How to Become a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS)
Key Takeaways
- A certified aesthetic nurse specialist (CANS) is an RN or NP with a psncb certification who specializes in cosmetic injectables.
- CANS is an excellent position because it opens the door to strong pay, steady demand, and leadership opportunities in aesthetic medicine.
- Becoming a CANS requires RN licensure, 1,000 hours of relevant, approved experience, and passing the CANS exam.
A certified aesthetic nurse specialist (CANS) is a specially trained registered nurse (RN) or nurse practitioner (NP) with a national certification in aesthetics. These specialists are leaders in aesthetics and display the highest level of knowledge and skills within the field.
Read on to learn about how to become a CANS, including education and certification requirements, salary, duties, and more!
- 💰 Salary: Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialists make an average of $83,618 per year, or $40 per hour (ZipRecruiter)
- ⏰ Length to Become: 4-8 years
- 🎓 Requirements: Minimum Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), RN license, Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS) certification
- 👩⚕️ Career Outlook: 5% (faster than average) growth rate for RNs over the next decade (BLS)
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. The school offers BSN programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education. Save up to 30%* on tuition with the RN-to-BSN Tuition Advantage Grant (*see Chamberlain website for details).
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide except CT, NY, RI
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE-accredited, nonprofit university offering bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing, with the additional distinction of being named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing. Join a trusted, accredited online university to accelerate your nursing career on your schedule. Scholarships and financial aid are available.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Walden’s online programs for nursing meet rigorous standards for academic quality and integrity, and 100% of our College of Nursing didactic faculty are doctorally trained. With multiple degree completion options, you can choose a bachelor’s in nursing path that makes sense for your busy, unpredictable schedule.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Arizona College of Nursing (AZCN) offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. With 23 nursing school campuses across 14 states, AZCN provides convenient scheduling with general education night classes and in-person, online, and blended nursing courses. New BSN sessions start about every 8 weeks, giving you flexibility when beginning your nursing degree. Our program features small class sizes and NCLEX-RN exam preparation built-in. You’ll experience hands-on clinical practice, advanced simulation labs, and personalized support, to prepare you for your nursing career.
CCNE, ABHES
Hybrid
RN Not Required
Enrollment: 23 Campuses in 14 States (AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, MI, MO, NV, OH, SC, TX, UT, VA, WI)
What is a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist?
A certified aesthetic nurse specialist (CANS) is an RN or NP who has passed the national CANS examination offered by the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board (psncb).
CANS are leaders in their profession and have advanced training and knowledge in the field of cosmetic and aesthetic treatments.
Duties
Specific job responsibilities will depend on the place of employment and the underlying education degree (RN vs. NP). Job duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Administer neurotoxins like Botox and Dysport
- Consult with clients to achieve optimal results
- Follow up with clients after injections
- Prepare injections
- Inventory neurotoxins
- Educate patients on side effects and aftercare
- Keep medical equipment and the workplace sterile
- Stay relevant on the latest trends and techniques
- Document patient records
- Develop personalized treatment plans
- Administer dermal fillers and other cosmetic enhancements
Work Environments
CANS can work in various locations, including:
- Medical spas
- Fitness centers
- Private practice clinics
- Laser clinics
- Wellness centers
- Dermatology offices
- Plastic surgery clinics
- Hospitals
- Outpatient surgery centers
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. The school offers BSN programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education. Save up to 30%* on tuition with the RN-to-BSN Tuition Advantage Grant (*see Chamberlain website for details).
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide except CT, NY, RI
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE-accredited, nonprofit university offering bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing, with the additional distinction of being named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing. Join a trusted, accredited online university to accelerate your nursing career on your schedule. Scholarships and financial aid are available.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Walden’s online programs for nursing meet rigorous standards for academic quality and integrity, and 100% of our College of Nursing didactic faculty are doctorally trained. With multiple degree completion options, you can choose a bachelor’s in nursing path that makes sense for your busy, unpredictable schedule.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Arizona College of Nursing (AZCN) offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. With 23 nursing school campuses across 14 states, AZCN provides convenient scheduling with general education night classes and in-person, online, and blended nursing courses. New BSN sessions start about every 8 weeks, giving you flexibility when beginning your nursing degree. Our program features small class sizes and NCLEX-RN exam preparation built-in. You’ll experience hands-on clinical practice, advanced simulation labs, and personalized support, to prepare you for your nursing career.
CCNE, ABHES
Hybrid
RN Not Required
Enrollment: 23 Campuses in 14 States (AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, MI, MO, NV, OH, SC, TX, UT, VA, WI)
How to Get Certified as an Aesthetic Nurse Specialist
Step 2: Pass the NCLEX & Become State Licensed
Once you've earned your RN degree from an accredited nursing program, you'll then need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become licensed. Depending on where you live, certification will be either state-specific or a compact license.
Step 3: Gain Experience as an Aesthetic Nurse
To be eligible to take the certification exam, you must have at least 1,000 practice hours within the core specialties during the last two years. Your experience must be in collaboration or in practice with a board-certified physician within a core specialty. Core competencies include plastic, aesthetic, or cosmetic surgery, dermatology, facial plastic surgery, or ophthalmology.
Step 4: Take the Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist Exam and Maintain Certification
Once you have met the eligibility criteria for certification, it is time to take the exam. To maintain CANS status, recertification is required every three years. Requirements for recertification include: 45 contact hours with at least 2 hours specifically related to patient safety. At least 30 of those hours must be in the core specialties:
- Plastic, aesthetic, or cosmetic surgery
- Dermatology
- Facial plastic surgery
- Ophthalmology
Nurses must also retake the CANS exam every three years to maintain this certification. There are no continuing education units required for recertification.
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. The school offers BSN programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education. Save up to 30%* on tuition with the RN-to-BSN Tuition Advantage Grant (*see Chamberlain website for details).
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide except CT, NY, RI
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE-accredited, nonprofit university offering bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing, with the additional distinction of being named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing. Join a trusted, accredited online university to accelerate your nursing career on your schedule. Scholarships and financial aid are available.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Walden’s online programs for nursing meet rigorous standards for academic quality and integrity, and 100% of our College of Nursing didactic faculty are doctorally trained. With multiple degree completion options, you can choose a bachelor’s in nursing path that makes sense for your busy, unpredictable schedule.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Arizona College of Nursing (AZCN) offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. With 23 nursing school campuses across 14 states, AZCN provides convenient scheduling with general education night classes and in-person, online, and blended nursing courses. New BSN sessions start about every 8 weeks, giving you flexibility when beginning your nursing degree. Our program features small class sizes and NCLEX-RN exam preparation built-in. You’ll experience hands-on clinical practice, advanced simulation labs, and personalized support, to prepare you for your nursing career.
CCNE, ABHES
Hybrid
RN Not Required
Enrollment: 23 Campuses in 14 States (AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, MI, MO, NV, OH, SC, TX, UT, VA, WI)
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