How to Become a Facialist

There’s a lot more to esthetics than applying a face mask ” it’s about enhancing and correcting the beauty and health of skin, the largest organ in your body. Read on to learn how to become a facialist in your state.

Enroll in a Facialist School

In order to become a facialist in your state, you’ll need to complete an accredited facialist program, which typically leads to a diploma or certificate. One of the most prominent accreditors of facialist schools and programs in the United States is the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences.

In most states, you need to be at least 16 years old to enroll in facialist schools. A facialist program can usually be completed in about six months of full-time study, though your state may require additional coursework or clinical hours. Before you choose a facialist school, contact your state cosmetology licensing board to determine its specific education requirements.

Complete Facialist Program Hours

About 80 percent of facialists have graduated with 600 hours or more of training, reports Associated Skin Care Professionals, a national organization devoted to professionally supporting and insuring skin care professionals. While only 260 and 300 training hours are required in Florida and Massachusetts, respectively, most states, including New York and California, require 600 hours of facialist training. In Georgia, Kansas, and Kentucky, that number jumps to 1,000. If you live in a state that requires relatively few training hours to become a facialist, consider completing a minimum of 600 hours. After all, the more comprehensive your training, the better your career prospects and the easier it will be to get licensed in another state if you decide to move.

In Utah and Virginia, 600 hours of training are required to become a facialist; these states also offer the opportunity to earn a master esthetician license after completing an additional 600 hours of training. With the master license, you can go beyond the basic facial and perform advanced treatments like microdermabrasion.

Get a Facialist License in Your State

Facialists are licensed in 49 states, along with Washington, D.C.; Guam; Puerto Rico; and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Connecticut is without specific licensing for facialists, but the state does confer a cosmetology license, which requires 1,500 training hours

After you’ve finished facialist school, you can begin the process of getting a facialist license in your state. You’ll need to apply for a license, get your education credentials approved, and take and pass written and practical state licensing exams. Thirty-six states and Washington, D.C., use National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology tests for licensing purposes. In most states, you’ll also need to complete continuing education hours each year to renew your facialist license and keep your skills fresh.

When you go to school to become a facialist, you’ll be well on your way to securing a bright future in a beautiful career.