I am interested in becoming a lasar hair removal specialist, but
I am unsure of where to start. Where are the best places or programs to recieve training? How much should my training cost? Where should I go to recieve work experience?
What would it take for me to have my own laser hair removal business? Will I need some liability insurance? What would be my actual running costs?
In response to some of your questions…
If you are in the US, regulations differ according to state.
For the most part, the training is provided by the manufacturer. There are some schools that also provide the training. Most of the people who attend these courses already work in the medical, appearance enhancement or hair removal fields.
Since the start-up costs are high, from my perspective, it would be a good idea to visit laser hair removal facilities and ask for a job doing anything you are qualified to do. Ask for an opportunity to learn. Again, administrating laser for hair removal is regulated by state. If you are a dermatologist, then you can work anywhere.
The malpractice/professional liability insurance for laser hair removal was about $3,000 but because of all the litigation, the insurance has gone up to $5,000 and I believe it will continue to go up. You can keep your insurance lower if you agree not to treat the darker skin types.
Good luck and keep us posted.
If you don’t mind my asking, what exactly is a “Licensed Hair Removal Teacher?”
Thanks
Thank you for your response to my inquire. I live in Houston TX. I have no exerience in laser hair removal, but have a strong desire to learn more and own my own business. I am attending a Palomar Medical Technologies seminar this weekend to learn more and meet others in the hair removal field. I am also calling local laser hair removal places to see if I can get a job in their frount offices to learn more. Insurance is $3,000-$5,000 per (year?).
Good sources for the info you seek are:
Trudy Brown
http://www.advancedelectrolysislaser.com/trudy.html
&
Vickie Mickey
http://www.aboutface-ctc.com/about.html
Of course, at the moment Texas is in a state of change as towhat the rules are going to be for those who will practice LASER in that state. They are going from no real rules, to formulating rules. Information on what is going on is available elsewhere on the site.
You may want to check out franchise sites. Sona-Solana-Ideal Image etc. Joining up with a franchise may NOT be the best business move but if you request info they may send you a start up package/details about costs. I did this and got a boatload of info.
WARNING-They are persistent with follow up calls so if you don’t want to be bothered forget it. The calls do stop when you tell them you have no money at this time 
Vickie Mickey’s course provides different levels of training. You get 20 hours of theory and 10/30 hours of hands on laser application. This class meets for five days in a row. Last I heard, the 50 hour laser training class was $3,600, the 30 hour class for physicians and nurses costs $2,500
20 hour for clinical time only, costs $1,500.
Dee
Hello sslhr,
In my state, in order to teach in a school that has state board of education approval, one must be a licensed teacher. You can get that by taking courses in education. Could you be confused by the fact that someone who teaches for a laser company, for example, does not need a teaching license?
Since I teach in a school, I have a teaching license from the State University of New York. I teach hair removal at a school where there are programs, all approved by the NYS board of ed., in laser hair removal, electrolysis, and waxing. Therefore, the title, “licensed _______ teacher”. “Hair Removal” is the key phrase to fill in, in my situation.
PM me if you want more info.
Thanks. I was curious. One other quick question if you don’t mind. Doesn’t laser hair removal need to be performed with a physician on site in New York, or am I getting confused with other states? Assuming it does, how is the NYS board of ed. involved in laser hair removal specifically? Thanks.
From my knowledge, qualified professionals are on site for all courses that are offered.
Laser hair removal manufacturers should be able to help you with your questions should you have trouble reaching government agencies.
If you like, PM me and I will give provide you with the name of the school and you can contact the administrator/owner and ask your questions.
I believe there is also the Rocky Mountain school in Denver I think which is a national school. If you take a class from a laser manufacturer, I would take a class from Candela rather than Palomar just because they have better hair removal lasers and I would prefer to learn more about those. Also, since Smooth Solutions is in Texas, maybe sslhr can help if you PM him since he owns the chain there.
Well, lagirl, nice that you offer the info. about Smooth Solutions in TX but it leads me to wonder why sslhr didn’t offer the information himself? What is that about?
And why ask me odd questions about what a licensed hair removal teacher is?
Heaven forbid for the educational programs in laser that might create more competition! Could it be that is why sslhr didn’t address the question about becoming a laser hair removal practitioner?
In any event, Ed, in my opinion, if you are already in the medical or esthetic field, check with your accountant should you opt to take a formal class at a school, you might be able to write the course off as an educational expense.
If you are in an unrelated field, hold off on taking the course because you might not be able to write it off. Get a job at a facility that offers hair removal, work there for awhile and you might be able to take the manufacturers laser course at no cost to you. Then, if you are still interested, take the laser course at a school at which time, since you would be working in the field, you might be able to take it as a deduction or your employer might even pay.
Should you want to own your own facility… well… learn first.
The free seminars that you are attending are marketing, PR, advertising tools and will not give you enough of the theoretical or hands on experience needed.
Good Luck and keep us posted!
sslhr stated several times that he prefers not to advertise his clinics here. he just comes by and provides expert feedback because he came by once to answer a client’s question and i asked him to return once in a while for professional input that we always need ehere. since i feel he’s knowledgeable on the subject (you can judge for yourself by reading his previous posts if you want) and in that state, he can probably answer more specific questions through a PM. that’s why i suggested it.
Hi lagirl,
I don’t venture into the laser threads much as my area of expertise is in other areas of hair removal but from reading the sslhr posts in this thread, I don’t see expert advice nor do I see any attempt what-so-ever to help someone (who happens to be from his own home state) with a simple question about becoming a hair removal tech. And discovering from you that he owns a chain of hair removal facilities in Texas… well now that is a real shame… not to address his fellow Texan’s question.
Arlene,
We all need each other’s help and advice on hair removal options. I firmly disagree with your statements concerning sslhr. I hope he stays focused and thick-skinned and continues to visit us with his practical and honest laser hair removal advice, despite the unkind and unecessary attacks.
Dee
Dee,
This thread, started by Ed from Texas, is about getting information on becoming a laser hair removal specialist.
I, not being from TX, provided good suggestions, the best to my ability, as a non Texan.
Then, sslhr, who, is said to own a chain of laser clinics in Texas, enters, offers no help to Ed. Instead, sslhr asks me questions about myself. I asked him to PM me if he has any more questions but he ignored that and continued asking me questions when all the while, also ignoring Ed’s request.
I use my real name. Anyone with a license is on file with the government so I can easily be checked out. On the other hand, I have no idea who sslhr is and why he is asking me personal questions that have nothing to do with this thread. I asked him to PM me if he wanted more information but he ignored that.
In light of all that, after reading your post, I have no idea what you are talking about.
Arlene
Yup. Okay.
It would be appreciated if personal attacks and accusations could be kept off the board. If one can not restrain oneself, leave these things to private messages.
On behalf of the community, we are happy for all the professionals and consumers who take their time to contribute here. It takes lots of reading, and research just to be able to contribute to the discourse on this site, and it takes lots of time to be a regular contributor to the site. I will also point out that the people who save money and health problems by taking the information they get from here don’t usually give so much as a thank you for what they receive (and how can they, most don’t actually post). We really don’t need to have foul attitudes disuading the participation of any of our contributors.
To edc2, here is a few tips if you get your business going…
Sona uses this one,we guarantee we will remove 97% of your hair forever after 5 treatments…another one…you will never have to shave your back again after 5 treatments guarantee… I also heard american laser center has a few good ones to get your hopes up…hahahaha
i agree with James. there is no need to point fingers. everyone contributes to the best of their ability with regard to their desire and time. just because one has the time and desire to read through the entire thread and contribute, doesn’t mean that another contributor like a physician with lots on his plate does too. Arlene, you for example prefered not to read sslhr’s past contributions before making this statement as I suggested and noone’s holding that against you. It’s your choice with respect to your time and desire. we appreciate any feedback anyone, including busy but knowledgeable professionals, can provide here at the expense of their time, with no compensation whatsover.