Are you a registered nurse who is thinking about becoming an aesthetic practitioner? There are many reasons for nurses to enter the growing aesthetics industry. Chief amongst them is the greater professional freedom and flexibility as well as the fantastic earning potential.
One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is: “What is a typical aesthetic nurse’s salary?”. The answer will, of course, depend on different factors but we’ve put together a basic overview of what you could expect to earn as an aesthetic nurse.
Working For An Established Clinic
If you wish to take a position as an aesthetic nurse within a clinic, you will most likely be paid a yearly salary. The average per annum salary for a qualified full-time aesthetic nurse is between £25,000 and £35,000, depending on location and experience. The benefits of working for an established clinic include a guaranteed income and client base as well as all the usual benefits of being an employee versus being self-employed. If you are an aesthetic nurse with prescribing power you could potentially earn up to £50,000 per annum working for an established clinic.
Self-Employment Options
Operating independently will allow you to set your own price per procedure. How much you will earn per year will necessarily depend on how many clients you can secure and how often you wish to work. On average, a qualified aesthetic nurse can charge the following for Botulinum Toxin (sometimes known as Botox®) and dermal filler procedures:
A typical schedule for a part-time aesthetic nurse might consist of the following:
- 6 half day clinic sessions (3 days per week)
- 5 clients in each half day session receiving a mixture of Botulinum Toxin and dermal filler treatments
- A total weekly profit of around £8,000 (based on standard costs for products, consumables, and room hire)
Based on the projections above, it is clear that there is scope for even greater profit margins for those who can work full-time. The financial rewards can be boosted even further by offering additional treatments such as chemical peels, laser treatments or Dermaroller for example. If you can generate the client numbers, you can therefore aim to generate an annual revenue in excess of £100,000.
The Issue of Prescribing
It is important to take the matter of prescribing into account when considering setting up your own aesthetics business. Botulinum Toxin is a prescription only medication and can only be administered to a client once a qualified prescriber has undertaken a consultation and issued a prescription. If you are a nurse prescriber you will be able to perform this part of the treatment process without any assistance. If you are not qualified to prescribe then you will need to enlist the services of someone who is. Alternatively, you could choose to train as a nurse prescriber by completing a ‘V300 Advanced Certificate in Independent Prescribing’ which is offered by many universities.
As a self-employed aesthetic nurse, there are three main options for you to consider:
- Be A Mobile Practitioner – Some aesthetic nurses chose to provide treatments from their own property or at a client’s home. The main benefits of this option is the greater flexibility, and low overhead costs. However, you should ensure that the environment you are practising from is always safe, clean and that your insuring body will support you working from that particular environment.
- Set Up Your Own Clinic – This would involve securing permanent clinical premises. The main benefit of setting up your own clinic is the larger earning potential owing to the professionalism of a clinical setting. It does, however, require a significant initial financial investment and ideally an established client base.
- Rent A Room – Many salons and clinics offer room hire for aesthetic nurses to operate from. Some businesses charge an hourly or weekly rental fee whilst others may offer a room in exchange for a percentage of your earnings. This option will give you the benefit of utilising an existing client base and so will require less effort on your part in terms of advertising. You may also be able to employ their reception and administration staff for a fee.
How Much Does It Cost To Train As An Aesthetic Nurse?
As a registered nurse, you must undertake a foundation course in Botulinum Toxin and dermal fillers as a minimum training requirement before you start practicing as an aesthetic nurse. Our Combined Foundation Botulinum Toxin and Dermal Fillers Course is priced at £849 +VAT and will teach you how to perform basic treatments, including upper face Botulinum Toxin, nasolabial fold and marionette line fillers, and lip enhancement. This fully accredited course will equip you with all the theoretical and practical knowledge you need in order to start your career as an aesthetics nurse.
Taking an Advanced Botulinum Toxin and Dermal Fillers Course (£999 +VAT) will allow you to offer a much greater range of treatments to clients, increasing your earning potential and providing a greater aesthetic nurse salary.
The Level 7 Certificate in Injectables for Aesthetic Medicine is the new benchmark in training for Botulinum Toxin and dermal fillers. This programme takes you through a number of online and face-to-face training modules including a portfolio of observed and practiced treatments on live cosmetic model patients. This qualification provides the optimal level of supervised hands on training and will equipping you with the highest degree of skill and experience compared with other courses. This is the highest possible qualification in injectables for aesthetic medicine and will undoubtedly prove to be a valuable asset in light of the upcoming regulatory changes driven by Health Education England.
For more information about training options, read our article on how to become an aesthetic nurse.
