A Proposed Master Esthetician License May Require Additional Class Time for Practicing Estheticians

Are all esthetic credentials created equal? Many state legislators are saying no, as bills are before them in several states to raise esthetician hours of training to 1,200 hours to receive a Master Esthetician license. If passed, the bills would require currently practicing estheticians to head back to class to obtain the Master Esthetician license. A comparative analysis performed by Helen Lawrence offered an overview of the existing credentials that are currently offered in the U.S. by Commite International d'Esthetique est de Cosmetologie (CIDESCO), International Therapy Examination Council (ITEC), and the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations (NCEA). It found that only two associations have surveyed skills required in a 1,200 hour Master Esthetician license, the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) and the NCEA. Other programs may fall short of the hours needed. Needless to say, you should be watching closely to see if the bills are passed, as it may mean additional class time for some of your staff.