I had always thought of continuing education credits as the holy grail, especially for those with an annual CE hour mandate. After all, keeping up with licensing requirements is paramount. Once we can see past meeting that quota, though, what other merits can we distill from education, and with all the classes available, how do we know which ones are the best fit for us?
Education Shows What’s Next and What’s New
More knowledge and skills are never a detriment—but there are better ways to approach the acquisition of new skills than others. Having a long-term idea of your spa’s identity, or your own identity as an esthetician, can be a helpful road map to choosing good education. Make sure you’re intentionally choosing what new skills you want. It might also help to envision who your ideal client is: if it’s someone who’s interested in more holistic, organic, noninvasive solutions, then don’t be in a hurry to try and master the flood of new medspa devices on the market. If you want to specialize in acne, then maybe brows and lashes are lower on your priority list. Know yourself, know your business and know your clients: focus on being the best at what you do.
While you’re perusing course pages, make sure to note what array of classes are offered—they’ll paint a great picture of what the cultural moment in skin and spa looks like.
If Not Credit, Then Credibility
Acquiring new skills and elevating your technique will make you feel more confident, and clients will definitely pick up on that. As a bonus, most courses usually offer a certificate of completion you can display. If you’ve picked up a new skill, you can make the debut of your new addition to your menu an occasion and market it accordingly. Keeping up to date with treatment and technique standards can also establish your spa as an adaptive industry leader, and can increase your earning potential as you expand your offerings and the ways you can meet client needs.
Brand-specific courses may also give you credit towards product purchases, so if one of your go-to brands is hosting one, make sure you reserve your spot, as there are usually specific in-class discounts and offers available.
Looking for more education? Skin Blends has a robust catalogue of courses for anyone in the Missouri area.
