Esthetician vs Medical Esthetician: What’s The Difference?
Are you considering a career in esthetics? You might be wondering what the difference is between an esthetician and a medical esthetician. Knowing the difference can help you make the right career path. Read our blog to learn more about what sets them apart!

Chances are, you’ve heard of both an esthetician and a medical esthetician. But what are they and how are they different? While they do share similarities, there are differences when it comes to training, careers, and services they can provide. If you aren’t 100% sure what the difference is between estheticians and medical estheticians, you are not alone.
If you are considering a career in esthetics or medical esthetics, it’s important to know the difference so you can make the right career choice for yourself. We’re giving you the run-down on what sets an esthetician and a medical esthetician apart!
What Is An Esthetician?
An esthetician provides skincare services and treatments to clients, while bringing out the beauty in the skin. They can typically be found in a spa or salon setting, and are often sought out to help combat complexion problems. They work with clients to assess their skincare needs and may perform basic treatments such as facials and waxes. They can offer advice to clients about how to maintain and care for their skin.
If becoming an esthetician sounds like a good career path for you, consider joining our esthetics program! Throughout our program, you can gain client experience, grow your social network, and learn a variety of these skills:
- Makeup techniques
- A variety of facials
- Face and body waxing
- Eyebrow and eyelash tinting
- Massaging techniques
- Product knowledge
Careers For An Esthetician
A career as an esthetician is a rewarding one that comes with many benefits. Skincare is more than just skin deep! Being an esthetician means getting the chance to improve other people’s lives and help build their confidence in their own skin.
The beauty industry is growing, which means so is the demand for beauty services! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for skincare specialists is expected to grow 17% by the year 2031. As an esthetician you can work in a variety of careers:
- Esthetician at a salon or spa
- Makeup artist
- Eyebrow specialist
- Instructor at a school
- Business owner of a salon or spa
- Esthetician on a cruise ship
- Esthetician at a resort or hotel
What Is A Medical Esthetician?
A medical esthetician can provide medical-level skincare treatments. They have the same training as an esthetician, but with additional advanced training. They can offer more intensive treatments and can work for doctors and dermatologists in a medical setting. Because they can work in clinical settings, they may help clients with more severe skin concerns. A medical esthetician can perform a variety of these treatments:
- Chemical peels
- Microdermabrasion
- Laser therapy
- Dermaplaning
- Microneedling
- And more!
Careers For A Medical Esthetician
The medical esthetics industry is showing high demand when it comes to career options! With the right training in medical esthetics, you’ll have the knowledge to properly provide treatments to help your clients feel good. There are many career options to choose from that can open doors to many opportunities:
- Skin care specialist
- Laser technician
- Plastic surgeon’s assistant
- Clinical instructor
- Medical consultant
- And more!
About Studio Academy of Beauty
The Studio Academy of Beauty is focused on building confidence in young, aspiring professionals in the beauty industry! We offer accredited programs following Pivot Point’s extensive curriculum. Pivot Point is recognized for being “the driving force behind digital learning and development for hair and beauty education.” No matter which program you choose, you can expect your education to be well rounded in:
- Business training
- Career training
- Communication skills
- Conflict resolution
- Retailing
- Salon management
- Psychology of customer service
- Marketing
- Client relationship management
- And other essential practices for success
We believe in our students, so we believe in giving them the best education we can. We have friendly instructors who want to see you succeed and can teach you everything you need to know to become an esthetician.
Get Started On Your Journey!
With three campuses in the Phoenix area, we’re ready to help you take your education to the next level! If you’re wanting to become an esthetician, contact us to get started on your career! We are more than happy to help you with any questions you have regarding your education. We’re excited for you to start this journey and we can’t wait to hear from you!
