Ways to Become An Esthetician Easily: All You Need to Know
Have you been obsessed with skincare products lately? Do you insist your friends have a skincare routine? Do you volunteer to help with your friends’ skincare routine during your sleepovers? If you have, then being an esthetician is something you would love to consider for a career.
The skincare industry has been booming lately. The global skincare market is increasing each year. This means that more people are becoming interested in skincare. The market was projected to be $189.3 billion by 2025.
That’s great news for someone who wants to perform skin care services.
If you want to be in the industry but don’t know how, here are 3 easy steps to becoming an esthetician.
How to Become An Esthetician
Of course, becoming a skincare specialist is not a walk in the park. Before you can take on the job as an esthetician, you’ll be needing a license to do so. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, you need a license to be an esthetician, except in Connecticut.
While licensure is a must everywhere, the requirements to get a license is different for every state. This includes how many training hours you need to finish and specific exams you need to take.
Enroll in state-approved cosmetology school or program
Like any other professionals, knowledge and experience is a requirement before earning a license. To do this, you can enroll in a school or program that specializes in cosmetology. In some states, you only need an apprenticeship under the supervision of an esthetician.
Just make sure that the school or program you are enrolling in is state-approved. It is also important to check if the program adheres to the licensing requirement of the state’s cosmetology board.
Most community colleges have cosmetology or esthetician programs that employ blended classroom learning. This means that you will have the traditional lectures discussing laws, business, and ethics in cosmetology. On top of that, you will be required to have hands-on training that covers skin care techniques such as facials and massages.
Generally speaking, you can expect to finish the training in 600 hours. But the training hours vary from different states. As an example, in Louisiana, students need to finish 750 hours of cosmetology training. While in Idaho, students need to finish 1,200 hours of training.
Training hours also vary whether you’re a full-time student or a part-time student. If you opt for full-time status, you can expect to finish the training within 6 months. If you prefer a part-time status, you can expect to finish within 9 months.
Pass the state licensing exam
So you have already graduated and finished the required training hours in cosmetology. The next thing you will be doing is passing licensure exams. Requirements for the exam include completing the specified training hours and being 16 years of age.
If you feel like you’re ready, you can immediately take the licensure exam. On another note, if you feel like you still need more time prepping up, then you need practice tests.
Not sure if you’re ready for the exam or not? Click here to gauge yourself. This will help you see if you’re ready to take the exam or not. It’s also a great way to see which areas you need to master first before taking on the exam.
Continue education for license renewal
To renew your esthetician license, most states require you to undergo continuing education. Workshops, seminars, and conferences are your key for license renewal. Different licensing boards across the state offer workshops, which include advanced courses.
Continuing education is also important for your growth as an esthetician. Through this, you will get updated on the new techniques and research in skincare.
Cosmetologist, Esthetician, and Medical Estheticians
What is an esthetician? How does it differ from cosmetologists?
If these questions recently clouded your mind, then you’re in luck.
But before we answer these, we have to know firsthand, what is cosmetology?
Cosmetology is an umbrella term that covers a wide range of disciplines about all things beauty. It has three areas in focus: skin, hair, and nails. Cosmetologists study the application of beauty treatments to either of these areas.
Under cosmetology, there are different specializations, one of which is esthetics. An esthetician is a licensed professional who specializes in the outer layer of the skin. They can also treat skin ailments in the epidermis layer, such as acne and hyperpigmentation.
People with other skin diseases and disorders, such as skin cancer and dermatitis, are referred to a dermatologist.
Estheticians who delve into medical esthetics are referred to as medical estheticians. While estheticians have the same classes as medical estheticians, the latter study surgical skincare and other advanced classes.
It’s important to know the differences between these professions so that you’ll know which to take.
Conclusion
There are no shortcuts to being an esthetician. Almost everywhere you go, you need a license to perform skin care services. Before doing so, you should have completed a specified amount of training hours, and be at least 16 years of age.
It is also important to further your knowledge in the field. Advance training, workshops, and seminars provide you the opportunity to stay updated with new techniques and trends.
When you become an esthetician, it’s like you will be your own source of skincare tips and techniques. But most importantly, you will be doing what you love, and get paid for it.
