Frequently Asked Questions about Esthetician Programs and Careers

Training to become an esthetician takes an average of 600 hours in most states, but this does vary from state to state. Some states require as many as 1,000 hours and some require as few as 250 hours. Look at our state's license requirements page to find out how many hours your state requires. We try to keep our esthetics licensing information as accurate and up-to-date as possible, but we always recommend you contact the licensing department for your state and your schools of interest to verify if there have been any changes in programs or required hours recently.

Students must also pass a state license exam at the completion of their training. The esthetics board exams typically consist of a written portion (sometimes law is included, sometimes it’s a separate exam), and a practical hands-on portion where you demonstrate in front of the exam proctors that you can perform the required esthetics services and follow all safety and sanitation guidelines. It can take several days to several weeks to receive your license in the mail after the exam depending on how quick your state board is. If you are looking to move into the medical esthetics field or some other skin care specialty, additional advanced courses may be required in your state, and in some of those states a paramedical esthetician license exam must be passed as well.What are some of the esthetician career options?

Becoming an esthetician can lead to many different career paths, including employment at salons, spas or resorts. Licensed professionals can also serve as manicurists, pedicurists, makeup artistry or even salon and spa managers . Individuals who become estheticians could also find careers in cosmetics marketing, purchasing, or beauty consulting, while others move into the medical community as paramedical estheticians or training instructors. This is just a small selection of the job titles licensed estheticians can hold:

• Esthetician/Skin Care Specialist
• Medical/Paramedical Esthetician
• Clinical Esthetician
• Master Esthetician
• Medical Spa Manager
• Wax/Hair Removal Specialist

A good esthetician should be able to work well with their hands, and have a kind and approachable manner. They must be comfortable working with clients one-on-one, and should also be able to make the customer feel relaxed and be knowledgeable about their skin care needs, as well as the products used by various skin types. Be prepared to put customers’ minds at ease by staying on top of product interactions and the latest products and techniques for all skin types. Some skills that will be useful in your skin career include being able to hold honest, genuinely helpful face-to-face discussions with clients. You should also be comfortable working in close physical proximity to the client in a private setting, and having physical contact with the client. Arm-hand steadiness, finger dexterity and near vision are also important according to O-Net .

Becoming an esthetician will require specialized training at an esthetician school, or a cosmetology school with skin care specialist training programs. You will complete skin care training with experienced instructors by studying theory through textbook learning and in-class lecture, then practicing the techniques on mannequins and fellow students in the classroom, and later in your program, on real clients in a student salon or spa setting.

There is also a lot of safety and sanitation training involved. You will be expected to know and follow state law for safety procedures in the salon setting, particularly if you or the client were to sustain an injury of some kind. Once you've completed your training at the school, you will then need to take the state licensing exam and you'll need to pass it to earn your esthetician license and begin your new career.

Becoming an esthetician can lead to many different career paths, including employment at salons, spas or resorts. Licensed professionals can also serve as manicurists, pedicurists, makeup artistry or even salon and spa managers. Individuals who become estheticians could also find careers in cosmetics marketing, purchasing, or beauty consulting, while others move into the medical community as paramedical estheticians or training instructors. This is just a small selection of the job titles licensed estheticians can hold:

• Esthetician/Skin Care Specialist
• Medical/Paramedical Esthetician
• Clinical Esthetician
• Master Esthetician
• Medical Spa Manager
• Wax/Hair Removal Specialist

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said in 2016 that they anticipate a 14% growth in esthetics jobs through the year 2026. Also, a study was recently released stating that spa industry revenue grew 4.5% , faster than the U.S. economy overall, so we anticipate continued growth for skin care professions.

There are a number of different career options licensed estheticians may pursue, including but not limited to: esthetician/skin care specialist, medical/paramedical esthetician, clinical esthetician, master esthetician, medical spa manager, wax/hair removal specialist, permanent cosmetician, esthetics school instructor, or product line developer/salesperson. As the spa and esthetics industry continues to expand, hopefully there will be new and more job options than ever before for these highly specialized beauty professionals. Visit our Esthetician Careers page for additional salary insights.

Check the Appointment Calendar

Every esthetician should begin their day by reviewing their appointment schedule and ensuring they know which clients are coming into the spa, and what services they’ll need. Many skin care specialists use the free time between clients to call and remind future appointments that they’re scheduled in the near future, which greatly reduces no-shows. Knowing the itinerary for the day can be very helpful for the skin care expert to mentally prepare.

Prepare the Office

Next, they will want to set up their room and get organized. They ensure their private room is clean, organized and tidy. With so many parts of the tool kit, it’s important to stay organized so the professional can find what they need quickly when a client is in the chair. They then sterilize equipment and clean work areas. Estheticians also often “set the mood” in their offices, sometimes through dimmer lighting, relaxing music, or pleasantly scented steam.

Consult with the Client

Because an esthetician is licensed to skin care and makeup services, and every single person’s skin has different needs, the specialist should always consult with the client about their challenges, preferences and skin allergies. The appointment generally begins with the client consultation, where you will ask a number of questions to learn what the client wants you to do. When you reach a full understanding of what the client wants, the services can then begin. This time should also be used to get to know your client on a more personal level – their tastes, interests, preferences, about their family, job, and so on. Building a personal relationship with your clients leads to customer retention and referrals.

Perform the Skin Treatment

This part could include cleansing the clients’ skin with water, special soaps, creams or lotions selected specifically for their skin types. You can talk the client through how to properly cleanse and care for their skin. You may apply creams, lotions, tonics and other solutions to address the specific client’s skin imperfections. Some clients may need blackhead extractions or hair removal services like waxing. Most facials and esthetics services involve some elements of gentle massage for relaxation and stimulating the skin. The goal is for every client to leave with their skin looking and feeling better than when they came in. Each appointment is completely custom to the client.

Schedule the Next Appointment & Ask for Referrals

When the appointment is complete, every esthetician should tell the client when they would like to see the customer next, and try to get them to book their next appointment before they pay and leave. Also let them know about any upcoming specials or promotions, and inform them of any referral discounts you offer if they send friends and family to your office. For example, “I can get you scheduled right now if you like. And don’t forget that if you refer a friend, you get 10% off your next facial!” Licensed skin care experts should remind their happy, loyal customers that they love referral business so you can continue to grow your clientele!

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2016), esthetician salaries average $31,290 per year ($15.05 per hour), but aesthetician salaries depend on a number of factors. Many estheticians choose to work part-time instead of full time, and salary has the potential to grow with experience, growing clientele, and increasing hours worked. Another thing the BLS data often does not account for accurately is the tips given for skin care services that will increase esthetician pay. For more information about beauty wages, compare the average esthetician salaries with the average cosmetology salaries.