People interested in providing skin care and make up artistry services in Illinois will want to explore training at esthetics school. An esthetician provides body and facial treatments, skin analysis and advice, hair removal, and cosmetic application. They may find work in a variety of settings including:
– spas – salons – hotels – department stores – other settings where skin care and beauty are highly desired
They may also provide spray-tanning services at a tanning salon, or eventually operate their own salon.
Illinois Esthetician License Requirements
To become an Illinois licensed esthetician, students must complete an esthetician course lasting at least 18 weeks and containing 750 hours of study. Students can take a maximum of four years to complete their esthetician training. Unlike some other states, Illinois does not allow apprenticeship to qualify for licensing.
Barbering / Cosmetology / Esthetics/Skin Care / Massage Therapy / Nail Technology / Teacher Training
School Accreditation
You must attend a school that is approved by your state to provide training in the discipline you want to practice. Check with the school and the state board to be sure that your program of study will prepare you for any applicable state licensure.
Esthetician training teaches students to perform various facial treatments, skin analysis, chemical peels, spa treatments for hair removal or waxing, spray tanning, make up application including spray-on cosmetics, and microdermabrasion therapy. Students take courses in ethics, salon practices, hygiene, and safety. After training is completed, students take written and practical exams. They may then receive their esthetician license from the Illinois State Board of Cosmetology.
Job Outlook for Illinois Estheticians
Licensed estheticians in Illinois work in salon and spa settings, in hotels and at resorts where guests seek relaxation and beauty care. They may also work in the cosmetics and skin care departments of retail stores, or they may become product representatives for manufacturers of skin care products. Licensed estheticians in spas also provide anti-aging treatments, waxing, and body wraps. Some esthetics school graduates in Illinois work in medical spas or in doctors’ offices alongside dermatologists and plastic surgeons.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates esthetics will grow as a profession by 25 percent nationwide by 2020. Estheticians in Illinois earn a statewide average annual salary of $31,330 before tips. The Chicago metropolitan area has the fourth highest employment level for estheticians among all cities in the US. The annual average salary for estheticians in Chicago is $32,850 before tips.
