery Model Options
Model-selection guide comparing day release, block release and front-loaded approaches
On/Off-the-Job Mapping
Which KSBs are best taught by the provider vs developed in the workplace
Initial Assessment & RPL
Starting points, prior learning recognition and programme adaptation
English, Maths & Digital
Where functional skills embed naturally and standalone qualification guidance
Employer Engagement Guide
Employer commitments, progress reviews and workplace engagement guidance
Get the ST0685 Delivery Guide
Unlock all 8 AI-powered sections — KSB interpretations, EPA preparation, delivery risks, employer engagement, and more. Tailored to Wellbeing and holistic therapist.
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English & Maths
English and maths qualifications must be completed in line with the apprenticeship funding rules .
Typical Job Titles
Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours
Knowledge
50- K1: How to complete an in-depth client lifestyle profile, body and skin analysis including type, condition, Fitzpatrick scal...
- K2: Strategies to aid relaxation and manage stress levels and how these are used to improve the client's physical and emotio...
- K3: Factors that affect wellbeing therapies including schedules and indicators
- K4: How to select the most suitable wellbeing and holistic principle to apply, being fully present to maximize the therapy o...
- K5: Factors that contribute to an individual's wellbeing and protective strategies to improve relaxation, stimulate or calm ...
- + 45 more items
Skills
25- S1: Complete an in-depth dynamic client profile consultation from which wellbeing therapies and treatment experience schedul...
- S2: Communicate verbally with clients to build and maintain trust
- S3: Obtain, provide and collate accurate and relevant information
- S4: Conduct allergy, sensitivity and tactile tests to establish suitability for treatment
- S5: Comply with organisational operations to meet legal, regulatory, licensing and or local rules, industry requirements, tr...
- + 20 more items
Behaviours
5- B1: Owns their work, is proactive and responsible
- B2: Maintains professional ethics: integrity, respect, empathy, client confidence, confidentiality and discretion
- B3: Contributes ideas, leads by example and acts as an ambassador for the organisation and industry
- B4: Communicates appropriately, is helpful and courteous at all times and adapts behaviour in response to each client and si...
- B5: Proactively manages and maintains own wellbeing
Duties (14)
Develop and create client lifestyle profiles from which holistic therapy treatments and wellbeing experience schedules can be produced, in pursuit of optimal functioning and balance of the physical, emotional and mental aspects of daily life resulting in a dynamic state of equilibrium and wellbeing for the client
Plan holistic, thermal treatments (heat applied by direct or indirect means) and wellbeing experience schedules, both singularly or as courses of treatments embedding holistic principles, theories and applications
Treat clients with variable needs, including those with specific health issues. Ensuring any required consent has been established with other multi-disciplinary professionals
Provide holistic therapy treatments and wellness experiences for improving the condition of the client's physical and emotional welfare and wellbeing, utilising fundamental relaxation techniques, strategies and stress management. This includes: Indian head massage, lymphatic drainage massage, aromatherapy (using 20 oils essential oils), manual acupressure massage (digit pressure massage applied by the hands to specific points on the face or body) and holistic massage (therapeutic hands-on massage therapy that affects the clients physical, emotional and mental wellbeing) to induce, relaxation, improve circulation, promote skin healing and energise
Provide thermal (heat) treatments and wellness experiences, applied by direct or indirect means, to improve the condition of the client's physical and emotional welfare and wellbeing to including body treatments, heat experiences and pre-treatments in preparation for further treatments
Use and apply a range of holistic therapy and wellness experiences, products, tools and equipment to provide holistic therapy treatments and wellness experiences
Use and apply a range of thermal therapy techniques, products, tools and equipment to provide thermal treatments
Modify and adapt holistic and thermal treatments and wellness experiences based on client feedback and reaction during treatments. maintaining the client's wellbeing
Provide advice on immediate post treatment aftercare and future recommendations, including advice regarding healing crisis as a result of holistic or thermal therapy treatments and experiences
Adhere to health and safety, legal and organisational requirements, treatment protocols and manufacturer instructions relating to holistic, thermal and wellbeing experiences and therapies
Contribute to promoting the business, its products and services to drive business growth and client satisfaction
Perform, implement and complete risk assessment protocols in relation to the client, treatment and environment
Liaise with colleagues, non-health care or health care practitioners
Maintain up to date knowledge and skills of new and emerging techniques, equipment and business practices
End-Point Assessment
Assessment Plan
Type: PDF
Version & Source
- Version
- 1.1
- SSA updated
- Last changed
- 9 Dec 2025
- Earliest start
- 9 Dec 2025
- Approved for delivery
- 24 Feb 2021
- EQA Provider
- Ofqual
- Sector Subject Area
- 1.3 Health and social care
- Trailblazer
- TB0045
- Last checked
- 11 Mar 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What knowledge, skills and behaviours are in the ST0685 standard?▼
The Wellbeing and holistic therapist apprenticeship has 50 knowledge items, 25 skills, and 5 behaviours that apprentices must demonstrate.
How long is the Wellbeing and holistic therapist apprenticeship?▼
The typical duration is 20 months, with a maximum funding band of £9,000.
What does a delivery guide for ST0685 include?▼
The KSB Planner delivery guide includes plain-English KSB interpretations, EPA preparation guidance, delivery risk analysis, on/off-the-job mapping, employer engagement strategies, and more — all tailored to ST0685.
Data sourced from Skills England. KSB Planner delivery guides are an interpretation and planning aid based on official published source material — not an official regulator-issued document.