When you train as an esthetician, you enter a rewarding career in which you help boost people’s self-confidence by enhancing their natural beauty. Read on to discover how to become an esthetician, along with salary information and essential job-hunting tips.
What is an Esthetician?
An esthetician is a licensed skin care professional who provides beauty-enhancing services.
Many people wonder about the differences between an aesthetician vs esthetician vs dermatologist and esthetician vs cosmetologist. Let’s clear up the confusion:
- Aesthetician vs esthetician: Aestheticians are more likely to provide medical skin care, while estheticians typically provide cosmetic skin care
- Esthetician vs dermatologist: Dermatologists specialize in skin health, while estheticians focus more on appearance-enhancing services
- Esthetician vs cosmetologist: While estheticians provide skin care, cosmetologists also provide hair and nail services
What Does an Esthetician Do?
An esthetician’s resume is varied: estheticians provide facial treatments, skin analysis, chemical peels, hair removal, microdermabrasion, and more.
How to Become an Esthetician
Let’s break down how to become an esthetician step by step. You’ll need to:
- Enroll in a licensed esthetician program or school
- Complete a set number of training hours
- Pass your written and practical exams
- Apply for your license
- Craft your esthetician resume and begin applying for roles
Our esthetician resume templates will help you build a polished and professional resume in minutes, so you can spend your time studying for your exams instead of stressing over job applications.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Esthetician?
In most states, you can become an esthetician in a matter of months. We’ll explore different state requirements in more detail below, so keep reading.
How Long is Esthetician Training?
Esthetician training can be as short as 260 hours or as long as 2,144 hours, with most states requiring around 600 hours of training.
Even when you’re in training, you should begin building a resume for esthetician students. A resume for esthetician students can highlight your skills and experience.
A Day in the Life of an Esthetician
Estheticians spend their days performing skin care treatments in a safe and sanitary manner. They also consult with clients, recommend products, and undergo training.
Esthetician Salary: How Much Does an Esthetician Make?
Estheticians average $37,300 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But several factors can improve your esthetician salary, including your location and specialisms.
A master esthetician salary can be significantly higher than the standard esthetician salary. And no matter your experience level, a polished esthetician resume can help you negotiate higher rates. (Psst! Use our esthetician resume templates to help you write a winning resume.)
Esthetician Salary Ranges
The typical esthetician salary ranges from $11.10 to $31.58 an hour, according to the BLS. A master esthetician salary will be at the higher end of this range.
How Much Does an Esthetician Make an Hour?
Estheticians earn $17.93 per hour on average, according to BLS data.
Is Becoming an Esthetician a Good Fit for Me?
Customer service is at the heart of an esthetician job description. If you enjoy helping others feel confident and beautiful, working as an esthetician could be a rewarding career choice for you.
Where Can an Esthetician Work?
Estheticians work in spas, salons, clinics, medical offices, hotels, and on cruise ships.
How to Apply for Esthetician Jobs
Before applying for roles, take the time to prepare an esthetician resume and cover letter showcasing your qualifications. Your esthetician cover letter should explain your passion for skin care, while your resume needs to demonstrate that you have the skills mentioned in the esthetician job description.
Writing an eye-catching resume can be challenging, so use a template to make sure yours is attractively laid out. Our esthetician resume templates come with recruiter-approved phrasing to help you stand out from other applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
These questions come up again and again by readers wondering how to become an esthetician.
How Much is Esthetician School?
Esthetician school tuition is normally several thousand dollars, plus you’ll need to pay for textbooks and your state license application.
How to Get an Esthetician License
To get an esthetician license, you need to enroll in an approved training program before sitting practical and written exams. You also have to submit an application form.
What is a Licensed Esthetician?
A licensed esthetician is a trained and certified skin care professional authorized to perform a range of skin care and beauty treatments.
How to Become an Esthetician in Texas
Becoming an esthetician in Texas requires completing at least 750 hours of instruction in a licensed beauty school and obtaining a Texas cosmetology license.
How to Become an Esthetician in California
If you want to become an esthetician in California, you’ll need to spend 600 hours in an approved training program before taking written and practical examinations.
How to Become an Esthetician Online
Your state board will tell you which online training programs are accredited so you can become an esthetician online.
What Can You Do with an Esthetician License?
With an esthetician license, you unlock the door to a range of fulfilling careers, including esthetician, cosmetologist, dermatologist, medical esthetician, trainer, salon owner, make-up artist, make-up salesperson, and beauty writer.
How Much Does It Cost to Become an Esthetician?
The cost of becoming an esthetician varies from state to state, but you should budget for your school enrollment and tuition, textbooks, and state licensing fees.
What is a Master Esthetician?
A master esthetician has advanced skin care knowledge thanks to extensive study and training in beauty treatments such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and laser therapy. They typically perform more complex skin care procedures.
What Does a Medical Esthetician Do?
Medical estheticians support patients with skin conditions and trauma, in addition to combating signs of aging. They typically work in plastic surgery, dermatology, and medical spas.
How to Become an Esthetician in Florida
If you want to become an esthetician in Florida, you’ll have to complete 260 hours of training in a licensed esthetician program before passing your written and practical exams. This typically adds up to four to six months of beauty school.
How to Become an Esthetician in NY
New York estheticians gain their license after spending 600 hours in an approved training program and passing their exams.
How to Become an Esthetician in Michigan
Before working as an esthetician in Michigan, you’ll need to spend 400 hours in a state-approved program, pass your exams and receive your state license.
How to Become an Esthetician in NJ
After 600 hours of study in a licensed program, you’ll be able to sit your exams and become an esthetician in New Jersey.
How to Become an Esthetician in Georgia
You’ll have to spend at least 1,000 hours in a licensed esthetician school if you want to become an esthetician in Georgia. Once you’ve completed your training program, you’ll need to pass your exams in order to receive your state license.
How to Become an Esthetician in NC
The North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners requires 600 hours of training in an approved school or program before they’ll grant you an esthetician license.
How to Become an Esthetician in PA
To become an esthetician in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to spend 300 hours studying in an approved program.
How to Become an Esthetician in Ohio
After 600 hours of study in an approved program, you can apply for your Ohio state esthetician license.
How to Become an Esthetician in Illinois
The Illinois Division of Professional Regulation grants esthetician licenses to applicants who have spent 750 hours in an approved program and passed their exams.
How to Become an Esthetician in MD
Becoming an esthetician in Maryland requires 600 hours of training in an approved esthetics program.
How to Become an Esthetician in Oregon
The Oregon Board of Cosmetology requires aspiring estheticians to spend at least 500 hours in an approved school or program. Once you’ve done that, you can sit your exams, pay your license fee and officially become an esthetician.
How to Become an Esthetician in Missouri
After 750 hours of study in an approved program, you’ll be able to sit your exams and achieve your esthetician license. Alternatively, you can spend 1,500 hours as an apprentice.
How to Become an Esthetician in Oklahoma
Becoming an esthetician in Oklahoma requires enrolling in an approved 600-hour esthetics program and passing your practical and theory exams.
How to Become an Esthetician in Arizona
After 600 hours of study in an approved esthetics program, you’ll be able to apply for your Arizona state license and become an esthetician.
How Many Years to Become an Esthetician?
Depending on your state, you might be able to become an esthetician in just a few months. Licensing requirements vary, but in most parts of the US, you can finish your training in a year or less.
How to Become an Esthetician in VA
If you want to become a licensed esthetician in Virginia, you’ll need to complete a 600-hour approved training program or work as an apprentice for 2,144 hours. Pursuing a career as a master esthetician in Virginia requires completing a licensed program that spans 1,200 hours.
How to Become an Esthetician in Colorado
Becoming an esthetician in Colorado requires 600 hours of training in a state-approved program.
How to Become an Esthetician in Arkansas
The Arkansas State Board of Cosmetology requires 600 hours of study in an approved school or program before it will grant your esthetician license. You’ll also need to pass your exams.
How to Become an Esthetician in Nevada
Looking to become an esthetician in Nevada? You’ll need to sign up for 900 hours of study in an approved esthetics program. Alternatively, you can spend 1,000 hours as an apprentice.
How to Become an Esthetician in SC
If you want to become an esthetician in South Carolina, you’ll need to enroll in an approved school or program for a minimum of 450 hours of training. Once you’ve finished your course, you can sit your practical and written exams and achieve your state license.
How to Become an Esthetician in Alabama
Becoming an esthetician in Alabama requires spending 1,000 hours in a state-approved program or accumulating 2,000 hours of experience as an apprentice.
How to Become an Esthetician in Virginia
In Virginia, aspiring estheticians will need to spend 600 hours in an approved training program or 2,144 hours as an apprentice. Becoming a master esthetician requires 1,200 hours in a licensed school or program.
How to Become an Esthetician in Louisiana
The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology requires 750 hours of study in an approved program before achieving your esthetician license.
How to Become an Esthetician in CT
After 600 hours of training in an approved program, you can apply for your Connecticut state esthetician license.
How to Become an Esthetician with a Cosmetology License
The requirements to be an esthetician vary, but in most states, cosmetologists will need to complete an approved training program to offer esthetician services.
How to Become an Esthetician Near Me
Each state has different requirements to be an esthetician, so you’ll need to ask your state board about approved training programs and exams.
How to Become an Esthetician in TN
After 750 training hours in an approved program, you can sit your exams and apply for an estheticians license from the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.
How Hard is It to Become an Esthetician?
Becoming an esthetician can be challenging. The field is highly technical, and you typically need to complete several hundred hours of training in a state-approved program before taking licensing exams. But for most estheticians, the hard work is worth it in order to embark on a fulfilling career.
How Many Hours Do You Need to Become an Esthetician?
Depending on your location, you can become an esthetician in anything from 260 to 2,144 hours. Our state-specific FAQs will tell you more.
Ready to get started? Build your esthetician resume right now with Rocket Resume.