Skin Care Specialist - A Leading Career in the 2010s

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics and Department of Labor have an official description of skin care specialists. Depite a specific official definition, these professionals work in a variety of settings. These places include hospitals, clinics, and physician's offices; hotels and other accomodations; nursing homes and retirement centers; health and personal care stores; beauty salons; and some others, like day spas and retreat centers.

The Skiin Care Specialist is a member of a group of professionals that include Barbers, Cosmetologists, and Other Personal Appearance Workers. This places the career among those of the beauty industry rather than among those of the medical and health industry.

These skin care specialists, or aestheticians, cleanse and beautify the skin of the human body by providing facials, full-body skin treatments, often with head and neck massages. They also apply makeup and often remove hair via waxing techniques. With additional training, they can perform laser hair removal treatments. In short, they are all-over skin specialists in the beauty industry.

From 2008 - 2018, this profession is expected to grow very quickly at a 38% growth over the decade. Median hourly wage for this profession is about $14.00, with highest wages paid in California. Among the Top 10 Fastest Growing Careers to 2020, as decided by the US Federal Government, Skin Care Specialist is in slot Number 8.

Skin care specialists need to begin with a high school diploma or GED certificate. From there, programs in skin care for personal appearance are offered in high schools, vocational schools, and postsecondary schools. Potential s=Skin care specialists can earn professional certification and a high school diploma simultaneously when the training program is offered in the high school they attend.

State licensing will be necessary after training. Qualifications vary by US State, but candidates nust usually be graduates of a state-licensed barber or cosmetology school.

Candidates for licensure complete state licensing examination written test and practical (physical) tests, sometimes including an oral exam. A separate license is given skin care specialists and their examination differs from the cosmetology exam. License renewal may be required regularly.

Aestheticians or estheticians provide about 1,800 US job openings in November 2010. These job vacancies are located largely in Houston, Dallas, and Austin, Texas; Sterling VA; Centennial CO; Collierville TN; and Minneapolis MN.

Major Hiring Employers 11/10

1. Life Time Fitness
2. Massage Envy
3. American Laser Centers
4. Beauty Career Network
5. Nordstrom
6. Pharmaca Integrative
7. Natural Body Spa & Shoppe
8. Destination Hotels & Resorts
9. Ulta
10. Omni Hotels
11. L'Oreal International
12. Dermalogica

The most estheticians are needed in Houston TX. A leading skin care professionals organization in Houston is ASCP or the Associated Skin Care Professionals. This organization can furnish the names of qualified schools for skin care across the state.

Champion Beauty College & Massage School

Toll-Free Telephone Number: 1- 800-784-9117

Champions advises potential students that for the skin care speciality, it is necessary to use a thorough understanding of skin, sciences, skin analysis. It requires mastery of related tools, a range of treatments, product chemistry basics, thorough knowledge of business concepts, and skills for handlking the demands of clients with long-term age management needs regarding appearance.

The National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations recommends a 600-hour program of training for basic skin care and a 600-hour program of advanced or Masters training.

BASIC COURSES

• GENERAL CONCEPTS
• SAFETY and INFECTION CONTROL
• APPLIED ANATOMY
  Includes study of Skin Diseases and Disorders; and Common Plastic Surgical Procedures
• SKIN TREATMENTS
• BODY TREATMENTS
• MECHANICAL ELECTRICAL DEVICES
• HAIR REMOVAL
• MAKEUP
• PRACTICAL EXAMINATION DESCRIPTION
  

ADVANCED COURSES

• GENERAL CONCEPTS
  Microbiology
  Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Certification (CPR)
  Client Protection
  Salon Management
• APPLIED ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, HISTOLOGY
  Biology
  Vitamins and Herbs
• MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL INTERACTION
• SKIN TREATMENTS
• ADVANCED MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL DEVICES
• MAKEUP