Medically reviewed by:Considering a career as an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner? You’re not alone! The generous salary, regular hours and comparably less stress than many other nursing specialties make it a really popular choice. And, it has the added benefit of potentially allowing you to own your own medical aesthetics practice, depending on the state you work in.
While all nurses are dedicated to improving the quality of life and health of their patients, Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners specifically focus on improving their patient’s appearance. In doing so, they provide a medical service that can make a significant difference in how patients feel about themselves and in the image that they project to the world.
A career as an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner has a lot to offer. This guide will help you figure out if it’s the right path for you!
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Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
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Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
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RN Required
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Part One What is an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner?
Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners are Nurse Practitioners who specialize in cosmetic medical procedures that improve their patients’ appearance.
Whether they are working collaboratively with physicians or independently in their own practice, they work directly with their patients:
- Consulting with them about their concerns and questions
- Providing information about the options available for elective procedures
- Performing those procedures
There are many quality-of-life advantages to a career as an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner, including being able to work autonomously in your own practice, having the chance to establish one-on-one relationships with patients, and not having to face on-call or emergency schedules.
Part Two What Do Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners Do?
Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners examine and evaluate patients, counsel them on a variety of procedures, perform those procedures, and care for them as they recover.
Depending on where they work, they may also be responsible for many other day-to-day aspects, particularly if they are running their own practice.
If an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner works as a staff member for a dermatologist or plastic surgery practice, they will:
- Work collaboratively with physicians
- Assist in performing surgeries
- Oversee patient education and recovery
- Administer procedures
The clinical procedures that Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners can perform or oversee include:
- Injections of dermal fillers or Botox to improve the appearance of crows’ feet and wrinkles, to make lips look fuller and to counter the effects of aging
- Sclerotherapy procedures to eliminate varicose veins through the injection of a solution into the veins
- Laser skin treatments such as microdermabrasion, photo facials, and tattoo removal
Where Do Aesthetic NPs Work?
Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners generally work in private settings rather than in hospitals. These may include medical spas or private practice clinics alongside aesthetic nurses.
How Many Hours Do Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners Work?
Aesthetic procedures, including surgical procedures, are almost entirely scheduled during regular working hours on an outpatient basis.
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Part Three Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner Salary
In addition to being a great career, you can also earn a high salary as an Aesthetic NP. The BLS reports that Nurse Practitioners earn a median salary of $129,480 per year in 2023. While they don't have specific salaries for Aesthetic NPs, according to ZipRecruiter, the average Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner salary is $130,295 per year.
Highest-Paying States for Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners
According to ZipRecruiter these are the highest-paying states for aesthetic NPs.
- New Jersey - $143,192 avg. annual salary
- Wisconsin - $139,925
- Alaska - $136,910
- Massachusetts - $136,805
- Washington - $136,569
>> Related: Aesthetic/Cosmetic Nurse Salary
Part Four How to Become an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner
If you want to become an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner, you’ll need to complete the following steps.
-
Earn Your Registered Nurse Degree
Becoming an aesthetic/cosmetic nurse begins with a registered nurse degree, which can be gained through either a two-year Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. -
Pass the NCLEX-RN
Once nurses have earned their RN degrees from accredited nursing programs, they must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become licensed in their state. -
Advance Your Education
In order to become an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner, you’ll need to earn either an MSN or DNP from an accredited Nurse Practitioner program. -
Gain Experience
Upon graduation, most Nurse Practitioners who are interested in becoming Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners spend time training with dermatologists or plastic surgeons in order to perfect their skills. -
Get Certified
Aesthetic nurse certifications are not required, but they do demonstrate dedication to the field. They are available through the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board. There are also courses available from the American Aesthetic Association, the American Association of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery, and the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine.
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
-
MSN - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
MSN - Family NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
MSN - Pediatric NP - Primary Care
-
Post-Master's Cert - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Family NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
DNP
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
Part Five What is the Career Outlook for Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners?
Careers in Medical Aesthetics are growing rapidly as the popularity of medical spas and procedures to enhance appearance enjoy continued popularity.
According to Surgery.com, the growing desire among both women and men to counter the effect of aging on their appearance is driving the aesthetics professions to new heights. While the BLS doesn't have data on aesthetic NPs specifically, the expected employment growth of nurse practitioners is 38% from 2022 to 2032.
Part Six What are the Continuing Education Requirements for an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner?
At this time, there is no certification program available to confirm an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner’s credentials, so continuing education requirements will be restricted to those required by the individual state in which a Nurse Practitioner practices.
>> Show Me Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Part Seven Where Can I Learn More About Becoming an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner?
The field of aesthetics allows Nurse Practitioners to provide direct patient care while exercising their creativity, and in some states, Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners can open their own medical spas and be entirely autonomous.
For more information about how to enter this exciting career, support and resources are available through:
- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- The Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board
- The American Aesthetic Association
- The American Association of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery
- The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine
You can also learn more about aesthetic/cosmetic nursing through Nurse.org! Check out our other related articles:
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
-
MSN - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
MSN - Family NP
-
MSN - Pediatric NP - Primary Care
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Family NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
DNP
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
Part Eight Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner FAQs
Part Nine Other Nurse Practitioner Specialities
- General Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
- Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
- Emergency Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Oncology Nurse Practitioner
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