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How we teachBecoming a lash technician
Is a lash qualification legally required in Ireland?
What the law says
No specific State-approved qualification is legally prescribed in Ireland for providing eyelash extension or brow treatments.
There is currently no Irish law stating that a person must complete a particular lash extension course, hold a specific State licence, or obtain a particular QQI qualification before providing eyelash treatments.
Irish legislation does recognise eyelash treatments as part of the beauty therapy industry. The Industrial Training (Beauty Therapy Industry) Order 2024 specifically includes "eyelash treatments" among beauty and spa treatments. However, the Order does not prescribe a specific qualification or course that a lash technician must complete before working with clients.
So, can I work as a lash technician after completing a private lash course?
Yes. There is no general statutory requirement that your lash training must be awarded by the Irish State or carry a particular State accreditation.
However, there is an important difference between what the law requires and what you may need in practice.
Training and competence
Although there is no prescribed State lash qualification, anyone providing treatments to clients should have the knowledge, skills and training to perform the treatment safely.
Irish health and safety legislation applies to workplaces and to self-employed people. Where specific risks are involved, appropriate training and competence are an important part of meeting your health and safety obligations.
For this reason, completing a reputable practical lash course is strongly recommended before you work on paying clients.
In simple terms
You do not need a specific State-mandated lash qualification to become a lash technician in Ireland, and there is no single government-prescribed lash course that everyone must complete.
What you should have:
- Proper practical training in the lash treatment you intend to provide
- Evidence of your training, such as a course certificate
- Appropriate insurance, where required by your insurer, salon, landlord or business arrangements
- Safe working practices, with appropriate hygiene and risk controls
Before your first paying client: Revenue
- Register
- As a self-employed lash technician you register for income tax with Revenue. You need a PPSN. If you already use myAccount, sign in and go to Manage My Record > Tax registrations > Income Tax > Register. You can also use Form TR1.
- Every year
- By 31 October you file your tax return for the previous year and pay preliminary tax for the current year. If you pay and file online through ROS, the deadline is a little later.
- VAT
- You only have to register for VAT once your income from services goes over €42,500 a year.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Ask your Local Enterprise Office or an accountant about your own situation.
Sources: S.I. No. 56/2024, Industrial Training (Beauty Therapy Industry) Order 2024; revenue.ie - registering for tax as a sole trader, Pay and File, VAT thresholds. Checked 27 October 2026.
Becoming a lash technician: questions
What people ask before they start working on clients.
Do I need a QQI qualification to do lashes in Ireland?
No. There is no legal requirement for a QQI or any other State qualification to provide eyelash treatments. QQI awards exist in beauty therapy, but no law makes them compulsory for lash work.
Is a lash course certificate a licence?
No. A course certificate is evidence that you have been trained. It is not a State licence - and no State licence for lash work exists in Ireland.
Do I need an accredited course?
Not by law. "Accredited" usually means a private association approved the course. What matters for your clients is how well you were trained.
Can I start working straight after my course?
Legally, yes. In practice, register with Revenue first, and practise on models until you feel confident.
From the team behind this guide