As an esthetician you will cleanse and beautify your client’s skin, helping them find their youthful glow again. Working in Florida’s thriving beauty industry, you will enjoy professional stability in addition to the many personal rewards a career as a skin care specialist can bring. Florida is ranked among the top five states in the nation in terms of employment for estheticians, with more than 2,000 licensed skin care specialists working in salons and specialty clinics across the state.
To begin working as an esthetician, you will need to be licensed as a facial specialist through the Florida DBPR.
Follow these easy steps to learn how:
 | Complete an Esthetics Training Program |
 | Submit a Facial Specialist License Application |
 | Explore the Career Opportunities Available in Florida |
 | Complete Continuing Education to Renew your License |
Step 1. Complete an Esthetics Training Program
If you are at least sixteen (16) years old, you are eligible to enroll in an esthetician school in Florida.
Although the Florida Board of Cosmetology only requires that you complete two hundred and sixty (260) hours of training, many esthetics and cosmetology schools offer advanced courses and extended training exercises.
Esthetician training programs offer a fast and flexible way to learn everything you’ll need to know about skin care. These programs offer practical, hands-on training and will teach you how to make skin radiantly beautiful through courses in:
- Skin Analysis
- Customized Facials
- Facial Massage
- Alternative Facial Techniques
- Hair Removal
- Exfoliation
- Make-Up Artistry
- Facial Machines
- Nutrition
- Science of Product Ingredients
- Business Skills
- Career Planning
Step 2. Submit a Facial Specialist License Application
Now that you are ready to apply for your license, you can do it one of two easy ways:
- You may apply online
- You may apply through downloading and printing the paper application
If you are going to submit the paper application, you must make sure that you include the following supporting documentation:
- Complete Sections I-II and IV-VI
- Submit $85 application fee
- Submit completion of Board-approved HIV/AIDS course
- Have your school submit the “Certification of Eligibility” portion of the application
- Submit previous course evaluation documentation
Endorsement
If you currently hold a facial specialty license in another state or jurisdiction, you may be eligible to apply for your license based on endorsement. To apply for endorsement, you must be at least sixteen (16) years old and attain the following qualifications:
- Hold an active license in another state whose licensing regulations are equal to or greater than Florida’s
- Hold proof of high school diploma
- Have completed at least two hundred and sixty (260) hours of education
- Complete or have completed a Board-approved HIV/AIDS course within at least two (2) years prior to submitting your application
- Provide proof of your official out-of-state license certification (this certification must be from the Board—it cannot be a photocopy)
- Pay the required application fee
- Submit the online or paper application
You will be able to mail all of your application materials and supporting documents to the Board at the following address:
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FK 32399
Step 3. Explore the Career Opportunities Available in Florida
As a skin care specialist in Florida, you can begin pursuing jobs in resorts spas, health and beauty salons, medi spas; or even plastic surgery, chiropractic, or dermatology clinics. Because you may need to accommodate your clients’ work or vacation schedules, you may need to schedule appointments on nights and weekends.
Some of Florida’s top salons include:
- Anushka Spa, Salon, and Cosmedical Centre – West Palm Beach
- Hand & Stone – South Miami
- Massage Envy – Largo
- ULTA Salon, Cosmetics, and Fragrance – Miami Beach
- WTS International – Palm Beach
You can increase the services you offer by becoming certified in electrology, permanent cosmetics, and body wrapping.
Step 4. Complete Continuing Education to Renew your License
You will need to renew your facial specialist license before October 31st every other year, paying a renewal fee of $55. The Florida Board of Cosmetology requires you to complete at least sixteen (16) hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal period. The Board has approved this list of continuing education providers.
Your continuing education courses should be directly applicable to your service as a facial specialist. You will find that taking advanced courses is also a wonderful way to keep you on the cutting edge of beauty trends and the latest skin care products.
You will be responsible for documenting your continuing education certification and maintaining a record. Each certification should have validation of the date, time, location, name of the course, subject studied, and number of credits you received. The Florida Board of Cosmetology performs random audits, so it is important that your documentation is easily accessible.
Esthetician Salaries in Florida
Boasting world-renowned beaches and gorgeous weather, Florida is one of the most celebrated spots on Earth for sun worshippers. But basking in some serious rays can do serious damage to skin, which means the Sunshine State will always need estheticians.
In fact, the state is currently seeing a 19% employment growth wave that is slated to continue through 2026. This boost is expected to open up around 560 new jobs each year. Some of these jobs are sure to pop up in luxury resorts and pricey vacation getaways where estheticians stand to make a fortune, but there’s also no shortage of great paying opportunities at neighborhood spas, esthiology clinics and even in area hospitals where estheticians can fill a specialty niche in medical esthetics.
Looking at the Numbers – Esthetician Salaries in Florida According to Experience Level
Customers are usually picky about who they trust when it comes to their personal appearance and the health of their skin. As a result, employers can get pretty selective during the hiring process and tend to choose the most experienced of the bunch.
Landing superior salaries comes to those with the grit and determination to get advanced training, master fashionable trends, and gain experience in versatile venues.
Hourly Wages
- Bottom 10%: $9.20
- Mid-Level: $14.29
- Top 10%: $26.27
Annual Salaries
- Bottom 10%: $19,130
- Mid-Level: $29,730
- Top 10%: $55,050
Don’t be alarmed if these figure seem low – these are base numbers reported to state and federal labor departments, and they don’t tell the whole story. As an esthetician, you’ll undoubtedly get paid considerably more thanks to customer tips and other compensation like commissions on product sales.
If you decide to rent space in an established spa, you can name your own prices and keep it all, after accounting for rental costs and other expenses. Though this comes with the trade-off of not having a consistent paycheck, it brings with it the benefit of being able to set your own appointments and the potential to earn more than you would as a salaried or hourly employee.
Alternately, if you do accept a position, you could be hired on a commission basis and earn a steady income that is largely dependent on the services you provide and the products you sell.
How Your Location Affects What You Can Expect to Earn
There’s no shortage of wealthy communities and hot vacation locales in Florida flush with potential clients that have cash to burn, some of which could make its way into your pockets. Keep this in mind during your job search, it could mean the difference between earning $20k or $100k a year (bottom 10% – top 10%):
Tallahassee
- $32,210–$64,760
Naples-Marco Island
- $23,310–$99,560
Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach
- $19,380–$60,110
Jacksonville
- $18,480–$54,860
Tampa-St. Petersburg—Clearwater
- $20,680–$50,160
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota
- $26,030–$60,120
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent
- $21,350–$73,180
Cape Coral-Fort Myers
- $21,210-$46,410
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
- $19,490–$48,530
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall
- $20,340–$48,400
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach
- $18,390–$44,720
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond
- $17,460-$45,540
2017 salary data provided by the U.S. Department of Labor-Sponsored resource CareerOneStop – https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Plan/salaries.aspx. State and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) data includes estheticians at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
2016 job growth data provided by the U.S. Department of Labor-Sponsored resource Projections Central – https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm.
All data accessed June 2019.
10 Notable Esthetician Programs in Florida
Whether you’d like to provide clients with luxurious skin treatments at a spa in a tourist destination like Pensacola, Destin, or Miami, or you’re more interested in settling into private practice in a quiet beach town, by becoming a licensed esthetician in Florida you’ll find yourself tending to the skincare needs of people from all over the world coming here to vacation, retire and work. What do they all have in common? Disposable income they’re glad to spend on health and beauty.
As an esthetician, you’ll be able to provide spa services, skincare regimens, and body treatments in salons and spas, as well as dermatology and cosmetic surgery clinics throughout the state.
The ten schools we’ve selected here offer esthiology programs at an average tuition cost of just $5,212, making them a very affordable way to enter Florida’s lucrative health and beauty services industry.
Here’s our pick for the top ten beauty schools in Florida that offer esthetician programs that meet state licensing requirements.
- Tuition: $2,199
- Kit Cost: $400
- Program Length: 5 months
With the lowest tuition cost among all the schools on our list, the Academy of Cosmetology is an extremely affordable option and earns an accolade for value. With the option to pursue day or evening classes, you’ll be able to build your schedule around your personal scheduling needs. With Academy of Cosmetology’s esthiology program, you’ll learn the theory of skin anatomy and physiology, skin care techniques such as facials, masks, and peels, and practice on mannequins before moving on to actual clients. The school also accepts VA benefits for veterans and offers career counseling for all students.
- Tuition: $8,920
- Kit Cost: $930
- Program Length: 6 months
With locations in Miami and Hialeah Gardens, the Beauty Academy of South Florida offers an esthetician program that covers skin care techniques, body treatments, facials, and makeup application. If you choose to study at the Beauty Academy, you’ll be involved in the community through beauty shows that benefit various charities in Florida. Not only will you get incredible hands-on practice in skin care techniques, but you’ll have the opportunity to give back to the community. Beauty Academy wowed us by offering free transportation services to and from classes! The school also accepts VA benefits for veterans.
- Tuition: $4,500
- Kit Cost: $850
- Program Length: 4 months
At the Beauty and Health Institute, you’ll participate in an excellent esthiology program for a lower-than-average tuition cost, making the school an excellent choice for students looking for value. The Institute offers the opportunity to pursue full-time or part-time programs, and accepts VA benefits for veterans. You can also become trained as an Electrologist through the institute’s Electrolysis program, which is an excellent option if you’re interested in expanding your practice as an esthetician. The Beauty and Health Institute is a community-minded school with opportunities for students to participate in fashion and beauty shows that benefit local Tampa charities.
- Tuition: $5,510
- Kit Cost: Included in tuition
- Program Length: 6 months
At Boca Beauty Academy, you’ll be able to choose from two top-notch locations and complete your education through day, night, or weekend classes. The flexibility of the program is an incredible asset for working students. You’ll also be able to pursue a scholarship through Boca Beauty Academy, and the school accepts VA benefits for veterans. After graduation, the school can help you find an esthetician position in a local spa you love through its job placement services.
- Tuition: $9,000
- Kit Cost: $733
- Program Length: 5 months
Blending classroom-based theory with interactive iPad apps and hands-on experience, Florida Academy’s esthetician program will ensure you get a well-rounded education. We couldn’t help but be wowed by its variety of esthetician program options. You can choose from the 300-hour basic skin care program, the 600-hour professional esthetics program which incorporates body wrapping, micro-dermabrasion and LED, or a 900-hour program that offers additional advanced certifications in skin care techniques. Whichever program you choose, you’ll be supported after graduation with career assistance services and the opportunity to pursue continuing education at your alma matter.
- Tuition: $5,272
- Kit Cost: $927
- Program Length: 6 months
Florida College of Natural Health has a location in Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, allowing you to select the facility that’s most convenient for you. The esthiology program offered here provides training in skin anatomy and physiology, business and career development, and covers the Florida regulations that affect estheticians. You’ll also gain hands-on experience completing facials, makeup application, masks, and hair removal for clients. The school offers career assistance services for students, and if you’re a veteran, you may use your VA benefits to help cover the cost of your education. For other students, the Florida College of Natural Health offers a scholarship opportunity.
- Tuition: $4,125
- Kit Cost: $1,589
- Program Length: 3 months
At the Loraines Academy and Spa, you’ll be able to pursue either a standard 300-hour program which will include training in the anatomy of skin and how to perform basic facials and hair removal techniques, or a 600-hour program that will allow you to learn more advanced techniques such as micro-dermabrasion, LED light therapy, and ultrasonic treatments. As a student, you’ll be able to connect with the community through beauty shows that benefit local charities. After graduation, you’ll be supported through career counseling to help place you in the perfect esthetician position for you. If you’re a veteran, you’re eligible for financial assistance since the school accepts VA benefits.
- Tuition: $3,844
- Kit Cost: $414
- Program Length: 3 months
In just three months, you could be on your way to a career in skin care through the Palm Beach Academy of Health and Beauty’s esthetician program. As an added bonus, the program is offered at a lower than average tuition rate when compared to other schools on our list! Located in lovely Lake Park, Palm Beach Academy’s facilities are top-notch. If you’re a veteran, you can fund your training with your VA benefits. You’ll also be supported with career assistance services after graduation.
- Tuition: $5,500
- Kit Cost: $800
- Program Length: 10 weeks
As a Dermalogica partner school, the esthetician program at the Parisian Spa Institute will allow you to learn using high-quality products and skin mapping techniques. The standard program allows you to learn advanced techniques such as microdermabrasion, non-surgical facelift techniques, body wrapping, and chemical peels. As an added bonus, the program is only ten weeks long, so you’ll be able to start your career in no time! The Parisian Spa Institute also accepts VA benefits for veterans.
- Tuition: $3,200
- Kit Cost: $150
- Program Length: 5 months
At the Soothing Arts Healing Therapies School of Massage, you’ll be able to study in an esthetician program that incorporates skin care techniques, facials, body wrapping, and hair removal services. Although the school’s tuition is already below average, Soothing Arts offers a scholarship opportunity. The school also accepts VA benefits. After graduation, you might consider pursuing continuing education opportunities at Soothing Arts, which include advanced skin care techniques for salon professionals.