Esthetics Job Description

Where can I locate, compare, and contact esthetician schools?

What is Esthetics?
The field of esthetics (sometimes spelled aesthetics) has been growing quickly over the last 10 years, right along with the cosmetics industry. Esthetics involves beautifying the skin through a variety of ways, including facials, skin analyzing, makeup artistry, microdermabrasion, facial treatments and skin care regimes. The esthetics field also includes spa elements for the rest of the body, including body wraps and polishes, aromatherapy, foot reflexology, waxing, eyebrow shaping and eyelash tinting. So now you know what is esthetics!

What cosmetology schools offer programs in esthetics?
Many cosmetology and beauty schools offer courses in esthetics, where students learn through esthetics courses as well as hands-on training in salon environments. There are other esthetics schools that exclusively teach esthetics.

What are the requirements for an esthetics program?
Students must usually be at least 16 years old to enroll in esthetician schools, but check with the state in which you plan to enroll to make sure. Courses in esthetics take about 300 hours to complete (varies by state), and esthetics students must pass a state license exam to become a licensed esthetician. Take a look at our state license requirements page to find out more. We recommend you contact the licensing department for the state you're interested in to verify if there have been any changes in programs or required hours.

How much do esthetics programs cost?
Tuitions for esthetics schools can range depending on courses, hours of instruction needed, as well as location, facilities, and equipment. For each esthetics school you're interested in, ask what their tuition costs are and what this costs includes.

Can you take advanced esthetics classes?
Some esthetics schools also offer "advanced courses," which are very detailed classes covering specialized esthetics topics, and which help prepare the student to take state-licensed board exams to become a paramedical esthetician. Students who wish to take advanced classes usually are required to have first successfully completed the basic classes in esthetician training. If you are considering a career in paramedical esthetics, look for an esthetic school which offers basic as well as more advanced esthetician training classes.

What are some of the esthetic career opportunities?
About.com Career Planning estimates that employment of skin care specialists is projected to grow by 38% through the year 2018. Career opportunities in the field of esthetics can vary widely, from salon esthetician to paramedical esthetician, to make-up artist, as well as cosmetics buyer, cosmetic researcher, beauty editor, and instructor of esthetics to name just a few. Learn more about becoming an esthetician.

Is there a difference between esthetics and aesthetics?
Yes. One begins with the letter "a" and the other doesn't. Aside from the spelling, aesthetics and esthetics refer to the same thing: the study and beautification of skin. More about aesthetics.

This page should have answered the following questions:

What is esthetics?

What are requirements to attend esthetics schools?

Are advanced classes available for esthetics?