Electrology Schools in Idaho

Browse our directory of electrology schools in Idaho, or skip ahead to learn about the state's electrology licensing requirements and job outlook.

How to Become a Electrologist in Idaho

It takes a particular type of person to become an electrologist. A person with maturity. A person with integrity. A sensitive person, who can act with discretion. Electrolysis is a specialty area within the beauty industry that requires a special type of person who wishes to help people in a very personal and very meaningful way. If that description fits you, then a career as an electrologist in Idaho may be just what you are looking for!

State License Requirements

The state of Idaho requires that you be licensed to practice electrology. You must be sixteen and a half years old and have completed tenth grade to be license-eligible. You must have a total of 800 hours of instruction, including 500 hours in electrolysis and 300 hours in skin care to be eligible to take the licensing exam. Alternatively, you can apprentice with a licensed electrologist for a total of 1600 hours to be eligible. Either way will enable you to sit for the licensing exam.

Education Details

Electrologists use a procedure called "electrology" to permanently remove unwanted hair from the face and sections of the body. There are actually three electrology modalities that electrologists use. These are known as galvanic, thermolytic, and blend. Some electrologists are also trained in a fourth method of hair removal that is considerably different, known as laser hair removal. Galvanic involves inserting a metal probe into the hair shaft and killing the hair root with an electrical current which causes a chemical reaction. Thermolytic uses radio waves to kill the hair root by a process known as "electrocoagulation". Blend uses aspects of both galvanic and thermolytic and has several advantages of both. All of these methods make it impossible for a particular hair follicle to regrow hair. Many sessions of electrolysis are required to remove all the hair in an area of the face or body. Electrology programs are offered in some cosmetology schools and some free-standing schools of electrology. They begin your training with the anatomy and physiology of skin and hair. You learn about the different modalities used in electrolysis and the tools used in each one. You learn about sterilization procedures and sanitation regulations in Idaho. Some programs also teach aspects of running an electrolysis business, such as billing and finance, marketing and advertising, and more. Your education will include theoretical and practical components, and you will observe videos and live demonstrations of licensed electrologists performing each modality before you will be permitted to work on live people.

License Renewal

Idaho requires license renewal every year by your birthday. The cost to renew your license is $50 annually. Currently, Idaho does not require cosmetology continuing education hours to renew your license, but you may want to earn CEUs anyway in order to stay on top of your field and keep your skills fresh.

Idaho Electrology Careers

Skin care specialists in Idaho earned an average salary of $28,800 in 2013, which was the most recent year for which data were reported according to O*Net. Electrologists have a particularly marketable skill that not every skin care specialist possesses, and thus, may command a higher fee for their services. Experienced electrologists, and those who own their own businesses, stand to earn even more. Skin care services like electrolysis are in demand, and so new graduates can expect to be able to find jobs without much difficulty.

Electrologists work in a number of different settings. Most work in a spa or beauty salon setting, where they perform electrolysis in a private area or room in the salon. Electrologists also practice in some physician's offices and other medical settings. And free-standing electrolysis studios also exist. Regardless of location, electrolysis is a very personal, private procedure that is performed in a series of sessions that can last days, weeks, months, or longer. This means that electrologists get to know their clients well, and develop a relationship with them. Electrologists must be poised and mature, and understand how to make a client feel comfortable, relaxed, and confident in their skills. They need to be good listeners. In between seeing each client, the electrologist must clean and sterilize his or her tools and freshen the workspace in preparation for the next client. If you own your own salon, you must also prepare invoices and bill third party payers, such as insurance companies. Electrolysis is a service that is highly valued by the many clients who use it, so, as an electrologist, you are performing a very important service for your clients. If you truly want to help people improve their lives in a very personal, meaningful way, and you are mature and poised, and looking for a career that lets you make a difference in people's lives, a career in electrolysis in Idaho may be right for you!

Contact the Idaho State Board of Cosmetology

In Idaho, skin care professionals have begun to utilize electrology more to meet the vision of their respective salons and shops. It is a field of study that can add extra weight to aspiring cosmetologists and their careers. Those interested make It a point to visit these groups.

Idaho Bureau Of Occupational Licenses
Electrology Institute of N.E.
American Institute of Education