Electrologist Certifications and Licensing

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#21

Wow this seems to have become a heated debate! I appreciate everyone’s professional input, and have a much better outlook on this profession. Having said that, I will take it slow.

I’ll start off by having my first electrolysis appointment. I have PCOS, and excess facial hair mainly on my chin. After being diagnosed, I knew that I wanted the help other women with excess hair. So far I have purchased an old model Apilus Jr., Electrolysis Thermolysis, and Blend, Milady’s Hair Removal Techniques, and about to purchase The Great Michael Bono’s The Blend Method. As far as school; I’ve decided to attend in NYC.

#22

Add my other teachers books, Cosmetic and Medical Electrolysis by Meharg and Richards, and Modern Electrolysis by Fino Gior, and you will have the text book thing cornered.

Too bad Sarah is gone, and won’t be able to teach you at the NYC school, she was a gem. What the NYC school will do for you is make sure you have lots of hands on practice time.

#23

Electrolysis Thermolysis and the Blend: The Principles and Practice of Permanent Hair Removal.

This book cannot be absent in your library.

#24

Would a practitioner’s license actually be “pulled” for such an offense?

#25

Exactly right … it would not! (But should be.) Instead, the State will “pull a license” for idiotic, often non-related matters, e.g., not having the right floor material or not having a license posted properly. Oh yeah, and don’t miss a payment; now that’s big trouble!

Since we have no "standards of practice: there is no objective measure of the person’s ability. I know specifically of a case where the electrologist took 175 hours on underarms and said she was “half done.” She was sued, but the court ruled “standards are different in different States” … so, the client lost. (As I’ve already stated, my average is 6 hours for the same job.)

I’m getting “piqued” all over the floor … (insert smiley face here.)

#26

A friend of mine got into the business by buying out someone who had an established practice when that person was ready to retire. What made it worth the money was getting the location and all the contents of the office. My friend did not even change the name.

Now, my friend did not want to use the machines left by the former owner, because my friend thought an upgrade was in order on the most important part of the business. (Imagine that? Same old leather sofa in the waiting room, brand spanking new electrolysis machine)

It was decided that maybe the old equipment should be sold to get something out of it, but first, off to the shop to make sure it was certified for sale. The word came back that both the main machine and the backup were making noise, but not delivering treatment current. One has to wonder how long that situation existed, and how many dollars were paid for non-treatments.

Oh, yeah, this happened in a licensed state. Remind me again what those LE, RE, Certification, License programs are there for?

#27

James, as I understand things, the question is,
Does the CPE would have the same demand and value without the title that goes with it?

#28

You asked:

The licensing programs are in place to ensure a certain level of education and competency. I support them, because they do work. Remember in all professions, having a “title” or license is no guarantee of superior work. Some physicians are pretty poor practitioners.

Still, nobody would want to throw out the whole “medical training program” because it’s not perfect. Yes indeed, there was a time in America when physicians were not licensed or educated. Physicians had a very bad reputation, and it was very much earned. Before State laws were enacted, so-called medical schools were bastions of quackery.

There are a few (very few) magnificent electrology schools in the country that turn out great therapists. Were it not for mandated programs, those schools would probably not exist. I have never met a “wana be” electrologist that really wanted to invest much time and money into learning the trade. Yeah, you have to MAKE them!

It’s not perfect, but real professionals should support mandated requirements (whether these are by State law or … my recommendation … by the profession itself.) The model for the US, I think, is the ANBOS and STIVAS in The Netherlands: not the government, not required, but supported by the industry itself because it’s verifiably excellent and turns out highly educated therapists.

If AEA ever got its act together, they could create a universal program and administer the thing (with only government oversight, as in Holland). Very few of us really know the entire profession or what all the methods do and for what specific purpose. There is no body of objective data; lots of opinion based on “personal experience” (that’s not scientific). Maybe some day?

#29

This is what I mean. The lack of scruples in some professionals hurts us all, and especially to consumers who have no other option. Should there be any way to regulate the practice of our profession, something that would eliminate these bad apples in the basket. The DVEE seems to be working toward this goal. When do we have something similar in Spain?

When Michael says we can make the arms by an average of 6 hours, is absolutely true. One of my clients had a session in May in one of her underarms (1 hour, first clearance), at that session all the hairs that were present were treated.

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Unfortunately, the second underarm could not be treated because my time is very limited. Finally, last week we were able to continue treatment.
So 7 months later, the look of the area is this.

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You can compare the two underarms.

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The follicles that were eliminated, will never produce hair. Whatever the system used, Blend or thermolysis.

#30

Oh, also the CPE.

Not perfect and not a guarantee of perfection, but very valid and I honor those with the CPE. It illustrates their commitment to excellence and willingness to accept further education. (I used to have a CPE, and then got lazy). Yes, the CPE does mean something and it’s important.

#31

I have no problem with voluntary education programs and certificates of completion. Regulations and I don’t get along as well. All certification programs tend to make consumers lazy about searching for someone to do their work, be it Hair Removal, Legal Services, or Medical Services. The attitude of “Just look for the ‘Star Bellied Sneetch’”, prevails, while many learn too late that their practitioner is lazy, or maybe there was a better way to have handled their situation (this is almost a certainty when using a lawyer). In the meantime, the lack of a regulated standard at least causes more people to look a little harder before giving anyone the contract to be their personal “whatever”, as opposed to the idea that any ‘Sneetch’ with Stars Upon Thars is assumed to be as competent.

In the end, the idea that any one’s program guarantees that you don’t have to shop around because this person’s star is more respected than that person’s is something I don’t support. After all, according to some, a person who doesn’t renew their CPE has lost something on that magic expiration date, and is a little less of a practitioner. It is as if your brain sprung a leak on that date, just because you did not genuflect and pay the lady.

Knowledge longs to be free.

#32

God, what a perfect set-up!

Yes, I do totally agree that the client must do their homework. Still, the advantage of a license or CPE is that it is verifiable. I mean it actually happened.

Sometimes, people invent their own “credentials.” Maybe they call themselves a “school” or “institute” (my favorite) and are not at all. Maybe they tell others they got “this or that” special training, and did not at all.

The license and CPE, you can trust … because it’s verified and really happened. Do people make things up? Well, yes they do. It’s rare, but it happens.

#33

Its like I always say, the proof is in the results. That is what one should be shopping for.

I don’t know anyone who has not said to me some form of, “I did not feel like I knew how to do this when I graduated school.” Maybe that’s why so many people seek out those who have been doing it for a long time in search of additional info. Some are more helpful than others, but the end result is the same, only experience and knowledge of actual practice gets it. The star on the Sneetches belly can never tell you the status your skin will be in when the treatment is over.

enjoy your chess game.

#34

Well, for me the game is over.
Just wondering what “Sneetches belly” is?

#35

Hint: McMonkey McBean > Dr. Suess

#36

Why you seem to want to have me restate for the millionth time something I have said here many times and in private is some strange game. (At least I say the same thing in private as I say in public on the matter, but I never did like debate club.)

Claiming not to know about Star Bellied Sneetches… really now.

#37

Sorry I really don’t know …
“'Splain please.”
Dr. Suess … well, I never read that.

#38

Not to totally belabor the point … (but at least 2 people are reading?)

A few years ago, I fully ruptured my tibial tendon. If you feel the base of your calf muscle you will feel a large tendon that travels down, and wraps around the arch of your foot. I was running too much and lost the whole thing. The entire tendon retracted into my leg.

I went to six surgeons before I picked the guy to do the job. Three surgeons told me that the surgery is never successful and to just get used to using a cane, metal brace and occasional wheel chair. Another surgeon wanted to go ahead immediately, but his ideas didn’t make sense to me. I later found out that he’s considered a total “hack” and more than 50% of his surgeries fail. Of course, just having an “MD” degree did not guarantee anything.

Long story short: after much research (2 years of it), I found “the guy” (David Thordarsson). He operated at USC University hospital and the surgery was 100% successful.

I went back to the other surgeons to show them, and all of them immediately contacted Dr. Thordarsson to learn of his technique. They were amazed and really happy with the results. One surgeon actually said: “What the hell did he do? I have to see the surgical report; this is a miracle!)

The point is that, YES I had to do my research. And a couple surgeons were pretty bad. However, that still does not invalidate the requirements for attending medical school and “continuing education.” At least all physicians have the same vocabulary and, as a group, fully share their techniques (they do not keep secrets!).

And I think that is (was) the AEA vision (my vision too): some basic, primary education that would give all of us a basis of understanding. Having this common experience would create a totally open environment where professionals feel compelled to share their findings and techniques. As they say: “When the tide comes in, all boats float higher.”