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There is a high demand for cosmetic injectors. The global aging population and the increasing desire to improve our look fuel the cosmetics industry into new and uncharted heights. Becoming a cosmetic injector is a good option these days, but do you have what it takes to be one?
How to Become a Cosmetic Injector
As with all professions, becoming a cosmetic injector takes the proper preparation, training, and qualifications. Here’s our in-depth, step-by-step guide on how to become a cosmetic injector.
Step 1: Earn a Registered Nurse Degree
All aesthetic or cosmetic injectors are actually nurses. The very first step to becoming a cosmetic nurse is earning a nurse degree through either a two-year associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree, which takes four years to complete.
Although becoming a cosmetic injector only requires a nursing degree, no matter how short it takes to earn it, it may be a good idea for you to take the more extended BSN degree. The BSN degree opens the way for you to learn more and become more reputable.
Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam
Getting your RN (registered nurse) degree does not mean you can practice nursing straightaway. You still have to pass the NCLEX-RN exam and earn your license. The NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses) exam determines if you have the right capabilities and education to start your practice as an entry-level nurse.
Even if you take and pass the exam in any state, you can practice nursing anywhere in the United States because NCLEX-RN is a national exam.
Step 3: Work for Experience
The next step to becoming a cosmetic injector is gaining two years of experience as a nurse in the cosmetic industry. You will have to work with a board-certified physician in the following fields:
- Plastic surgery
- Facial plastic surgery
- Aesthetic surgery
- Cosmetic surgery
- Dermatology
- Ophthalmology
Two years of experience in any of these fields, under a board-certified physician, will give you a firsthand look at how to do the job.
Earning Other Licenses to Become a Cosmetic Injector
Being a registered and licensed nurse is not the only way to becoming a cosmetic injector. Although being a registered nurse is the shortest method, other methods ensure you become a nurse with higher education.
There are other licenses you can earn that will pave the way to become a reputable cosmetic injector. You can earn a physician’s assistant (PA) license or a nurse practitioner (NP) license.
Let’s discuss earning each of these licenses individually.
Physician’s Assistant License
At most, you will need a master’s degree from an accredited academy to become a physician’s assistant. But before you can apply for a master’s level program in an ARC-PA (Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant) program, you still need one or two years of experience in the medical field. The most common work experiences are as a registered nurse, an EMT, or a paramedic.
After completing the two to three years of a master’s level program, you must pass the PANCE licensing exam. Passing the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam will earn you your PA license.
In short, you need the following to get a PA license:
- Bachelor’s degree with a science or healthcare related major
- Gain 1-2 experience in the medical field (RN, EMT, or paramedic)
- Apply and complete a master’s level ARC-PA accredited program
- Pass the PANCE licensure exam
Nurse Practitioner License
To enroll in a graduate-level NP institution, you should hold a BSN degree. But more than that, you should complete a general or specialized master of science in nursing (MSN) or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree.
Some NP programs require candidates to have professional RN experience, while others only require an unencumbered RN license. To qualify for an APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses) licensure exam, you must earn a professional certification focusing on any practice area. Practice areas include emergency, neonatal, and family nursing, and gerontology.
After earning your certification for a focused practice area, you can take the APRN licensure exam. Unfortunately, there is no nationally standardized APRN licensure exam, so you have to take your exam in the state you intend to practice.
There are other licenses you can earn that will allow you to become a cosmetic nurse. But the requirements for those licenses are unnecessary for your desired practice. The benefit of earning a PA or NP license is that some states will allow your practice even without a medical director.
Pro Tips from Modern SLC Injections & Aesthetics
Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist Credential
You should have the Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist credential to place yourself at the doors of the best cosmetic or aesthetic nurse jobs. The convenient part about this certification is that you don’t need any special training courses to pass or take the exam.
You can take the exam through the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board (PSNCB). The board typically offers the examination during the spring and fall annually.
Specialized Training
The next thing you should do is get the best-specialized training to become a cosmetic injector. Having specialized training furthers prepare you to become the best cosmetic injector you can be.
Cosmetic injections in the untrained hand are risky. You might cause substantial damages, health issues, and safety concerns for your potential problems. Being an unskilled cosmetic injector can push your career to plummet.
Protect your practice from potential headaches by getting the best training you can.
Where to Get the Best Training
Dr. Hillary Taggart began her injectable and medical aesthetics business in 2019 after gaining the necessary experience. The primary service that Dr. Hillary Taggart and her friend and colleague, Taryn Hewlett, offer is to educate others regarding medical aesthetics.
Modern SLC Injections & Aesthetics offers specialized training opportunities. With these training opportunities, you will have the chance to observe Dr. Hillary Taggart’s work in her clinic firsthand. Between her teaching experience and expertise in injecting, you will have high-quality training and get on track to become the best cosmetic injector you can be.
Reach out to Modern SLC Injections & Aesthetics by phone at 801-516-8884 or email [email protected].
