Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to our most asked questions about the programs we teach and the services we offer to clients.
AESTHETICS INSTITUTE
FAQs
What is the kit fee? What is included in the kit?
Will I see clients at your school, or will I just work on other students? Do I need to bring in my own models to work on?
Do you have enough machines for all of the students to practice with?
Do you teach lash extensions? Do you charge more for that?
Do you teach hair and nails?
Will I see clients at your school, or will I just work on other students? Do I need to bring in my own models to work on?
Do you have enough machines for all of the students to practice with?
Do you teach lash extensions? Do you charge more for that?
Do you teach hair and nails?
Our Programs
Masters Esthetics
This is our beginning-level esthetics course that requires no prior esthetics experience or training.
Advanced Esthetics
This course is designed for the professional esthetician ready to take their skills and career to the next level. This course requires a current Oregon esthetics license to attend.
Our classes start approximately every two months, and a current schedule of start dates can be found on our website.
The extremely limited number of students we enroll for each Masters Esthetics course start date means we often receive more than double the number of applications for the available spots. We enroll on a first-applied, first-enrolled basis. The first students who return all COMPLETED enrollment documents to the school and pay their non-refundable enrollment fee will secure their desired class start date.
We strongly recommend applying at least two months before your desired start date, as all of our classes fill up quickly.
We have provided detailed information about the exact costs of each of the esthetics programs we offer. You can find the most current breakdown of these costs on our website.
The first half of the program is entirely online, and everyone is considered ‘full-time.’ Once you
complete this portion of the course, you move in-house for your practical training, and you can
then choose one of the in-house attendance options below:
• Full Time: Monday-Thursday 9 am-5 pm
• Part Time: Monday/Wednesday OR Tuesday/Thursday 9 am-5 pm
• Masters Esthetics Full Time: 18 weeks (~4-5 months)
• Masters Esthetics Part Time: 28 weeks (~6-7 months)
• Advanced Esthetics Full Time: 16 weeks (~4 months)
• Advanced Esthetics Part Time: 23 weeks (~6 months)
Please note that all program completion times are approximate estimates and are contingent on myriad factors, including student attendance, completion of required coursework, and school holiday closures.
- The Masters Esthetics program, our beginning-level esthetics program, includes a partnership with Associated Skin Care Professionals, SugarLash Pro, and Vagaro. These services provide you with continuing education opportunities, insurance, website design, product discounts, professional scheduling services, and lash certifications.
- All state requirements for estheticians, as well as five additional certifications.
- All supplies, learning materials, and consumables you will use during your studies and training.
- Support in your employment search or help in business development for those who choose to work for themselves.
Our programs require a great deal of hands-on training at our school. While the first half of each program is online, the second half brings the student into our facilities. This gives students the opportunity to learn and become familiar with the technology and equipment used as industry professionals. This is done under direct instruction and supervision of our highly experienced instructors. See our detailed attendance options here.
Course Details
The kit has everything you will need while you are a student at our school. Your kit will include all of the consumables, tools, textbooks, workbooks, palettes, brushes, makeup, waxing supplies, lashes, glue, and all other supplies that you need to complete your education. It also includes your uniform and insurance. The kit fee is mandatory and non-negotiable.
The Advanced kit is similar, but with less product and a much higher insurance premium we must pay while you are a student in our program.
We have real clients every day at our school, and you will provide services for them when you are ready. We have been offering esthetics services to the public from our students for nearly 40 years, and we are busy!
We think it is vital for your education in esthetics to see real clients to practice and develop your skills. You are always welcome to invite your friends and family to schedule a service at the school, but you are not required to provide your own models during your training.
The only time you are required to provide a model is during your state practical exam for licensure after graduating from our school. Details will be shared prior to your graduation.
Yes, absolutely. The Aesthetics Institute firmly believes that to learn a skill truly, that skill must be practiced time and time again. The hands-on training portion of each one of our courses includes significant time with ALL of the machines required to learn each skill.
We teach lash lifts, lash tinting, and lash extensions. These are ALL included in our Masters Esthetics course, and there is no extra charge to learn these skills, as they are a required part of our curriculum. We have NO extra add-on charges for anything we teach at our school. EVERYTHING is included in the price, even your uniform!
No, we do not. While we think these are great skills to learn, we focus only on esthetics and advanced esthetics courses at our institute.
Finances & Job Placement
We are always more than happy to help our students find employment in this industry. Our instructors have all worked professionally in the area, and the school has been teaching students for nearly 40 years.
We are contacted regularly by spas, medical offices, and other businesses looking to hire our graduates. We always pass these opportunities on to our students. We also regularly host spa owners and past graduates to speak and share with our students their advice for landing their dream job.
Because our esthetics program is a competency-based program, and we are a relatively small, family-owned school, we are currently unable to offer financial aid through the federal FAFSA program at this time. This also includes not being able to accept GI Bill benefits or 529 College Savings Plans.
We are licensed by the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission, and our programs are eligible for a number of state-sponsored funding options.
While we do not offer internal scholarships or financial aid, but we have a list of private scholarships you can check out, and we do offer multiple financing options to pay for our programs
Online Shop & E-Commerce
Return and exchange policy: no returns or exchanges with the exception of goods damaged or lost in the shipping process. Please also see our shipping and delivery policies below.
Alumni receive 20% off retail size products and backbar is wholesale pricing.
You can start shopping by logging into the alumni site with your email address then clicking forgot your password.
If you have difficulty creating your alumni account, please contact the school via phone or at clientservices@aiofportland.com.
There is a client facing side of the e-commerce site where you can send your friends, family or clients who are looking for a reputable place to purchase their skin care products.
Shipping is free with purchase over $150 or $10 flat rate. These rates can change at any time.
We use USPS to ship our packages. In most cases your items will arrive within 2-3 days. You will receive an email with tracking information as soon as your product ships.
If you have had package theft occur at the shipping address please strongly consider shipping to a different address or picking up in store. We will not continue to ship to an address with a history of package theft.
In the case of a damaged package, please contact clientservices@aiofportland.com and will send a replacement item. Please be aware that we will ask for photos of the damaged box.
In the case of a lost item, please contact clientservices@aiofportland.com and will send a replacement item.
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