Career Changer FAQs

We receive a number of inquiries from locations across the country seeking individuals with laser experience. As they come in, we distribute these to alumni. We will bend over backwards and do anything in our power to assist you in your job search or help you acquire the tools and information you need to start your own business. While no school in the country can “guarantee” you a job, we are confident our reputation speaks for itself and we believe is the equivalent of the status one receives when graduating from a university with the prestige of a Harvard or Stanford.

There are courses on the market that are as low as $2000 to as high as $10,000. You will find that most of these courses offer anywhere from 16 hours to 100 hours of education. On a hourly basis, we are extremely competitive. However, we are not the least expensive school out there and never will be. We truly believe you get what you pay for. If you are simply just seeking a “certificate of training,” then we are not the school for you. If you are seeking certification by way of the most comprehensive and high quality program in the country, then National Laser Institute is the premier choice. Though we are a great “bang for the buck,” we truly are considered the Cadillac of the industry. Our reputation for setting a standard in the highest quality of education is second to none.

One of the keys for us delivering a superior education is everything is presented in an organized and supervised program. We feel it is crucial that your education is a day-to-day continuous instruction presented in a structured fashion. Many of our competitors operate the hands-on/clinical portion as an open lab with a “come and go as you please” environment. We do not believe this is a beneficial manner in which to learn. Your course will start  the didactic (classroom) portion of the program. The next day you´ll start your hands-on/clinical portion of the course in our state of the art medical spa, which is on site.

The best of the best! Here is some background on the three primary pieces of equipment we use. One of the oldest companies in the business that use to be the largest player in existence. Another company which has been written up in Forbes magazine as the fastest growing laser company on the stock exchange and a third company that is the largest in Europe! Bottom line, we utilize the most reputable, fastest growing and most widely recognized manufacturers in laser/IPL in the country at facility. In addition, we are continuously bringing in a variety of other manufacturers equipment. We believe it is imperative to avoid training on lesser known, smaller company’s equipment. Far more important then the equipment you train on is the skill sets you learn with regards to techniques and safety protocols. In your “laser lifetime” you will most likely use a variety of equipment and its quite simple to shift from one to the next, the key to success is your foundation of knowledge you learn that can be applied universally to all types of equipment. There are many different quality brands of equipment, and that is important but knowledge is the true power.

The best of the best! Here is some background on the three primary pieces of equipment we use. One of the oldest companies in the business that use to be the largest player in existence. Another company which has been written up in Forbes magazine as the fastest growing laser company on the stock exchange and a third company that is the largest in Europe! Bottom line, we utilize the most reputable, fastest growing and most widely recognized manufacturers in laser/IPL in the country at facility. In addition, we are continuously bringing in a variety of other manufacturers equipment. We believe it is imperative to avoid training on lesser known, smaller company’s equipment. Far more important then the equipment you train on is the skill sets you learn with regards to techniques and safety protocols. In your “laser lifetime” you will most likely use a variety of equipment and its quite simple to shift from one to the next, the key to success is your foundation of knowledge you learn that can be applied universally to all types of equipment. There are many different quality brands of equipment, and that is important but knowledge is the true power.

The laws in every state vary, but currently only California requires one to be a nurse to perform laser procedures. The State of Arizona does not have any prerequisites for Aesthetic Laser training students. For more info click here.

Having the opportunity to perform treatments in a state-of-the-art medical spa, on “real” clients is always an enormous advantage. Working in an atmosphere with laser technicians, nurses, and aestheticians within the activity of a true medical spa completely enhances your learning curve. When you attend National Laser Institute, you will spend all your hands-on/clinical hours in our luxury med spa, which is a 10 treatment room, 3000 sq. ft. beautiful, luxurious medical spa within the same 10,000 sq. ft. campus that houses National Laser Institute.

Yes! In fact, at our medical spa, we employ a young lady who does not have any background in aesthetics, and is an excellent laser hair technician. Many of our students who made career changes in their lives are finding the Laser Hair Removal/IPL industry to be extremely lucrative and satisfying. For more info click here.

We are proud to give our students a very well-rounded education by having a combination of teachers and speakers. Each session has doctors, nurses, certified laser technicians as well as nationally recognized laser representatives. We are also the only school in the country that has the medical spa business owner, Louis Silberman, speaking where our students can ask questions pertaining from marketing to starting their own business. We promise a variety of knowledgeable, interesting, and entertaining speakers.

The marketplace for such procedures we feel may end up being as big or bigger then laser hair removal. BOTOX® sold over one billion dollars of injections last year, and the sole purpose was wrinkle reduction. Many people are scared of BOTOX®, not being sure of its long term effects, not liking receiving a shot, and the concern of BOTOX® coming from botulisms, which some deem a poison. There is a number of different skin tightening and wrinkle reduction procedures coming onto the marketplace, and we anticipate this will be one of the hottest new technologies and procedures out there within 24 months.

Practical and classroom education in lasers and IPL is vital to being a successful and safe laser operator. Whether you are new to the business or have been utilizing lasers already, this class will benefit you. Arizona regulations mandate that laser technicians attend a 40-hour training course, followed up with 24 hours of observation and ten treatments under the supervision of a licensed practitioner. Ultimately, every state in the country is expected to mandate similar education requirements. Stay ahead of the curve, get your certificate and training at National Laser Institute, and become an expert in your field and you will stand out above your competition.

Laser technicians work in a variety of professional clinic and skin care settings that are not limited to, but include:

• Dermatology offices
• Skin care clinics
• Laser care facilities
• Medical spas
• Laser Hair Removal clinics
• Plastic surgeon offices
• Physicians offices incorporating cosmetics rooms
• Destination spas
• Day spas
• And more

As the use of lasers infiltrate the skin care industry, it is increasingly vital that technicians using this advanced technology understand safety procedures for the well being of their clients.

Lasers emit highly directional beams of light that produce intense heat and photochemical effects. Industrial lasers are used for cutting metal and in a clinical setting they can be harmful when used improperly. When the use of laser light is not well-understood or monitored, exposure can result in permanent damage to the patients´ eye and skin.

National Laser Institute´s training program trains in laser physics and tissue interactions before he or she can proceed in the program. This section will teach you the importance of safety, hazards and necessary precautions. You will also receive in-depth instruction on potential treatment setting contraindications.

A long process of complying with state laws and setting up polices that best protect the student are part of being a post secondary approved school.

Post secondary schools may accept students from any prior job background. Typically, if a school is not a post secondary approved school they are only allowed to accept students that are currently working in the laser field. (Specifically laser, not aesthetics) It is vital that wherever you receive your education they are a post secondary approved school (unless you currently are a laser technician working in the field.)

Yes, at National Laser Institute we have a diverse group of instructors that include physicians, expert laser technicians, nurses and skin specialists. Monthly, National Laser Institute hosts guest speakers from nationally recognized (laser) companies to speak about new and developing technology.

Some laser schools offer a “Come when you please, to do your clinical hands-on portion of training.” We believe the only way to receive comprehensive education is by practicing clinical procedures intensely for consecutive days. We believe your mind must absorb the new information fully allowing it to flow to your subconscious, therefore retaining. We believe in training only the very best technicians and to do so we provide a structured, focused learning environment–much like physicians learning a new skill.

National Laser Institute offers the most Comprehensive Laser Bootcamp training in the country. With up to 128 hours of education, you will receive a solid foundation on how to safely and effectively operate a laser.

Of course not! However, after you graduate from National Laser Institute and embark upon your laser career you will learn more and more every day. It always takes time to become an expert, but the key to quickly achieving those goals is a solid foundation that gives you all the tools you need to feel confident and competent at your job.

Arizona requires 40 hours of didactic classroom education. AZ also requires 24-88 clinical hours above and beyond the classroom didactic. If any school offers a lesser amount they are not complying with AZ regulations and their certificate would not be valid in AZ.

We feel our two week course is exactly what you will need to be confident and competent to enter the marketplace. However, if for any reason after completing our two week course you feel you need a refresher on any of the modalities you trained in we offer didactic refresher courses just for you!

Not at all. While a familiarity of the skin care industry may prove to be helpful for some, many of our graduates who have since gone on to become laser technicians and medical aesthetics providers have had no previous aesthetic experience when they started. However, if you have the desire to perform beauty treatments, like facials or chemical peels, which are in fact the only two additional courses one would gain through aesthetics training, then we would be more than happy to recommend a top aesthetician training center for you to attend. Students of ours who choose to pursue the dual roles of both a laser technician and aesthetician typically take our Comprehensive Laser Bootcamp course first since its duration is two weeks, and then begin their six months of required aesthetician training in order to have the option of working part-time as a laser technician while they attend additional schooling. We strongly advise you to do the research for any school that claims to offer both laser certification and aesthetics licensing, as it is unfeasible for any single school to provide a student with the comprehensive education and hands-on training necessary to perform both modalities in a safe and proper manner.