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They say your med spa is only as good as the team behind it. And it’s true.
While clients may initially come to your med spa for specific treatments, what truly makes them stay — and keeps them coming back — is the overall experience.
And that experience is significantly shaped by your estheticians.
That’s why hiring isn’t just about skills. It’s also about finding people who align with your vision, make clients feel great, and help your spa business thrive.
But how do you find these skilled, licensed professionals, and what should you look for to ensure you hire a great candidate?
This blog answers these questions plus everything you should know and do before hiring the right esthetician for your med spa.
What qualifications are required for an esthetician to work at a medical spa?
Before entering the world of med spas, estheticians need more than a passion for skincare products and cosmetology. It goes without saying, they must have the right qualifications to perform treatments safely and effectively.
Let’s take a look at those qualifications.
Certifications and licensing
The candidates you hire must be certified and licensed estheticians to meet legal and professional standards.
After all, having qualified staff is a key requirement for running a compliant and successful med spa. Here’s what estheticians need to qualify for the role:
- A high school diploma or a GED
- A completed training course from an accredited esthetician program: Training programs such as the National Coalition of Estheticians & Association (NCEA) or the Esthetic Institute provide nationally recognized certifications
- Passed state board exams (written and practical)
- A state license: An esthetician license is required to legally practice and comply with med spa standards in that state
- Certificates for advanced procedures: Treatments like Botox, fillers, laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, or microneedling require certifications from state-approved centers like the National Laser Institute or the American Academy of Microonedling (AAM)
Technical skills and experience
A good esthetician understands that skincare isn’t just about surface-level treatments. It’s also about having a hands-on experience with medical-grade equipment and advanced skincare treatments.
Look for candidates who:
- Have experience of (and are confident using) devices for laser treatments, dermaplaning, microneedling and other common treatments
- Understand different skin conditions and how to tailor treatments accordingly
- Can perform thorough skin analysis and suggest the right treatments to clients
- Are up-to-date with skincare trends and technologies in the aesthetic industry
What should I look for when hiring an esthetician for my med spa?
Having the right qualifications is only part of the equation.
The ideal candidate you’re looking for as your esthetician should also have:
✔️Passion for the skincare and the beauty industry
✔️Commitment to the highest quality of patient care
✔️Excellent communication skills — they’re easy to talk to
✔️Strong work ethic, professionalism, and reliability
✔️Good team spirit – there’s no ‘i’ in team!
💡Tip: During the interview, assess the applicant’s personality and overall vibe. Are they easy to talk to? Are they genuinely excited about the job?
Could you see them building rapport with clients? Their attitude and energy can make all the difference in finding the perfect fit for your med spa.
Where to find top estheticians
Now that you know what to look for, where do you find these top-tier estheticians?
📢Online job boards
Niche beauty job boards can help you connect with skilled estheticians looking for work. Here’s how these platforms can work in your favor:
- Indeed: It’s one of the biggest job search sites where you can cast a wide net, your listing can get tons of visibility, and you can filter candidates by experience, certifications, and location.
- ZipRecruiter: It can distribute your job posting to 100+ job sites and whenever you have a job opening it can actively sent it to qualified candidates based on the profiles that match that job.
In addition, you can also look at other specialized beauty job boards, such as Beauty Cast Network or Salon Employment, which are packed with beauty professionals looking for the next job opportunity.
🤝Partnering with esthetician schools and training programs
Esthetician schools and training programs are a smart way to find and engage with a new, eager talent pool who are looking for their first professional role.
Here’s why building those connections is important:
- They give you direct access to fresh talent: You get first dibs on newly qualified graduates who are up to date on the latest trends and procedures.
- You’ll have a consistent stream of talent to choose from: Staying in touch with local schools means you’ll have a steady talent pipeline coming your way.
- You’ll get invites to career fairs, guest speaker gigs, and job panels: These are perfect occasions to network and meet potential hires in person.
The bottom line for spa owners is that building those connections is your secret weapon for staying ahead in the hiring game.
🗣️Referrals from industry professionals or existing team
The network you build is one of your greatest hiring assets.
That’s why, when hiring experienced estheticians, sometimes the best leads come from people you already know, such as your team or other industry contacts.
Here’s why it works and how it helps you find top-notch estheticians:
- The power of word-of-mouth: People may have trained with potential candidates or worked with them in previous roles. You can informally mention you’re hiring and see if any recommendations come your way!
- Less guesswork in the hiring process: If someone comes highly recommended and has been killing it at a competitor spa, you know that’s a pretty solid lead, and they have the years of experience to back it up
Tapping into your network for referrals means you’ll be one step closer to finding your esthetician superstar.
📱Social media
Besides showcasing your med spa brand, social media platforms are a great way to advertise for roles. Potential candidates may already be following you!
Here’s how you can use social media for your esthetician job ad:
📢Instagram: Use Stories or Reels to share that you’re hiring a skilled esthetician. Just make sure you include a clickable link so people can view the job advert.
📢LinkedIn: Post your job listing in groups for estheticians or engage with relevant professional communities that can help you attract top-notch candidates.
📢Facebook: Create your Facebook Business Page, add your job listing, and share it on local esthetician groups. If you don’t get a lot of applications, you can also use Meta Ads to target estheticians in your area.
📍Industry events, conferences, and trade shows
Another way to scout quality esthetician candidates is to attend beauty industry events and trade shows.
Such events give attendees direct access to profiles of skilled professionals and are a fantastic way to network and meet potential hires.
This is how they help you:
- You’ll meet qualified estheticians face-to-face: This gives you a real sense of their passion, skills, and personality (outside of an interview environment).
- You’ll witness industry workshops and panels led by industry experts: Attending (or speaking at) these sessions increases opportunities to connect with estheticians who are eager to learn or seeking a position.
- You can recruit on-the-spot: Events like the Face & Body Expo often have job fairs or networking sessions as part of their program. You can also host a “Meet the Team” session to discuss job openings with potential candidates.
Key steps to hire estheticians for your med spa
Now you know where to find potential esthetician candidates, but there’s still few things to do before you’re ready to hire them. Let’s take a look at those steps.
Define your hiring needs and expectations
Before you start researching where to find skilled estheticians and crafting the job ad to hire them, it’s important to drill into your specific hiring needs.
This will depend on a few key factors, such as:
📏The size of your spa: The bigger the range of services and client base, the more estheticians you need to meet demand, whether part-time or full-time.
💆♀️The type of services you offer: Based on the kind of treatments you offer, you’ll be able to assess the type of esthetician you need to hire, such as a facial esthetician, hair removal specialist, medical esthetician, etc.
📅 The volume of clients you have: Assess your client flow and look at the number of appointments or treatments your spa handles daily or weekly.
Craft a clear and compelling job description
A well-written, clear job description is essential for attracting top esthetician talent. If it’s vague or lacking in detail, you may attract people who aren’t the best fit for your business. Be sure you include key details such as:
A clear, compelling, detailed job post will save you time during the screening process and ensure that qualified estheticians apply.
Screen and shortlist candidates
Once applicants start rolling in, it’s time to review their resumes and portfolios.
Many candidates will have experience and the right certifications, but you should consider those that align with your med spa needs.
Take your time by looking at their:
- Work history
- Areas of expertise
- Any advanced training they’ve completed
These factors help you pinpoint candidates who align with your spa’s goals.
Conduct in-depth interviews
In-depth interviews are crucial because they allow you to gauge a candidate’s technical skills, professionalism, client interaction style, and team fit.
Some key questions to ask during these interviews are:
- What types of treatments do you specialize in?
- How do you handle client concerns or complaints?
- Have you worked with medical professionals in a med spa setting before?
- Tell us about a time you dealt with a difficult client. How did you handle this situation?
Carry out skills assessments
Some applicants will be great at selling themselves in the context of an interview and confidently claim they meet all your requirements. But you should carefully assess not just their words, but their hands-on skills as well.
Ask the candidates you’re interested in hiring to perform a basic facial or chemical peel, of course under your supervision, to assess their:
🎯 Technique: Are their movements precise, confident, and tailored to the client’s needs?
🧼 Hygiene and safety standards: Do they follow proper sanitation protocols and handle tools safely?
💬 Client interaction skills: Are they making the client feel comfortable, explaining each step, and setting the right expectations?
You can even set up a mock (role-play) consultation where they have to assess different skin conditions and recommend spa services to clients.
Check references and make an offer
The only thing left to do before you make an an official offer is to check the references the candidate included in their resume, which will either confirm or disregard the experience, work ethic, and reliability they listed.
When contacting previous employers, feel free to ask questions like, “Can you describe their work ethic and ability to handle client concerns?” This will help you validate the candidate’s professionalism and reliability.
After making your offer, if they negotiate salary, if you wish, you can offer perks like flexible hours or service commissions to sweeten the deal.
Empower your staff management with Pabau🌟
Finding and hiring skilled estheticians for your med spa is a journey — but the process doesn’t end once they’ve accepted and signed their contract.
You need a system with a proven record of success to manage and motivate your team and drive your business forward. Pabau can be your ally for that.
It’s an all-in-one practice management software designed to help med spas handle booking and scheduling, client record management, marketing, and more.
Plus, there’s also a suite of staff management tools…
✓ Staff profiles: Store all staff information in one place
✓ Easy scheduling: View schedules, set shifts, and manage staff availability
✓ Role-based permission settings: Restrict staff access where needed
✓ Multiple wallets feature: Take care of your bookkeeping headaches
✓ Commission program: Motivate your staff and drive revenue
✓ And lots more… all hassle-free.
Book a demo today to see how Pabau can empower your med spa today!
