If you’re passionate about skin care and beautification, a career in esthiology might be the perfect fit for you. Esthetics involves treating dermal concerns like acne, signs of aging, dullness, scarring, hyperpigmentation, and sensitivity to improve skin’s look and health, ultimately helping clients feel more confident. And now is an opportune time to pursue it. With more and more individuals prioritizing self-care — a trend with no signs of slowing down anytime soon — the job outlook for estheticians is especially positive.
If you’re ready to turn your passion for an esthetics career into a reality, you’ll need to attend esthetician school. Let’s dive into what that entails.
What is Esthetician School?
In esthetics school, you’ll train in the theoretical and practical aspects of skin care while also developing the business skills vital to becoming a client-facing professional. In many states, including Iowa and Minnesota, esthetics programs total about 600 hours, which is the number required for licensure.
A portion of those hours will be spent in the classroom, where you’ll learn about skin physiology, behaviors, and conditions; as well as chemistry, products, types of treatments, and much more. The remainder of those hours will be spent putting your learnings into practice with real clients under instructor supervision. You’ll gain much-needed first-hand experience interacting with clients while performing a range of services that include facials, body treatments, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, hair removal, and makeup application.
Esthetician School Requirements
Esthetics school can be appealing to those interested in working in the beauty world because you don’t need previous industry experience.
As for what is needed to attend esthetics school, most programs will require you to submit an application and application fee, present photo ID, and provide high school transcripts with your graduation date or G.E.D. certificate. Some schools may require you to interview; others may require you to sit for a preliminary exam.
Once you’re in, you’ll need to pay tuition, which varies per state and per program. Many institutions will offer scholarships and financial aid, as well as financing options, to assist with the cost of tuition. Throughout the duration of your program, you’ll need to maintain a minimum grade average — at PCI Academy, this is 85% — and adhere to attendance requirements. Not doing so could result in failure to meet the state-required training hours needed to graduate and get licensed.
Length of Esthetician School
How long you’re in esthetics school depends on the number of hours your state requires for licensure and whether you’re attending full-time or part-time. For states like Iowa and Minnesota that require 600 training hours for licensure, esthetician school can be completed in less than a year, even operating on a part-time schedule of 18 to 24 hours per week.
Life After Esthetician School
The future after esthetics school is bright, with career opportunities available in day spas, salons, resorts, dermatology offices, plastic surgeon offices, med spas, and more in careers such as:
- Spa Esthetician
- Medical Esthetician
- Aesthetic Technician
- Product Distribution
- Spa Owner
- Eyelash and Brow Specialist
- Waxing Specialist
- Makeup Artist
- Brand Educator
- Beauty Influencer
In addition to completing your state’s required number of training hours, you’ll also need to pass theory and practical exams to obtain your license. Once you have it, you’ll need to renew it periodically, which involves completing continuing education (CE) courses.
In Iowa, estheticians must complete a minimum of six CE hours every two years for license renewal — four in technical training and two in state law. In Minnesota, license renewal requires the completion of at least eight CE hours every three years — four in technical training and four in state law.
You also have the option to deepen your skillset and become a licensed advanced practice esthetician. This will require a few hundred more hours of schooling — again, the exact amount varies per state — but will allow you to train in and eventually perform highly advanced, in-demand skincare treatments for clients.
Choosing an Esthetician School
Now that you know what to expect from esthetician school, it’s time to choose the right one — one that sets you on the path toward success while continuing to support your professional development.
At PCI Academy, we offer a robust esthetics curriculum consisting of both specialized coursework and practical instruction that fulfills Iowa and Minnesota’s 600-hour licensure requirements in just seven months. After you’ve graduated, we assist with job placement, cover licensing exam and application fees, and offer free continuing education so you can renew your license and refine your skills at no cost.
Contact us today or apply now to set your esthetics career in motion.