Esthetician Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an esthetician. Feel free to use our esthetician job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an esthetician.
Who is an Esthetician?
An esthetician evaluates the skin of clients and determines which treatments will best enhance their appearance. They offer facials, microdermabrasion, hair removal, chemical peels, and other skincare services.
A cosmetologist who specializes in skincare and aesthetics is an esthetician. Both men and women can find ways to take care of their skin with the help of an esthetician.
They are professionals with a degree in aesthetics who work in various facilities, including spas, plastic surgery practices, and health spas. They are trained to offer restorative and enhancer treatments.
Patients can have their skin treated by an esthetician, including facials, chemical peels, body treatments, and waxing. They may also offer more advanced treatments like full chemical peels and pore cleansing, light therapy, hair removal, and light therapy. An esthetician may also help patients to recover from surgery or burns.
Esthetician Job Description
Below are the esthetician job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an esthetician job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an esthetician include the following:
- Providing facial treatments to address the skin concerns of the client
- Performing massages on the scalp and face for therapeutic or relaxation reasons.
- Providing hair removal treatments such as threading, waxing, waxing, and chemical peels.
- Giving recommendations to clients regarding the best treatment for their needs
- Performing makeovers for special events and applying makeup
- Using face and body masks, such as compression wraps or sugar and salt scrubs.
- Referring clients to doctors and other healthcare professionals for advanced treatments
- Collaborating with other healthcare professionals to provide long-term, involved treatments when necessary
- Educating clients on the benefits of different products and skincare regimens
- Guiding customers through the different types of services and products
- Participating in safety and continuing education meetings
- Offering consultations to assist clients in choosing the right treatments for their skin
The following are other important tasks:
- Providing skincare analysis
An esthetician will assess the skin of a client to determine the best way to care for it and recommend products or procedures to improve their appearance.
- Counseling clients about skincare options
Estheticians work with clients to discuss options for skincare products and treatments. A client may have an esthetician meet them to discuss their skincare needs and create a beauty routine.
- Providing facials and body wraps
One type of skincare treatment that estheticians may offer is a special product for the face or body. This can be done through gentle massage, application creams, and warm compresses.
- Exfoliating
This is another treatment that estheticians perform. They may use soft abrasive methods to remove old skin cells.
- Offering luxury esthetic services
A spa-like environment can be used by a therapist to offer treatments such as aromatherapy, which can help reduce stress and restore skin.
- Cleansing your pores
An esthetician might use specific products or methods to gently clean your pores.
Sometimes, estheticians work in the offices of plastic surgeons. They can prepare and clean equipment, and consult with patients before and after surgery to make sure they have a safe and effective skincare regimen.
- Participating in the sales of skincare products
An esthetician might also sell skincare products in their office. They might help customers choose the best products or recommend the best ones to them.
- Acne treatments
An esthetician can also offer treatment options for clients suffering from acne.
Qualifications
There are certain requirements for being an esthetician, depending on your level of expertise.
Education
Most states require that estheticians have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent and to complete a cosmetology program. They also need to be able and willing to take part in lab and internship courses. Two-year cosmetology programs are offered by trade schools and community colleges. These programs combine classroom learning with practical training. You will need to learn about sales, ethics, and cosmetology laws.
In a hands-on environment, professionals learn skills such as proper sanitation and disinfection of tools, performing facials, massage, hair removal techniques, and applying makeup. Continuing education is required for estheticians to maintain licensure. This ensures that they meet the state’s highest competency standards.
Training
Training as an esthetician prepares you for a career in the cosmetology industry. Estheticians can work in spas, clinics, and salons. However, it is important to study and train in specific areas. The estheticians are trained in either a private school or public school and then go on to obtain licensure through the state cosmetology boards.
Anatomy and physiology training teaches you about the structure and functions of the body and individual parts. This training focuses on healthy body functions and gives knowledge about how to maintain that health. Students are also given a brief overview of diseases and skincare in these studies.
Students learn about diseases and body systems, as well as how they affect hair and skin. This area offers a chance to study the skin, organs, and cells of an esthetician to gain a better understanding of the physiology, histology, or microscopic structure of hair and skin.
Students also learn how to work professionally by learning analysis and practice. Through observation and practice, they learn how to greet clients and conduct professional consultations. Students are better equipped to perform skin analysis on clients and adapt their techniques to suit the client’s skin type. Students will also be able to identify signs and symptoms of skin conditions that may arise in the workplace.
They can get clinical experience in nail and skincare at workshops or clinics during their esthetician training and will also be taught the basics of advanced cosmetology and artificial nail care, application, manicures, and pedicures in these clinics. Students can also meet their required hours in clinics to fulfill the requirements for practical clinical training.
Additional study in biology and cell science is necessary for medical esthetician training. Cell chemistry, physiology, metabolism, reproduction, and genetics are all covered. If students plan to work as estheticians in a hospital or medical setting, they will need this training. Before you start your training, make sure to check with the local cosmetology board to ensure that the school meets state requirements.
Certifications
Although most states require a minimum of a basic esthetician license to be eligible for entry-level jobs, you can obtain additional licenses to help your career progress and to work in higher-ranking positions. Several certifications can be obtained in this field:
- Basic certification
This credential requires that individuals complete a program on essential skincare topics such as skin analysis and facial techniques. After this, they must pass the basic licensing exam. The license is valid in all 50 US states provided the state meets its course-hour requirements. The renewal of a biennial license usually involves paying a small fee and taking continuing education courses for estheticians.
- Masters certification
A master esthetician license is required for individuals who wish to work in clinics or medical spas. This certification requires the same training and advanced coursework as a basic license in skin therapy. It also includes training in laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, and laser skin therapy. As master estheticians, they work with dermatologists and surgeons to treat skin conditions, injuries, or surgeries. The minimum requirements for this credential are typically 1,200 to 1,500 hours in coursework and passing a master licensure exam.
Essential Skills
- Sales
An esthetician must be knowledgeable about salon products and services. They also need to know how to market and sell them. Estheticians often have to market and show products strategically and can sometimes earn commissions for sales.
- Communication
The communication skills of estheticians are used to build relationships with clients. They ask questions, listen, understand and make their clients feel at ease.
- Interpersonal skills
As with many medical professionals, estheticians choose their profession because they want to make a difference in the lives of others. They observe and read body language to determine the client’s feelings about their services and work together to solve common and uncommon skincare problems.
- Technical skills
This includes the ability to use tools to disinfect, clean, and sterilize equipment and tools. Many estheticians must be skilled in using client databases, point of sale systems, and other computer-related tasks. They use their vast knowledge of skin types to provide expert advice and carry out complex skincare procedures for clients.
How to Become an Esthetician
These are the steps you need to take to be an esthetician.
- Register in a cosmetology/esthetician program
To become an esthetician, you must complete a cosmetology/esthetician program approved by your state. While some states require that applicants have a high-school diploma or GED to attend cosmetology school, others will accept candidates who are at least 16 years of age. There are many programs available in esthetics. They can be expensive, located, scheduled, and accessible. It is a good idea to look at all options in your area before you choose the one that will best suit you.
Cosmetology and esthetician programs provide training in customer relations, esthetician treatments, and methods for disinfecting equipment and areas where you practice. A cosmetology program will help you to develop your skills and give insight into the day-to-day operations of an esthetician. The majority of cosmetology and esthetician programs require a mixture of classroom education, hands-on experience, and coursework.
- Obtain a state license
To be able to practice as an esthetician in the state you intend to live in, you will need to obtain a license. Every state may have its requirements and processes to obtain licensure. It is important to review the regulations in your specific state to make sure you get the right license. A majority of states require that you have completed a minimum amount of practical and classroom education, as well as passing the state licensing exam. These exams usually include both written and practical sections, such as performing treatments or showing mastery of techniques.
After a set number of years, you will also have to renew your license. This requirement may vary from one state to the next.
- You might consider pursuing certification
To make yourself stand out to potential employers, you can earn certifications. Although certifications are not necessary to become an esthetician, they can show your passion and dedication to the profession. A certification can help you stand out from other applicants when applying for jobs as an esthetician. After completing esthetician or cosmetology school, and having worked for at least two years in the field, estheticians can begin the certification process.
The National Esthetician Certification is the most sought-after certification for estheticians, and it is offered by the National Coalition of Estheticians Association. The process for becoming certified involves learning from a manual and filling out an application in four to six weeks. Once you apply, you will be granted authorization to take the exam. You can also do it from your home computer. An NCEA certification is valid for three years. After that, you will need to recertify. At that point, you can take the exam again.
- Get experience by working in the field
You can apply for entry-level jobs as an esthetician. You can also work as an esthetician in a spa or salon that is your own or part of a larger business like a hospital, hotel, or resort. With this, you will be able to improve your skills as an esthetician by working in this field. You can build a solid client base who are familiar both with your work as well as you personally.
Other industries may also offer opportunities for estheticians, such as sales or representation of beauty companies.
- Keep learning
You must complete the educational requirements to become an esthetician. This includes obtaining a state license. Licenses are required to be renewed after a set number of years. It is a good idea to keep track of the date you will need to renew your license.
This time can be used by estheticians to study new treatments.
Estheticians are always aware of new medical developments. They pay close attention to the effectiveness of current treatments and new procedures. It is important to stay abreast of the latest developments in this field. This will help you ensure that your treatments are safe, effective, thus increasing client satisfaction.
Where to Work
There are many settings that an esthetician can work in, including sterile clinics, relaxing resorts, luxurious resorts, and even clients’ homes in the case of house calls.
Many of the skills, experience, and qualities of estheticians can be used in the following industries:
- Nursing
- Marketing cosmetics
- Medical device sales
- Plastic surgery
- Dermatology
Esthetician Salary Scale
In the United States, the average annual salary an Esthetician earns is $36,570.
