Medical Esthetician Career Guide (Job Description and Education)

What is a medical esthetician?

Medical estheticians are professionals who work in med spas, plastic surgery and dermatologist offices, and other medical facilities to help their clients’ skin appear the best it possibly can. They are skin therapists who work with people with skin damage due to serious illness, trauma, or accidents. They also take care of patients with sun damage, discoloration, or any other issue affecting the look of their skin. In many circumstances, medical estheticians have been responsible for helping their patients gain back the confidence they once had.

Esthetician Laws

The difference between a regular esthetician and medical esthetician is the type of clients they work with as well as where they work. In many states, it is illegal to call yourself a medical esthetician. The title alludes to the fallacy that you’re permitted to provide medical care, and that is not the case. If you are administering injectables such as Botox, they need to be done under the supervision of a physician—it’s a toxin, and therefore considered a medical procedure. You could be at risk for losing your license if you’re doing procedures only physicians can do.

Although the career is called medical esthetician, it is not considered part of the medical field. It’s part of the beauty industry that works within the medical industry.

What is a Paramedical Esthetician?

Paramedical estheticians complete a short training program that enables them to work in a plastic surgeon’s office. Essentially, a paramedical esthetician and medical esthetician are exactly the same thing with the same amount of training and licensing requirements.

What Medical Estheticians Do

Medical estheticians work with Botox, chemical peels, cosmetic fillers, lasers, electrolysis, and other emerging technologies specific to the field. They may also teach patients how to apply makeup to cover up any skin issues they may have, from severe burns and scarring to pigment discoloration. Medical estheticians are passionate about helping others to rebuild their appearance in whatever capacity is necessary.

Here’s a little overview of what you’ll be doing as a medical esthetician:

• You’ll take a look at your client’s skin and analyze it
• You will have a little talk with your client and discuss treatment options
• Using wax, laser, electrolysis, or other types of systems to remove your clients’ unwanted hair
• Making product recommendations fit for your clients’ skin and issues
• Instructing and advising your client how to apply her makeup
• Applying and suggesting peels, masks, scrubs, and other products you think are good for your client

Becoming a Medical Esthetician

To get into cosmetology school, you’ll first need a high school diploma or GED. You should attend a cosmetology school to learn about esthetics. There isn’t a specific career path set to become a medical esthetician, but many students choose to take college science courses to add to their knowledge base. Find an esthetician program near you.

Some classes you’ll be taking are:

• Skin diseases and disorders
• Anatomy
• Bacteriology
• Dermatology
• Reflexology
• Aromatherapy
• Exfoliation
• Facial massage
• Lymphatic draining
• Facial treatments
• Techniques for makeup

The average esthetician program lasts 600 hours (or 4-12 months), but each state has its own requirement when it comes to course hours. Much of the medical part of the career is learned by extensive on-the-job training. Some states offer an advance training, called a Master Esthetician, which is up to an additional 1,200 hours.

To stay up to date with industry trends, it’s important to join organizations such as the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations (NCEA).

Careers in the beauty industry, including estheticians, have continuing education units (CEUs) they must complete. Every state is different when it comes to how many credits are actually required.

Learn more about becoming an esthetician.

Esthetician License & Options

Becoming a licensed esthetician doesn’t mean you’re going to be working for someone else. That’s just one of a variety of choices you’ll have. However, there are many other career paths you can follow once you’ve finished your training, passed the state boards, and become an esthetician.

• Skincare and beauty writer/blogger
• Instructor for cosmetology or esthetics class
• Retail buyer for cosmetics and skincare
• Resort spa employee
• Owner of your own practice

Maybe you can add makeup artist to your job description, as well!

Do I Need an Esthetician License?

Medical estheticians are considered personal care workers, which means that licensing is mandatory. However, each state has its own requirements. The license will allow you to work in all facilities employing medical estheticians or any other type of personal care worker. Once you complete your accredited cosmetology esthetician program, you’ll take a written and practical exam to prove you learned and retained all the necessary information in accordance with your state’s rules and regulations. You can take a free practice test here.

Medical Esthetician Skills

Here are are few skills that will help you stand out from the crowd as you look for job as a medical esthetician:

• Customer service: As a medical esthetician, you should aim to surpass your clients' expectations every time. Your personality needs to shine and accommodate even the fussiest of consumers.
• Business acumen: Even if you’re working as an employee at a spa, you’ll still want to behave as if you’re running your own business within a business. Therefore, it’s important to have a basic working knowledge of running a business, from scheduling to accounting to management.
• Initiative: You need a self-starter attitude, especially when you’re just starting your career. Clients probably won’t swarm to you at first, so you need to network and be in places potential clients are hanging out.
• Stamina: Both physical and emotional stamina are needed for this career choice. You’re working with people, many of whom have debilitating conditions. It can have an effect on you. Also, you’ll be standing and working for most of the day, so you need to make sure you ready for it.

How Much Money Medical Estheticians Earn

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average salary for medical estheticians in 2023 was $51,100, with the top 10 percent making closer to $81,320 or more.

Highest Paying States & Average Salary in 2023

Esthetician Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2032, the demand for medical estheticians will increase by 9 percent, which is faster than the national average. Because people continue to take better care of themselves and their appearance, you can expect to find many career opportunities.

So, whether you call yourself a medical esthetician, paramedical esthetician, or just plain fantastic esthetician, you are focused on your clients, their skin, and helping them feel better about themselves.

Find esthetics training programs near you.