Esthetician vs. Master Esthetician in Virginia: What Is the Difference?

Virginia has two esthetics licenses: Esthetician and Master Esthetician. They sound similar, but they open different doors. Here is how they compare.

Esthetician (600 hours)

This is where every esthetics career starts. You learn:

• Skin anatomy and skin analysis

• Facials, cleansing, exfoliation and masks

• Waxing and tweezing

• Makeup basics

• Sanitation, safety and Virginia laws

Estheticians work in day spas, salons, med spas and their own treatment rooms.

Master Esthetician (another 600 hours)

To start, you need your Virginia esthetician license. Master training adds 600 more hours of advanced, more clinical work, including:

• Chemical peels

• Microdermabrasion

• Lymphatic drainage and body treatments

• LED and microcurrent

At Permaskin Academy, master students also learn basic laser knowledge, microneedling theory and practice, and VI Peel protocols. Master estheticians are in demand in med spas and dermatology practices.

Which path is right for you?

• New to skincare? Start with the Esthetician program.

• Want to work in a med spa or do advanced treatments? Plan for both programs back to back.

• Already licensed? Go straight to the Master program.

How our programs work

Each program is 600 hours over 15 weeks, hybrid: 2 days a week of hands-on training inside a real med spa in Woodbridge, with theory online. Classes are available in English and Spanish. Our next class starts in November.

Come see the school. Book a free tour of Permaskin Academy in Woodbridge, meet the instructor and see students in class. Call or text 571-447-9747 or contact us.