BACKGROUND
The safety of consumers is why estheticians are licensed in the
United States. An Esthetician license ensures that the licensee has met
standards as required by that state. Currently bills are before legislators in
several states to raise esthetician hours of training to 1200-hours, and call it
a Master Esthetician license. If the legislation passes, Esthetician students
will get 1200-hours of training, but those already practicing need to upgrade
their current knowledge in order to obtain the Master Esthetician license. One
national and two international certifying agencies are available for this
purpose, however, they need to be objectively compared and analyzed in order to
ensure ongoing safety of the consumer in the United States.
A Comparitive
Analysis performed by Helen Lawrence, overviews the existing credentials that
are currently offered in the United States by the Commite International
d’Esthetique est de Cosmetologie, International Therapy Examination Council, and
the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors &
Associations
OVERVIEW OF CIDESCO
(http://probeauty.org/skincare/)
Commite International d’Esthetique est de Cosmetologie is an international
beauty therapy association that was founded in 1946 in Zurich, Switzerland. It
represents a standard in esthetics in more than 30 countries.
NAME OF
CERTIFICATION
CIDESCO Beauty Therapy Diploma
LOCATIONS
There are
eight states currently offering the CIDESCO Beauty Therapy Diploma.
There
are two ways to obtain a CIDESCO Beauty Therapy Diploma
1. Post-graduate:
– Current Esthetician License with
– 3-years of salon experience
– CIDESCO
education and preparation*
2. Undergraduate:
– Esthetician student at
CIDESCO-Accredited school
– Total of 1200 hours – theoretical & practical
*In the United States these qualifications are offered at 8 schools found in
6 states. NOTE: CIDESCO Beauty Therapy Diploma includes 250 hours of Nail
Training.
TEST AVAILABILITY
Testing is done onsite at a CIDESCO
Schools or during an annual CIDESCO World Congress.
OVERVIEW OF ITEC:
(http://www.itecworld.co.uk/video/AboutITEC/)
International Therapy
Examination Council is an international specialist examination board founded in
1947. It provides qualifications in Beauty & Spa Therapy, Hairdressing,
Complementary Therapies, Sport & Fitness Training and Customer
Service/Business/Administration.
International Qualifications are
available in 5 sectors:
1. Customer Service
2. Beauty and Spa
3.
Hairdressing
4. Complementary Therapy
5. Sport and Fitness
NAME OF
CERTIFICATIONS
Advanced Skincare – Level 4
Beauty Specialists – Level 2
Beauty Treatments – Level 2
Body Treatments – Level 3
Epilation – Level 3
Facial Electrical Treatments – Level 3
Laser and Intense Pulsed Light
Treatments – Level 4
Microdermabrasion Treatments – Level 3
Red Vein
Treatments – Level 3
Spa Treatments – Level 3
LOCATIONS
In the
United States these 10 qualifications are offered at 22 schools found in 13
states.
TEST AVAILABILITY
Testing is done onsite at ITEC Schools by an
international examiner.
OVERVIEW OF NCEA
(http://www.nceacertified.tv/)
The National Coalition of Estheticians,
Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations (NCEA) was founded in the United
States in June 2000. It is a coalition of associations,
manufacturers/distributors, schools, and individual esthetician members. The
mission of the NCEA is to define standards of practice through certification and
continuing education accreditation in order to represent and advocate for the
esthetic profession.
NAME OF CERTIFICATION
NCEA Certified Credential
LOCATIONS
Available in all 50 States, plus Guam & Puerto Rico.
There are four ways to meet the NCEA Certified credential candidate
requirements:
1. Post-graduate:
i) Current Esthetician License with one
year full-time skin care experience, and
50 hours of documented post-graduate
education,
ii) Current Esthetician License with two (2) years full-time skin
care experience,
iii) Current Master Esthetician License,
iv) Employer
Recommendation,
2. Under-graduate:
i) Current Esthetician License after
completion of the 1200-hour curriculum
Assessment of skin care
experience, use of the self-directed interactive training manual, and online
training are utilized.
TEST AVAILABILITY
Testing is available at 330
Testing Centers in the United States, and 30 Testing Centers in Canada. There
are also seven NCEA Approved Training/Testing Centers (ATFs) in seven states
that provide prep classes and/or undergraduate education. (NJ, OR, WA, GA, TN,
CA, MN)
CONCLUSION
CIDESCO
A licensed Esthetician who obtains the
CIDESCO Beauty Therapy Diploma completed 1200-hours of training but, 250-hours
were in nails, which is not an allowed task by esthetician licensees in the
United States.
ITEC
A licensed Esthetician who obtains an ITEC
qualification, the completed hours of training could vary from an additional 338
hours–to only 50 hours falling well-short of the 1200-hour standard for a Master
Esthetician license.
NCEA
A licensed Esthetician who obtains the NCEA
Certified credential in an undergraduate program has a full additional 600 hours
of training. If a licensed esthetician obtains the NCEA Certified credential
post-graduate, they are required to pass the national examination with a 75% or
higher. The examination is based upon a 1200-hour standard Master Esthetician
license.
Employers assume that a Master Esthetician licensee has the
skills and abilities to perform a wide variety of services. In order for this to
be true, Master Esthetician job skills need to be evaluated. Only two
associations have surveyed skills required in a 1200-hour Master Esthetician
license–the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC),
and the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors &
Associations (NCEA).
Master Esthetician licensing is being driven by the
profession, industry; including schools, and employers. To ensure ongoing safety
of consumers and licensing standards, there needs to be a thorough review of the
current data that is readily available on each association’s website.
About the Author:
The Comparitive Analysis was performed by Helen Lawrence,
BS. May 2013, based upon available online data.
For a complete report visit
http://www.nceacertified.tv/certification-overview
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