How to Become an Aesthetic Nurse

If you are passionate about beauty, wellness, and helping people feel more confident in their skin, becoming an aesthetic nurse might be the perfect career path for you. It’s a field that blends healthcare with artistry, and it’s growing fast as more people look for ways to refresh their appearance without going under the knife. From choosing the right nursing degree to earning certifications and gaining hands-on experience, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about how to become an aesthetic nurse.

What is an Aesthetic Nurse?

An aesthetic nurse is a nurse who specializes in a number of different non-invasive, or non-surgical, cosmetic procedures. Aesthetic nurses are healthcare professionals who know the ins and outs of non-surgical procedures that are designed to enhance the confidence of their patients with minimal risk. Some of the most popular treatments aesthetic nurses administer are:

• Injectables: Botox injections, dermal fillers, facial threading, and more.

• Laser Treatments: laser tattoo removal, laser hair removal, and laser skin resurfacing treatments, among others.

• Microneedling: Microneedling is a type of skincare treatment that can improve the appearance of enlarged pores, surgical scars, acne scars, and stretch marks.

• Chemical Peels: Glycolic, salicylic, and phenol acids are common ingredients used in chemical peels.

Aesthetic nurses are also called nurse injectors, cosmetic nurses, and aesthetic nurse injectors. Estheticians and aesthetic nurses perform a lot of the same treatments, but only aesthetic nurses are qualified to administer injectables.

The Pathway to Becoming an Aesthetic Nurse

If you’re unsure about what steps you need to take to become an aesthetic nurse, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll go through all of the things you’ll need to do in order to start taking clients as an aesthetic nurse and begin to build up a clientele.

Get Your Nursing Degree

The first step you need to take if you want to become an aesthetic nurse is to get your nursing degree. There are several different ways you can obtain your nursing education:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

You can choose to go through a typical four-year nursing program at a university to get your Bachelor of Science in Nursing, abbreviated as a BSN. This is the most popular route for graduating high school students and people in their early 20s. Getting your BSN will qualify you for all kinds of nursing jobs.

Associate Degree in Nursing

If you don’t want to go through a 4-year university program to become a registered nurse (RN), there are several other ways you can get there. Getting an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is one way you can do this. Getting your ADN generally takes 2 years, and it prepares you to eventually take the test to become licensed as an RN. 

You can always start with your ADN and eventually work toward your BSN in the future if you want to. While an ADN will qualify you for most entry-level nursing positions, a BSN is required for some jobs.

Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

An Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program is a great way for someone to get a BSN in a quicker time frame than a typical 4-year degree. There are lots of ABSN programs for people who want to get their RN license in about 24 months. Price-wise, an ABSN will generally have a comparable price to a 4-year BSN degree, but it can feel more expensive since you’ll be paying that price in a shorter amount of time.

Pass the NCLEX-RN

After you’ve finished your degree, you have to take a test called the NCLEX-RN to get licensure as an RN. The NCLEX-RN exam covers all of the skills needed for entry-level nursing positions, like:

• Management of Care

• Pharmacological and Parental Therapies

• Physiological Adaptation

• Reduction and Risk Potential

• Safety and Infection Control

• Health Promotion and Maintenance

• Psychosocial Integrity

• Basic Patient Care and Comfort

Gain Experience as an RN

Gaining experience as an RN is essential on your path toward becoming a successful aesthetic nurse. After passing your NCLEX-RN, start applying to nursing jobs in relevant specialties. Dermatology and plastic surgery offices are great places to submit applications so you can get hands-on training in medical aesthetics.

Pursue Aesthetic Nurse Trainings

To get even more specialized training in aesthetic medicine, attend hands-on training events for things like Botox, dermal fillers, laser treatments, and more. Continuing education is incredibly important as a cosmetic nurse, especially because the field of non-invasive aesthetic procedures is fairly new.

Get Board Certified

While optional, becoming a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist will help you further your education and increase credibility while you’re building clientele. The Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board (PSNCB) is the association you get your CANS certification from. There are four core specialties under the PSNCB: plastic surgery, ophthalmology, dermatology, and facial plastic surgery (ENT). In order to sit for the CANS exam, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• Be a licensed RN

• Spent at least 1,000 practice hours within the core specialties during the last 2 years

• Have at least 2 years of experience as an RN in one of the four specialties in collaboration or practice with a physician who is board-certified, or a nurse practitioner (NP) with CANS certification within the four core specialties.

• Currently working in collaboration or practice with a board-certified physician or CANS-certified NP within the four core specialties.

• Have a board-certified physician or CANS-certified NP you are collaborating with, who holds a current and full unrestricted license, write a letter of recommendation.

Skills and Qualities Aesthetic Nurses Need

Having all of the education requirements to be an aesthetic nurse is just one part of being successful in this career path. Having the right soft skills along with the proper education is what separates an okay nurse injector from a great one. Here are a few of the most important soft skills you can develop that will help you in your aesthetics career:

Attention to Detail

Being detail-oriented is incredibly important as an aesthetic nurse. Aesthetic nurses who prioritize attention to detail are more precise while performing procedures, deliver more individualized treatment plans and results, and better maintain patient safety.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Just like any other client-facing job, having excellent communication and interpersonal skills is essential for delivering a high-quality service. In the world of aesthetics, being able to have a conversation with your patient about their goals, anxieties, and lifestyle factors that could influence the success of their procedures is crucial. Not only will good communication allow you to give your clients the result that they want, but you’ll be able to feel incredibly confident while you’re performing the procedure.

Know When to Say No

One of the most important skills you can learn as an aesthetic nurse is when to say no to your client. When it comes to injectables like dermal fillers and Botox, it can be hard for certain clients to know when to stop. Being able to tell a client no to more Botox and filler when it’s not in their best interest will help you build trust with them and develop a good reputation in the medical aesthetics industry.

In-Depth Knowledge of Facial Anatomy

Having in-depth knowledge of facial anatomy is going to help you deliver more precise treatments and prioritize your patients’ safety. Especially for injections, having expertise in facial anatomy is key to high-quality services.

Continue Your Career in Aesthetics With Modwella

If you're ready to take the next step in your aesthetic nursing journey, Modwella is here to support you. As a leading in-home health concierge service, we offer at-home Tox injections and IV therapy in a setting that’s convenient and comfortable for our clients. Our team is made up of experienced nurses and medical professionals who are passionate about high-quality care and personalized results.

We believe in continuing education, collaborative care, and empowering nurses to do what they love. If you're committed to excellence and ready to bring confidence to every client you treat, we’d love to hear from you. Explore career opportunities with Modwella and redefine what’s possible in aesthetics.