Best institutions to study Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist
A program that prepares individuals to massage and treat the face, neck, and scalp with chemical and cosmetic preparations, and to function as licensed facial specialists in specialized and full service salons.
75 U.S. institutions graduated 2,499 Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 12.0408, a specialization of Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services (CIP 12.04), and leads most directly to the Skincare Specialists occupation (BLS SOC 39-5094).
About Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist programs
A program that prepares individuals to massage and treat the face, neck, and scalp with chemical and cosmetic preparations, and to function as licensed facial specialists in specialized and full service salons. Includes instruction in facial surface anatomy; skin properties; skin decontamination and infection control; facial massage; facial makeup; facial wrapping; selection and application of creams, lotions, oils, and other chemicals and cosmetics; European and other facial techniques; client evaluation and care; applicable laws and regulations; and business practices.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist program prepares individuals to become licensed facial specialists, focusing on the massage and treatment of the face, neck, and scalp using various chemical and cosmetic preparations. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in the beauty and personal care industry, particularly in specialized and full-service salons.
Students will gain knowledge in facial surface anatomy, skin properties, and infection control, along with practical skills in facial massage, makeup application, and client evaluation. The curriculum also covers business practices and applicable laws and regulations relevant to the field.
Credentials awarded
What Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of less than 12 weeks1,467 graduates / yr · 35 institutions59%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year798 graduates / yr · 37 institutions32%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years228 graduates / yr · 3 institutions9.1%
- Associate's degree6 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
Graduates over time
Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,008 |
| 2013 | 1,125 |
| 2014 | 1,151 |
| 2015 | 1,166 |
| 2016 | 1,224 |
| 2017 | 1,266 |
| 2018 | 1,374 |
| 2019 | 1,732 |
| 2020 | 2,091 |
| 2021 | 2,437 |
| 2022 | 2,903 |
| 2023 | 2,787 |
| 2024 | 2,901 |
| 2025 | 2,499 |
Top 50 institutions for Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 163 | 37% | — | $29,668 |
| 2 | Sheridan Technical College Hollywood, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 153 | 69% | — | $15,338 |
| 3 | Clary Sage College Tulsa, OKPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 119 | 80% | $23,767 | $16,948 |
| 4 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 117 | 30% | — | $15,655 |
| 5 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 108 | 64% | — | $21,731 |
| 6 | Francis Tuttle Technology Center Oklahoma City, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 102 | 52% | — | $15,765 |
| 7 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 101 | 41% | — | $24,361 |
| 8 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 99 | 45% | — | $18,411 |
| 9 | Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics Woburn, MAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 93 | 96% | $20,490 | $26,234 |
| 10 | Pensacola State College Pensacola, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 72 | 36% | — | $23,911 |
| 11 | Orange Technical College - West Campus Ocoee, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 59 | 71% | — | $15,944 |
| 12 | M - DCPS The English Center Miami, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 57 | 92% | — | — |
| 13 | Prestige Health & Beauty Sciences Academy Hallandale Beach, FLPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 53 | 89% | — | $15,773 |
| 14 | Houston City College Houston, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 51 | 17% | — | $16,777 |
| 15 | First Coast Technical College Saint Augustine, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 49 | 77% | — | — |
| 16 | South Dade Technical College - South Dade Skills Center Campus HOMESTEAD, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 49 | 86% | — | — |
| 17 | Pinellas Technical College - St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 47 | 60% | — | — |
| 18 | Suncoast Technical College Sarasota, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 42 | 50% | — | $22,662 |
| 19 | Lorenzo Walker Technical College Naples, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 41 | 99% | — | — |
| 20 | Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 41 | 21% | — | $18,887 |
| 21 | The Salon Professional Academy - Lewisville Lewisville, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 37 | 75% | — | $22,320 |
| 22 | La Belle Beauty School Hialeah, FLPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 36 | 89% | $12,731 | $12,402 |
| 23 | Lively Technical College Tallahassee, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 36 | 51% | — | $14,031 |
| 24 | Cinta Aveda Institute San Francisco, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 32 | 62% | $13,411 | $17,592 |
| 25 | Latin Beauty Academy greenacres, FLPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 32 | 75% | $17,201 | $13,773 |
| 26 | Daytona College Ormond Beach, FLPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 29 | 86% | — | $20,872 |
| 27 | Salon & Spa Institute Brownsville, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 29 | 100% | $12,372 | $9,804 |
| 28 | Ridge Technical College Winter Haven, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 26 | 99% | — | $15,943 |
| 29 | Marion Technical College Ocala, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 26 | 80% | — | $18,663 |
| 30 | Boca Beauty Academy Boca Raton, FLPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 26 | 90% | $22,132 | $16,730 |
| 31 | Lindsey Hopkins Technical College Miami, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 24 | 66% | — | — |
| 32 | Texas College of Cosmetology - San Angelo San Angelon, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 67% | $16,996 | $17,339 |
| 33 | Florida Professional Institute Miami, FLPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 24 | 100% | $31,630 | — |
| 34 | Florida Gateway College Lake City, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 23 | 54% | — | $16,195 |
| 35 | Beauty Academy of South Florida Hialeah Gardens, FLPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 23 | 72% | $13,226 | $13,866 |
| 36 | La Belle Beauty Academy Miami, FLPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 98% | $20,261 | $12,087 |
| 37 | Lamar State College - Port Arthur Port Arthur, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 45% | — | — |
| 38 | American Beauty and Trade School Miami, FLPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 21 | 98% | $13,360 | $11,693 |
| 39 | Texas College of Cosmetology - Lubbock Lubbock, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 80% | $16,352 | $17,339 |
| 40 | Phagans School of Hair Design Happy Valley, ORPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 80% | $11,289 | $16,034 |
| 41 | Boca Beauty Academy - Parkland Parkland, FLPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 19 | 86% | $17,482 | $16,730 |
| 42 | Academy of Hair Technology Greenville, SCPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 18 | 100% | — | $19,459 |
| 43 | Texas College of Cosmetology - Abilene Abilene, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 18 | 59% | $18,131 | $17,339 |
| 44 | Bellus Academy Manhattan, KSPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 18 | 74% | $21,760 | $17,745 |
| 45 | Trinity Valley Community College Athens, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 27% | — | $10,381 |
| 46 | Eastern Florida State College Melbourne, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 16 | 52% | — | — |
| 47 | Kaizen Beauty Academy Pembroke Pines, FLPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 16 | 93% | — | — |
| 48 | Robert Morgan Educational Center and Technical College Miami, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 15 | 13% | — | — |
| 49 | Kilgore College Kilgore, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 39% | — | $15,957 |
| 50 | Shawnee Beauty College Shawnee, OKPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 83% | $8,994 | $16,577 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services field (CIP 12.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 9 states
Where Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist graduates come from. Each state links to all Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 48 | 1,652 | Florida State College at Jacksonville163 / yr |
| Texas | 15 | 402 | San Jacinto Community College117 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 236 | Clary Sage College119 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 93 | Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics93 / yr |
| California | 2 | 42 | Cinta Aveda Institute32 / yr |
| Oregon | 3 | 30 | Phagans School of Hair Design19 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 18 | Academy of Hair Technology18 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 18 | Bellus Academy18 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 8 | LaSalle Tech8 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 39-5094, Skincare Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as skincare specialists, with an annual job outlook of 14,500 openings and a median wage of $41,560. The field is expected to grow by 6.7%, making it a promising career choice for those with a postsecondary nondegree award.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 12.0408
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Skincare Specialistsprimary SOC 39-5094 | $45,330 | +6.7% Faster than average | ~14,500 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Sterilize equipment and clean work areas.
- Cleanse clients' skin with water, creams, or lotions.
- Demonstrate how to clean and care for skin properly and recommend skin-care regimens.
- Determine which products or colors will improve clients' skin quality and appearance.
- Keep records of client needs and preferences and the services provided.
- Treat the facial skin to maintain and improve its appearance, using specialized techniques and products, such as peels and masks.
Tools and technology used
Other Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services specializations
The 12 other 6-digit CIP codes under Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services (CIP 12.04).
- Cosmetology/CIP 12.0401
Cosmetologist 56,828 graduates / yr1,353 institutions - Aesthetician/CIP 12.0409
Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist 38,219 graduates / yr741 institutions - Nail Technician/CIP 12.0410
Specialist and Manicurist 14,526 graduates / yr513 institutions - Barbering/CIP 12.0402
Barber 12,249 graduates / yr503 institutions - Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming ArtsCIP 12.04992,592 graduates / yr99 institutions
- Master Aesthetician/CIP 12.0414
Esthetician 2,242 graduates / yr53 institutions - Hair Styling/CIP 12.0407
Stylist and Hair Design 1,479 graduates / yr88 institutions - Cosmetology, Barber/CIP 12.0413
Styling, and Nail Instructor 1,259 graduates / yr319 institutions - Salon/CIP 12.0412
Beauty Salon Management/ Manager 546 graduates / yr17 institutions - Make-Up Artist/CIP 12.0406
Specialist 374 graduates / yr20 institutions - Electrolysis/CIP 12.0404
Electrology and Electrolysis Technician 314 graduates / yr13 institutions - Permanent Cosmetics/CIP 12.0411
Makeup and Tattooing limited data91 graduates / yr2 institutions
See all Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs →
Common questions
What is the duration of the program?+
The program offers awards that can range from less than 12 weeks to up to 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and customer service.
What types of jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as a skincare specialist in various salon settings.
What is the job outlook for skincare specialists?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a projected growth of 6.7%.
What is the CIP code for Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist?+
Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist is CIP 12.0408 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services (CIP 12.04). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to massage and treat the face, neck, and scalp with chemical and cosmetic preparations, and to function as licensed facial specialists in specialized and full service salons. Includes instruction in facial surface anatomy; skin properties; skin decontamination and infection control; facial massage; facial makeup; facial wrapping; selection and application of creams, lotions, oils, and other chemicals and cosmetics; European and other facial techniques; client evaluation and care; applicable laws and regulations; and business practices.
How many institutions offer Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist programs?+
75 U.S. institutions reported Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states, awarding 2,499 credentials in the year. That is 1.9% of all Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services graduates.
How much do Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Skincare Specialists occupation, which Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist most directly leads to, pays a median of $45,330 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services field report median earnings of $16,730 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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