In my flight school you don't get gold bars till you have finished
first solo = blank epaulettes
PPL = one blue bar
CPL = another blue bar
IR = another blue bar
Completed diploma = add a gold bar
then if you get an instructor rating they take all your blue bars of off you and you just have a gold bar. B-cat instructor has 2 gold bar and A cat has 3. Chief pilot can get away without wearing his gaybars (lucky him)
It makes more sense than getting gold bars as soon as you go solo!