How Much College Does it Take to Become an Esthetician?
Estheticians, also referred to as aestheticians, are non-medical skin care specialists. These personal appearance technicians give facial or full-body cleansing treatments followed by the application of moisturizing lotions, creams or tonics. They perform head and neck massages. Some are experts in makeup application techniques. Some may be trained in specific hair-removal procedures such as waxing, electrolysis or laser hair removal. Each state requires estheticians to be licensed by their Board of Cosmetology, although educational requirements vary from state to state.
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Prerequisites
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Some states allow otherwise qualified estheticians to practice if they are at least 16 years of age. Many states require estheticians to hold either a high school diploma or an educational equivalent such as a General Educational Equivalent certificate. Most states require estheticians to complete a state board-approved course of instruction in cosmetology prior to being licensed to practice in the state. Some states offer such training in high school environments through co-operative education programs.
Esthetician Training
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The number of hours of training required for an esthetician license varies from state to state. The California Bureau of Barbering and Cosmetology requires students to complete a minimum of 600 hours of skin care training from a program that is approved by the Bureau. The Tennessee Board of Cosmetology requires students to complete a course of instruction of not less than 750 hours. Oregon's Board of Cosmetology requires prospective estheticians to complete a minimum of 250 hours of instruction, including at least 150 hours or training in safety and infection control. Most states require esthetician training to be conducted by approved programs which are typically offered by vocational/technical schools, community colleges or barber/cosmetology colleges.
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Examination
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State licensure of estheticians typically requires students to take and pass a state-specific examination. Licensing examinations usually include both written and practical components. Some states may also require an oral examination. Some states may include an esthetician license as part of the more extensive cosmetology or barber license. Most states require cosmetologists to hold a separate estheticians license, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Considerations
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job opportunities for personal appearance workers, including estheticians, to increase much faster than the average for all occupations in the United States through 2018. Annual wages for estheticians ranged from less than $16,310 to more than $51,490 as of May 2009. The median annual income for estheticians was $28,580. The greatest number of jobs for estheticians were in personal care salons, but medical facilities such as hospitals and doctors' offices offered the highest wages.
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References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Barbers, Cosmetologists, and Other Personal Appearance Workers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2009 39-5094 Skin Care Specialists
- California Employment Development Department: Estheticians
- Tennessee Board of Cosmetology: Individual Licensure Requirements
- Oregon Board of Cosmetology: Cosmetology: How to Get Certified
Resources
- Photo Credit getting a facial image by Kelly Kane from Fotolia.com
