Help Clients Find Their Inner Beauty As a Cosmetologist/Esthetician

An esthetician is a cosmetologist who specializes in the care and beautification of the skin. Estheticians are also sometimes known as skin care specialists. Medical estheticians work in doctor's offices and hospitals.

Most cosmetology operator training programs include sections on skin care and skin treatments as well as nail care and hair care and styling. Those who want to become estheticians typically take additional classes on skin care and aesthetics, including anatomy of the skin and treatment of skin conditions..

Cosmetology training programs range from 9 to 18 months, and graduates usually receive a certificate. Most training programs begin with several weeks of classroom studies. Cosmetology training typically includes practical training in a live salon where students learn techniques working with mannequins, and after sufficient practice, move to on to live clients..

Cosmetologist/Esthetician Licensing All of the 32,000 estheticians employed in the U.S. in 2012 were licensed to practice in their state. Most states require estheticians to hold a cosmetologist or cosmetology operator license. Requirements for a license typically include graduation from an accredited cosmetology training program, being at least 17 years old and passing a written and practical exam. Some states require cosmetologists to have a high school diploma or GED.

Salaries and Career Advancement According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, skin care specialists earned an average salary of $31,720, or $15.25 per hour, in 2012. Estheticians/skin care specialists employed in outpatient care centers took home the most, with an average salary of $42,860 in 2012. Those employed in the traveler accommodations industry were around average with an average salary of $31,580, and those in the other personal services sector came in at the bottom of the wage range, with an average salary of $28,820.