Master Esthetic in Seattle – How to select the right program?

Esthetics and Skincare

Happy 2014! Grandfathering has begun and we are getting more calls and visits for our Grandfathering Program for the Master Esthetic. One of the questions that many ask is “Why is your program better than ‘so and so’ school/training center”.

My answer is always, “I’m not sure as I’ve never gone through their program. There are a lot of programs out there, and some of them are very good. What is it that you are looking for?” And then our conversation starts ….

I thought that with so many asking, I’d write a blog about how to pick a Grandfathering Program J

Qualification: It’s important to pick a program that is reputable and credentialed. There are a lot of programs out there, and with this being the first time a ‘master esthetic grandfathering clause’ is introduced, you want to make sure the training they offer will be recognized by Washington State. License schools are a good starting point because the Department of Licensing already has jurisdiction over them. Some have also chose to go out of state to Oregon and Arizona; some of those programs are very reputable and quite good, but be sure to ask if they’ve worked with the Department of Licensing in the past and if they’ll guarantee that the Department will accept your training hours.
Schedule: There are a lot of different schedules to choose from. Some will offer 9 consecutive days to complete it in a much accelerated process. Others will offer part time/evening program. And some, like ours, will offer modular program. There is not one that is necessarily better than another; rather its how you learn best and what your goal is.
Philosophy: Some programs are focused ‘hands on’ (e.g. you will get to work on x amount of lasers) while other program are based on more of a foundational approach on understanding the ‘why’ behind it (i.e. you need to understand the fundamentals so you can work on any lasers). It depends what you are looking for, but you should keep in mind that lasers is based on technology which changes rapidly. If you are planning on applying for a job right away that uses the lasers you will train on, it may offer a slight advantage. If you are just exploring this field and am not sure where you may be applying, you may want to go for a broader education.
Cost: This is an area that will vary depending on the technology, who is training, etc. Because you are investing in the most expensive program doesn’t mean that you are getting the best, and going for the most cost effective program doesn’t necessarily mean that you are getting an inferior program. It’s about what works for you. If you are looking at a great deal of hands on, expect to pay for it; most of those programs are ranging between $6500 – $11,000. If you are considering a more cost effective option, be sure to check their credentials. And for those programs that are extremely ‘inexpensive,’ aka cheap, make sure you really do your homework because those may not even be recognized, and you would have wasted both time and money.

I hope that you will enjoy this journey. Please keep your questions coming 🙂