Certified Medical Aesthetics Certification and Career

<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Median Annual Salary (2017)</b></td><td> $41,100 for skincare specialists working in the offices of physicians</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Certification</b> </td><td> Voluntary National Esthetician Certification is available through the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors &amp; Associations (NCEA)</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Licensing</b></td><td> Licensure is required to be a practicing medical aesthetician</td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---WhatSTheDifferenceBetweenAnAestheticianAndAMedicalAesthetician">What's the Difference Between an Aesthetician and a Medical Aesthetician?</h3><p>Aestheticians are skin care professionals who provide treatments such as facials, waxes and make-up. Medical aestheticians are individuals in the field who specialize in assisting patients recovering from injury or disease. </p><p>Medical aestheticians work at medical spas, medical offices or hospitals. With their background in skin care and skin analysis, medical aestheticians are especially helpful in dermatology and plastic surgery offices. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), aestheticians working in surgical hospitals and medical offices earn more than the average for most skin care specialists (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). A May 2017 BLS survey found that skin care specialists working in physicians' offices earned an average annual salary of $41,100. </p><h3 id="section---WhatPrerequisitesAreNeeded">What Prerequisites Are Needed?</h3><p>To be a medical aesthetician, you must have a state aesthetics license. To earn an aesthetician license, most states require that you have graduated from a state-approved cosmetology program. Cosmetology training programs can range from 600-1600 hours in class and practical instruction. In some states, like Washington, an apprenticeship may be completed in place of a training program. After meeting your state's requirements, you will be eligible to take the aesthetics licensing examination. </p><h3 id="section---WhatSpecializedProgramsAreAvailable">What Specialized Programs Are Available?</h3><p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical aestheticians often study in general skin care programs that they then supplement with more specialized medical training. This can include college courses in anatomy or on-the-job training. However, you can find some colleges offering advanced training programs in master aesthetics and medical aesthetics. You may study the following topics: </p><ul><li>Cosmetic chemistry </li><li>Anatomy and physiology for estheticians </li><li>Facial procedures </li><li>Skin diseases and disorders </li><li>Spa/clinical operations </li><li>Laser theory and applications </li><li>Bacteriology, salon safety and sanitation </li><li>Medical terminology for estheticians </li></ul><p>In some programs, you may participate in clinics on campus, where you can practice techniques in a real-world setting. Because aesthetics work requires hands-on experience, online program options are rare. However, some programs may have a few individual courses that can be completed online. </p><h3 id="section---HowDoIBecomeCertified">How Do I Become Certified?</h3><p>The National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors and Associations (NCEA) is an organization that strives to standardize the educational requirements for aestheticians and offers voluntary certification. You may be able to find certification preparation classes in your state or online. Additionally, you can find NCEA-approved schools that prepare you for state licensure in addition to NCEA certification. </p><p>The certification exam covers topics on ethics, medical applications, communication, skin care treatments and business. Medical topics may include the following: </p><ul><li>Medical terminology </li><li>Pre-operation care </li><li>Post-operation care </li><li>Cosmetic applications </li><li>Medical procedures </li><li>Enhancing surgery recovery</li></ul>