As a graduate of the Esthetics program at Health Works Institute, you will be eligible for state licensure.  You will have the knowledge and skills required for private practice as well as employment in a variety of settings including medical facilities, spas and salons, cruise ships and numerous other sites. You will learn how to perform facials, back treatments, waxing, tweezing and body wraps, you will learn how to apply makeup, and you will learn a variety of massage techniques for the face, neck, head, shoulders, upper chest, hands and feet.

When you read the Course Descriptions, you will see that the program includes all of the knowledge and skills required by the State Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. Health Works also provides you with important training that exceeds the minimum requirements in the following topics: anatomy, physiology and pathology; body mechanics; business development; holistic and integrative approaches to skin care; and communication skills. In the Student Skin Care Clinic, you will have the opportunity to work with numerous clients who have a variety of skin types and conditions and a variety of preferences for the treatments listed on our menu of services.

The field of esthetics is growing, and new opportunities are becoming available for well-trained graduates. You will be able to take advantage of the opportunities that are most appealing to you, because you will be ready to join the skin care profession with a winning combination of competence and confidence.

A TRULY COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM

The esthetics program at Health Works Institute is 684 hours in length, because we have found that the education requirement for licensure in Montana of 650 hours is not quite long enough to fit in all that we believe is essential for a high-quality basic education in esthetics. The additional hours give us more time to ensure that our students have up-to-date information on:  products used by and services performed at world-class spas and in private practice or casual day spas; current developments in the field of esthetics; and how to select the best advanced education in topics like skin care for cancer patients, sugaring as an alternative method of hair removal, etc.

Many traditional beauty schools and esthetics programs focus simply on skin care as beautification. Our program presents a whole-person approach to esthetics. We emphasize the connection between the client's skin conditions and their physical, emotional and spiritual health. Our graduates partner with their clients to identify strategies for achieving better overall health and wellbeing, which is manifested in clear, glowing skin. The strategies include product recommendations, home care regimens, suggestions for self-care and lifestyle choices, and referrals to traditional and alternative health care providers, including psychotherapists, dermatologists, cosmetic surgeons, acupuncturists, nutritionists, naturopathic physicians, etc. We teach our students how to design skin care treatment plans based on the esthetician's expertise combined with the client's desired outcomes.

Our program presents information and skills over and above the minimums required by the state cosmetology board. We include self-awareness, communication skills, group dynamics, conflict resolution, proper body mechanics, the wellness model of health care, nutrition, self-care strategies, as well as an in-depth business course preparing our students to succeed as employees and/or establish a thriving private practice. Our graduates are ready to enter the profession with confidence, and they have what they need for long-term success.