Program summary

Fundamental Esthetics is a 600-hour program leading to a Virginia esthetician license. No prior training required — this is the starting point, and the prerequisite for Advanced Esthetics.

Details

License earned

Virginia esthetician

Format

Hybrid and in-person cohorts. Theory online via CIMA, practical training in person in Stafford

Day course schedule

Monday–Wednesday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Tuition

$10,395

Books & supplies

$1,500

Registration fee

$100 — non-refundable

Total investment

$11,995

Military benefits

G.I. Bill® accepted for the in-person cohort (hybrid courses do not qualify). MyCAA accepted, up to $4,000 for eligible spouses

Common questions

How long is the program?

600 hours, the minimum Virginia requires for esthetician licensure. On the day course you're on campus Monday through Wednesday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

What does the $11,995 cover?

Tuition, books, supplies, and registration — including the Milady Foundations and Milady Standard Esthetics e-Textbooks, CIMA digital course access, your esthetics student kit, a training mannequin head, and the Virginia State Board kit. State examination and license application fees are paid separately to the Commonwealth.

Do I need experience to enroll?

No. Fundamental Esthetics is the entry point and has no prerequisites.

Is the program online?

Partly. Theory, assignments, and tests are completed online through CIMA on assigned dates. Practical training happens in person at our Stafford teaching spa, where you complete the 220 hands-on performances Virginia requires.

What are the 220 practical performances?

Supervised services on real clients, documented by the school: 65 manual facials, 50 machine or electrical facials, 35 consultations and skin analyses, 25 makeup applications, 25 hair removal services, and 20 body or back treatments.

What can I do with an esthetician license?

Facials and skin treatments, skin analysis and consultation, makeup including lash extensions and tinting, body treatments and wraps, and hair removal. Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and dermaplaning require the master esthetician license — see our esthetician vs. master esthetician comparison.

Can I use my G.I. Bill® or MyCAA?

G.I. Bill® benefits are accepted for the in-person cohort (hybrid courses do not qualify); enroll at least two months before your start date so benefits clear in time. MyCAA is accepted for all NVLET courses, up to $4,000 for eligible military spouses.

Can I continue to Advanced Esthetics afterward?

Yes — and you don't have to wait until you're licensed. Students may enroll in Advanced while still completing this program. Both are 600 hours, so completing both is 1,200 hours total.

Do you accept transfer hours?

Possibly. Virginia allows a licensed school to review a transfer student's transcript and documented performances, administer a competency exam, and grant credit up to the hours verified. Contact admissions to start that review.

Licensing requirements are set by the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology under 18VAC41-70. See the Virginia licensing guide or tuition and program costs.