How to Get Dual Licensed as a Massage Therapist and Esthetician

If you are a massage therapist or esthetician who is looking to expand your career, then you may be wondering how to get dual-licensed. Dual-licensing allows you to offer both massage therapy and esthetic services, giving you greater flexibility and opportunities in the workplace. In this post, we will discuss the process of getting dual-licensed and some of the pros and cons of adding an additional professional license to your career.

Let’s see if this career move is right for you.

First, what does “dual-licensed? mean in this article?

Being “dual-licensed” can mean two things.

It can refer to a massage therapist or esthetician who has completed the educational requirements for and holds current licenses from two states. This means that if you are currently licensed as a massage therapist or esthetician in two states.

But it can also mean that you are licensed as both a massage therapist and an esthetician in the same state. This allows you to offer both services at your business or workplace. And that is what we are going to talk about today.

So, how do you become dual-licensed?

The process of becoming dual-licensed will vary depending on what type of license you currently have and what state you are in. But it always starts with one major thing…

Going Back to School

Whether you are currently licensed as a massage therapist or esthetician, the first step in getting dual-licensed is to complete the necessary educational requirements.

For Estheticians…

For estheticians, this means completing an accredited massage program.

Most states require 500 hours of training for massage therapy licenses, but some require more. In addition, nearly every state requires a board-approved licensing exam, such as the MBLEx.

What services can a massage therapist offer?

There are many different types of massages that a massage therapist can offer. Some of the most popular include Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, and hot stone massage.

For Massage Therapists…

For massage therapists, this means completing an accredited esthetics program.

The requirements for esthetician licensure vary by state, but most require at least 600 hours of training. Texas requires estheticians to complete a 750-hour training program.

Like massage therapists, esthetician applicants also need to complete a board-approved licensing exam in some states.

The Florida Board of Cosmetology requires facial specialists (commonly called estheticians) to only complete 220 hours to obtain their license while right across the border, Alabama requires 1000 hours for an esthetician license.

What services can an esthetician offer?

An esthetician can offer a variety of services such as facials, waxing, brow and lash services, and makeup application.

Time to Get Licensed (Again!)

Once you have completed your respective educational programs, you will then need to obtain a state license in both disciplines.

Check with your state’s licensing board to find out the specific requirements for massage therapy and esthetics licenses.

Nearly every state has different boards for cosmetology and massage. And in many states, cosmetology is under the department of business and massage is under the department of health.

3 Pros of Dual License

While going back to school and getting licensed may seem like a lot of work, there are several benefits to being dual-licensed as a massage therapist and esthetician.

Some of the advantages include:

Higher Earning Potential

As a dual-licensed professional, you often will stay busier than your single-licensed colleagues. You have more services to offer and may be less likely to have downtime or gaps in your schedule.

As a dual-licensed professional, you can offer both massage and esthetic services to your clients. This means that you can attract a wider range of clients, who may not have considered booking an appointment with you if you only offered one service.

Greater Career Opportunities

Dual licensing gives you the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, such as day spas, salons, resorts, and even medical offices. If you are a solo business, it can help you offer more services to existing clients. They already know and trust you, so it makes you an obvious choice for additional services.

A Break for Your Hands

This one is one I hear from my massage therapy friends as one of their favorite benefits of being dual-licensed.

They often say that one of the best things about being dual-licensed is that it gives your hands a break! If you only offer massage, you may find that your hands feel fatigued after a day of massages.

But by adding esthetic services to your menu, you can give your hands (and yourself) a much-needed break.

3 Cons of Dual License

Of course, there are also some drawbacks to being dual-licensed as a massage therapist and esthetician. These include:

More Education and Training

As we mentioned above, you will need to complete additional education and training requirements in order to obtain your dual license.

This can be costly and time-consuming in the short term. But, do not forget to think about the long-term benefits.

Increased Responsibility

As a dual-licensed professional, you will have more responsibility than if you were only licensed in one discipline. This means two license renewal deadlines and more continuing education to complete.

It may also mean balancing a salon license and a massage establishment license. There are two more deadlines, renewal fees, and probably state inspections.

However, if you offer more services and make more money, this really is minor.

Dual License Regrets

I have heard a few massage therapy colleagues say that their massage services always outnumber their esthetician services (more than they imagined) and they wonder if it was worth the hassle of obtaining that second license. However, many of my dual-licensed friends say that having two licenses has been financially rewarding.

What now?

Did this article help you decide if obtaining that second license is worth it?

If you are still on the fence, I recommend talking to some dual-licensed professionals in your area and seeing what their experience has been like.

And if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. I am always happy to help!