Have you always dreamed of launching a career in the beauty and skincare industry? Whether you’re an aspiring makeup artist or a skincare enthusiast, learning how to become an esthetician could fast-track you toward a new career as a skincare professional promoting the health and appearance of people’s skin.
Fortunately, becoming a state-licensed esthetician doesn’t take years of training. In fact, simply completing a state-approved esthetician training program could see you entering the beauty profession in as little as six months or so. Join us as we explore the steps to become an esthetician, from the training required to tackle your state’s licensure exam to the career opportunities in the beauty industry that could await you.
Learn about the Dorsey College esthetician program!
How hard is it to become an esthetician?
Pursuing a career as an esthetician may initially seem difficult to achieve. However, this is not the case at all! After all, you may already possess some of the skills and attributes needed to succeed in the role, but perhaps you are concerned about expanding your experience and knowledge base and qualifying to tackle the state licensure exam.
To get started the minimum requirement to train to become an esthetician is relatively simple as most states only require you to have completed high school or obtained a GED.
As for training to be an esthetician, state-approved training programs are designed to teach you the skills and knowledge needed to succeed. An esthetician program can provide hands-on training so you can master the hands-on skills providing you the chance to perfect the practical elements before taking the licensure exam and launch you into your new career with confidence.
How do I become an esthetician?
For most aspiring skincare and beauty specialists, the best way for you to become an esthetician is to complete a state-approved esthetician training program. Choosing to study in an approved esthetician program not only provides a broader range of knowledge and practical skills needed to challenge the state exam… but they also excel at teaching you the science, artistic principles, and hands-on expertise required to thrive in a career as an Esthetician.
If you’d like to become an esthetician there are just three simple steps you need to follow.
Step 1: Find a training program
Choosing to enroll in an esthetician program at an accredited cosmetology school can offer you a multitude of benefits. The first of which is the chance to study how to become an esthetician under the direct guidance of industry experts.
Here, you can learn from an educational framework designed to prepare you for the various requirements that may be demanded of you during the licensing exam. It’s also important to find a cosmetology college or school that also provides hands-on training facilities, such as an on-campus beauty clinic.
This is because mastering how to become an esthetician is more than just studying the skills and treatments you need to learn. It’s essential to have a platform to also practice and perfect procedures such as;
- Skin analysis and consultations
- Makeup application, both cosmetic and corrective
- Facial treatments, including cleansing, exfoliation, and mask application
- Hair removal using techniques such as waxing and threading
- Sanitation and hygiene to maintain a clean and safe working environment
Step 2: Pursue obtaining your esthetician license
Due to the importance the state places on ensuring its regulatory standards, the state exam is designed to test your knowledge and abilities on topics and esthetician procedures. Here in Michigan for example, this includes1:
- Artistic principles and makeup
- Facial and skin care techniques
- Temporary hair removal
- Sanitation
- Anatomy and disorders
- Chemistry and safety
The exam is divided into two sections: a knowledge-based theory assessment and a practical evaluation observing procedures you perform on a model or mannequin. Successfully passing the licensure assessment demonstrates to the state’s governing body that you’ve met their regulatory standards and you can qualify to become an esthetician by obtaining your esthetician license.
Step 3: Start your esthetician career!
Once you’ve become a licensed esthetician by completing your training and passing your state’s licensing exam, various esthetician career opportunities await you. Obtaining your license entitles you to apply for entry-level esthetician jobs in an exciting range of workplace locations and industries.
As a result, you could soon have a new career in a specialist esthetician field that could include performing services such as:
- Makeup artistry
- Skin pathology, analysis, and treatment
- Facial and body treatments
- Rejuvenation therapies
- Hair removal
Excitingly, when you become an esthetician and skin care specialist, you’re also entering an employment sector with an exceptional job outlook. So much so that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is projecting that the profession is expected to grow by 9% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than average for all occupations 2.
How to become an esthetician in Michigan
If you’re based in Michigan and want to become an esthetician, then be sure to take the first step by enrolling in an esthetician program. Here, you can explore a wider range of esthetician skills and treatments that you might want to specialize in while also meeting the state’s licensure requirements.
Once you’ve graduated from your esthetician program, you can then sit the Michigan licensing exam with the knowledge, skills, and experience you’ve gained. And, upon passing and receiving your license in the mail… congratulations – you’ll have just become a licensed esthetician!
Could there be anything more satisfying than pursuing your dreams of embarking on a new career that embraces your passion for makeup and skincare?
Getting started with Dorsey College!
If you’d like to learn how to become an esthetician, then speak to Dorsey College today. Our esthetician program has been created with our students’ success in mind! In addition, the classes are taught by our team of licensed educators to provide you with a solid platform to help you succeed.
Designed to be typically completed in just 26 weeks, Dorsey College’s esthetician training program also enables you to achieve the mandatory hours of training required by the Michigan licensure requirements. Consisting of four core areas of learning, our esthetician diploma program covers the essential components, including:
- An introduction to esthetics
- Skin sciences
- Makeup and advanced treatments
- Esthetician career and spa management
We offer the esthetician program at our Madison Heights,MI campus (Main campus).
At Dorsey College, you can study the crucial skills needed to challenge the esthetician licensure exam and kick-start a new career in just six months. Dorsey College has determined that its Esthetician program curriculum is sufficient to fulfill educational requirements for licensure in the State of Michigan only. No educational determinations have been made for any other state, district or US territory in regards to licensure requirements.
Dorsey School of Beauty in Taylor, MI
Dorsey School of Beauty, located in Taylor, MI, is a sister school of Dorsey College and also offers an esthetician program. Dorsey School of Beauty in Taylor, MI is institutionally accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS). To learn more about Dorsey School of Beauty in Taylor, MI you can click here.
Dorsey School of Beauty has determined that its Esthetician program curriculum is sufficient to fulfill educational requirements for licensure in the State of Michigan only. No educational determinations have been made for any other state, district or US territory in regards to licensure requirements.
Sources:
(1) Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Esthetician License, https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/CTE/cte_tip_sheets/D120400-MI_Esthetician.pdf (visited November 17th 2023)
(2) Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Skincare Specialists, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/skincare-specialists.htm#tab-6 (visited November 17th, 2023).