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The Global Insight

How long does it take to become a medical esthetician?

Author

James Williams

Updated on February 27, 2026

How Long Does it Take to Become a Medical Esthetician? Medical esthetician school can be completed in nine months to a year after graduating from high school. State licensure or certification may take additional months to achieve.

How do you become a medical aesthetic?

How to Become a Medical Aesthetician

  1. Make sure you meet the requirements. In most states, you need to have your high school diploma or GED to perform laser treatments.
  2. Research medical aesthetician schools.
  3. Attend a regulated medical aesthetician school.
  4. Earn your certification and explore your job options.

Do you need a college degree to be a medical esthetician?

Even though some medical estheticians have a college degree, it’s possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED. You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become a medical esthetician. In fact, many medical esthetician jobs require experience in a role such as esthetician.

What degree does an Aesthetician need?

A cosmetology degree is a requirement for practicing as an aesthetician. To enroll in a cosmetology program, you need a high school diploma or a GED certificate. Most states offer training programs via the state board of cosmetology.

Can medical aestheticians do Botox?

You are eligible to provide Botox injections if you are a medical professional, such as a physician or nurse. Estheticians, however, are not allowed to inject Botox, because it’s not within their scope of practice.

Is a medical esthetician a good career?

While being an esthetician can be an emotionally rewarding profession, it also has its cons, and you need to know them early before pursuing this career. If making people feel and look better is one of your life goals, this career can be a good start for you!

Do estheticians make good money?

As an entrepreneur, esthetician’s income is not capped at a specific number. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, a national average yearly salary of a skincare specialist is $30,000. The income ranges from around $18,000 per year for a starting salary to $60,000 per year for top 10%.

Do medical estheticians make good money?

Pay Structure for Medical Estheticians According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, skincare specialists earn an average salary of $30,270 per year. For instance, in California, a medical esthetician typically makes much more than $52,000 a year.

How hard is it to become an Aesthetician?

Estheticians are highly trained, in-demand skincare experts, which is why an esthetics program requires around 600 hours of hands-on training hours. Keep in mind that program requirements can vary by state, but most states require at least 600 hours of training to obtain a license in the field.

Can you become an Aesthetician online?

There are currently no schools in the United States offering accredited esthetics programs online. Some colleges offer hybrid courses that allow students to complete theoretical study online; however, the study of esthetics requires hands-on learning.

What kind of Education do you need to be an aesthetician?

Education Requirements for Medical Aestheticians. An aspiring medical aesthetician needs a high school diploma or GED certificate to enter cosmetology school. Each state’s board of cosmetology approves relevant training programs, which last up to nine months and lead to diplomas or associate degrees.

What does it mean to be a medical esthetician?

A medical esthetician, or skincare specialist, is a professional who provides treatments to clients’ skin in order to combat skin issues that have resulted due to illness or burns.

What kind of environment does an aesthetician work in?

Unlike spa aestheticians, medical aestheticians tend to work in medical environments, such as a medical spa, a plastic surgeon’s practice, a dermatology clinic or a physician’s office that offers aesthetician services. In general, this means that there’s more oversight and diligence required.

Can a medical aesthetician do more than one thing?

Katz-Moulay recommends that new aestheticians don’t just focus on one thing, both in their training and when developing treatment plans. “More often than not, I have found that taking a wider approach and combining different modalities will yield much greater results than doing one thing,” she says.