Posted by Maria M on June 18, 19100 at 09:20:38:
In Reply to: Very Important posted by Traci Davis on June 13, 19100 at 15:05:38:
Traci,
The education required to sit for the practical and written examinations administered by State Board of Cosmetology (or State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology in some areas) vary from state to state.
You can find out what your state requires by calling the Board. You can also request that they send you the state rules and regulations pertaining to licensed estheticians and an exam prospectus. Some states will even make available a list of sample questions. While you have them on the phone, ask them for a list of schools that offer an esthetician course.
Esthetics courses are considered technical courses. No degree is required or offered. You study and practice a set number of hours under the auspices of a school authorized by the state, take the practical and/or written exam administered by the state (in a location of the state's choosing... in California, this is Fairfield and LA), hopefully you receive your license after the exam (because you passed), then you go out and look for a job if you haven't started looking while still in school.
Estheticians are not only trained in techniques, but must learn how to analyze skin, the rules and regs for their state pertaining to their license, sanitation and safety procedures, how to recognize communicable diseases that might affect their practice, and the physiology of the skin.
If you are lucky (if the school is a good one), you will also have the opportunity to practice on the public while still in school (like student hairdressers do).
The education estheticians receive in school is enough to get them started... the burden of adding to that education is up to them, and necessary to get and stay competitive.
The pay scale is all over the place for estheticians. I suggest you talk to estheticians in your area in different settings. Book facials, and interview them then.
Best of luck!