Like most medical professions, special training is required to operate a laser for a doctor’s office or medical center. This education is needed for the protection of the patient’s health as well as your own.

This training is typically provided by Vocational Schools which offer on site, online and night classes. Depending on your schedule, these classes can take from 2 weeks to 3 months to complete. This training is different from traditional esthetician school which can take from 10 months to 2 years to complete. Most states do no require an esthetician’s degree or license to become a laser technician.

Someone looking to enter this field should generally be familiar with anatomy and technology. Prior knowledge about skin, dermatology, or lasers is beneficial to learning quickly.

Laser Technician School Requirements

If you are interested in becoming a laser technician it is important to know the requirements for your state. We created an interactive map to make your search easier.

Generally, a prospective student will want to take classes from an accredited program which will boast well when applying for positions after training. The most common accreditation you should look for are the National Council on Laser Certification (NCLC) and the International Aesthetic & Laser Association (IALA), as well as those approved by your state’s medical board.

Completion of most programs requires between 5 and 20 classes to effectively learn the skills needed for be a laser technician. The number of courses is dependent on your focus of study which we cover below. In addition to classroom learning, practical training also occurs where you apply the skills learned.

Following completion of Laser Technician School, many states also require you pass an off-site and proctored 100 question exam covering the topics learned during your classes.

Laser Technician School Classes

Most laser tech programs offered by reputable institutions will include core classes similar to the following:

• General Dermatology
• General Anatomy
• Short Pulse Laser Application
• CPR
• Customer Service

 

Depending on the focus of your schooling, you will also learn all or some of the following more specific techniques and treatments:

• Laser Hair Removal Practice and Procedure
• Photofacial and Acne Scar Removal
• Anti-Aging Skin Rejuvination
• Laser Tattoo Removal
• Radiofrequency Wrinkle Reduction
• Vein & Cellulite Reduction

 

National Laser Institute offers an in-depth career training program for persons located in Arizona and Texas, which covers all of this topics in one 2 week training course. Other school options may offer similar programs both online and in-person.

Laser Technician School Costs

The cost of tuition varies based on a few factors including the type of program and the school you choose. We did a survey of the three most attended schools and here are the average costs you can expect.

School	Hours	Enrollment	Tuition	Books/Supplies	Total Cost	Cost/Hour
Aesthetic Science Institute	40	100	2250	250	$2,600	$65
National Laser Institute (Laser)	68	250	4250	0	$4,500	$66
National Laser Institute (Comp)	124	250	9645	0	$9,895	$80
Rocky Mountain Laser College	60	0	6500	0	$6,500	$108

 

As you can see. the average tuition across the 4 programs is about $5800, with an average cost per hour of $80. This varies greatly depending on the program you choose and number of hours required for completion.