Consider becoming a licensed esthetician if you’re interested in a career as a beauty expert.
These experts help their clients improve the look and health of their skin by offering a range of skincare procedures.
You can decide if this is the correct employment for you and your lifestyle by understanding the certification and licensure process.
In this post, we go over how long it takes to become an esthetician, what they do, what common skills they have, what their career outlook is, and how much money they make.
Check out: How Long Does It Take to Get a PhD, After a Masters?
What is an Esthetician School Like?
In-depth training in aesthetics goes well beyond simply understanding the fundamentals of skincare.
You’ll learn about topics like hygiene, and human physiology, observe local regulations and develop effective business techniques.
Esthetician education combines classroom instruction with hands-on training.
Before applying their new abilities on mannequins and going on to actual volunteers as they become accustomed to the tools and products, students learn through classroom lectures and demonstrations.
Although most programs are daytime only, several also offer evening and weekend classes.
An esthetics student who commits to a nearly full-time schedule might put in between 24 and 35 hours per week learning or performing esthetics, in and out of the classroom.
Take out time to check out: How Long Does It Take To Become A Nurse Anesthetist?
Is Attending an Esthetician School Worth It?
Yes, attending an esthetician school is worthwhile.
You have the chance to specialize in a wide range of services by working as an esthetician, like eyelash extensions or skin waxing.
You can work as an esthetician freelance or for a salon, cruise line, or hotel spa. As soon as nine months after graduating, you can start working as an esthetician.
There are considerable regional differences in the length of educational or apprenticeship programs.
For instance, a school for estheticians in Pennsylvania only needs 350 hours of instruction, whereas, in Alabama, it can take up to 1,500 hours.
You must ace a state licensing exam after completing a program or an apprenticeship.
Don’t fail to also read: How Long Does It Take To Become A Massage Therapist?
What Schooling Do You Need to Be an Esthetician?
Start by researching your state’s Board of Cosmetology standards for obtaining an esthetician license.
Most states demand between 150 and over 1200 hours of an approved training program to be eligible for a license.
In some states, they permit apprenticeship hours in place of or besides academic hours.
You will register for the State Board exam once you have completed your hours. For this test, start preparing as soon as you can.
The written portion of this test has a failure rate of about 51%, thus adequate preparation is required.
After completing your hours, you can apply to sit for the state exam to become licensed as a professional.
A National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) exam is used in 31 states. Most likely, other states employ a similar strategy.
The NIC is the foremost expert in assessing aesthetics and getting a state license.
The exam, which lasts roughly three hours, comprises a written test with about 120 questions covering the skin, scientific ideas, and best practices, and a practical, hands-on exam where you carry out tasks under the rules and regulations of your state.
Here also: Top 11 Free Online Courses with Printable Certificates
How Long Does It Take To Become a Licensed Esthetician?
Each state has its own standards for how long it takes to become a licensed esthetician, which can be anywhere between 260 and 1,000 hours.
If you enroll full-time, programs normally take five to six months to complete, totaling 600 hours in the classroom.
Whether you complete an apprenticeship at an allowed workshop or enroll in a course at an esthetician school can affect this.
Whether you complete an apprenticeship at an allowed workshop or enroll in a course at an esthetician school can affect this. It can take you several years to finish your certification if you attend classes part-time and keep a job.
In order to finish their program, certain states could also need a certain number of hours of job experience.
This implies that you may complete months or years of relevant job experience besides finishing your coursework early to get your license.
Your state could require a work permit if you choose to pursue an apprenticeship rather than enroll in esthetician school, which could lengthen the time to get your license.
States that might let you finish an apprenticeship rather than enroll in a vocational program are listed below:
levant work experience in order to earn your license.
If you decide to pursue an apprenticeship rather than attend esthetician school, your state may require a work permit, which can increase the time it takes to earn your license.
Here’s a list of states that may allow you to complete an apprenticeship rather than enroll in a vocational program:
- Alaska
- California
- Alabama
- Hawaii
- Georgia
- Washington
- Delaware
- Maine
- Kentucky
- Idaho
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Missouri
- Michigan
- Utah
- Pennsylvania
- Oklahoma
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
How Much Does It Cost to Become a Licensed Esthetician?
The precise tuition amount varies depending on several variables, including the school’s type, whether online training courses are offered, its reputation, and more.
A community college’s entry-level esthetics degree typically costs between $4,000 and $6,000.
Most community colleges’ esthetician training programs last six months on average.
However, the cost of comparable 6-month esthetician training can range from $6,000 to $12,000.
These figures show that even if students decide to enroll in somewhat less expensive colleges, tuition costs are still quite substantial.
If they attend school in their home state, community college students may be entitled to discounts or cheaper tuition fees.
Anyone who wants to become a master esthetician should be prepared to pay more because advanced esthetics courses typically cost twice as much as the fundamental ones.
Because the workload for an advanced esthetician course is double what it usually is, more funds are required to cover everything.
Master esthetician training is normally available for at least $20,000 at private vocational institutions.
Check out: How Much is a Quarter Worth & How many Quarters in a Roll?
Salary and Job Outlook for Estheticians after Study
According to your years of experience, the state where you work, and your employer, the average annual income for estheticians is $41,670.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), thousands of posts for skin care specialists may become available over the course of the next ten years, showing a positive employment outlook for these specialists.
The BLS project a 29% growth in employment for estheticians and other skincare professionals between 2020 and 2030.
Check here: How Long Does it Take to Become a Lawyer, Salary & More
What Is an Esthetician?
An esthetician is a trained skin expert who diagnoses aesthetic problems with the skin (such as wrinkles, pigmentation, or blemishes) and administers treatments to improve it.
Most estheticians provide skin care services like facials, light chemical peels, body treatments, skin conditioning, and blemish removal, but they may also do waxing, lash extensions, and makeovers.
Contrary to certified cosmetologists, aestheticians can also do innovative procedures like microdermabrasion, extractions, chemical peels, laser therapy, and hair removal.
They could instruct clients about skincare routines, products, and the advantages of aesthetic procedures.
In clinical settings, medical estheticians may assist patients in identifying and recovering from skin-related health conditions, such as working with cancer patients or burn victims following surgery.
In a spa or salon setting, an esthetician usually works with a customer.
While not medical professionals, some estheticians work in medical settings to supplement medical treatments, such as in a dermatologist’s office.
Estheticians may work in a variety of settings, including:
- Spas
- Salons
- High-end hotels
- Luxury resorts
- Hospitals
- Nursing facilities
- Movie sets
- Dermatologists’ or plastic surgeon’s offices
- Retail or educational environments
Because estheticians are highly skilled, in-demand skincare specialists, an esthetics degree causes 600 hours of practical training.
You show that you have a solid understanding of the skin and the technologies used in innovative treatments like lasers, LED lights, oxygen, and ultrasonic waves in order to obtain an esthetics license.
Although state-specific program requirements can differ, most states demand at least 600 hours of training before granting a license.
However, fewer hours are often needed for esthetics degrees than for cosmetology schools.
Besides having the qualifications, estheticians should have a confident, approachable demeanor that gives their clients confidence.
A talented esthetician must be able to listen to their client’s needs and concerns and empathize with them, frequently personalizing therapy for them.
See also: 15 Best Therapeutic Boarding Schools in Georgia | Cost, Requirements & How to Apply
Frequently Asked Questions
Your desired educational level will determine how to proceed. Typically, a certification program for estheticians lasts 9 to 12 months to finish.
You might start working as an esthetician in as little as a year to a year and a half, considering the 1-3 months needed to prepare for the exam and locate a job.
Most certification programs for estheticians can be finished in 10–12 months.
750 hours of training as an esthetician under your belt. The Board mandates your esthetician school offers a minimum of 750 hours of instruction.
You must graduate from a 750-hour esthetician training program and satisfy the Board’s licensure requirements in the following esthetician subject areas: facials, cleansing, toning, and massage.
There must be 600 hours in a curriculum to become a licensed esthetician. The typical time to finish a 600-hour program is five to eight months.
There must be 600 hours in a curriculum to become a licensed esthetician. The typical time to finish a 600-hour program is three to five months. Depending on whether you attend full- or part time will determine this.
References
- https://www.indeed.com/how long does it take to become an esthetician
- https://www.beautyschoolsdirectory.com/what is an esthetician school like
- https://www.starpilwax.com/what schooling do you need to become an esthetician
- https://www.zippia.com/is attending an esthetician school worth it