Programs · For Career Changers
Start your aesthetics careerfrom zero.
A 220-hour Florida-approved program built for adults entering the field in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. Up to eight weeks of real work — for a career you can finally call your own.
Path 01
Work in a medspa.
We help you
with.
Path 02
Open your own business.
Student Experience
See what it's like inside MSI.
If you're here, this is for you.
We've enrolled adults from over a hundred different prior careers. The pattern that matters isn't where you came from — it's where you want to go.
The corporate refugee.
Eight years in a cubicle. The job pays well; the work is meaningless. You want hands, faces, and an obvious connection between effort and outcome.
The returning parent.
Your kids are in school. You used to be ambitious. You'd like to be again — without the 70-hour weeks of your old industry.
The recent high-school graduate.
You don't want four years of debt for a degree you're unsure about. You want a career, a license, and an income in less than a year.
The displaced worker.
The industry you worked in is contracting. The aesthetics industry is growing 12% annually. You're choosing the curve that's going up.
The immigrant building a new life.
You have skills, work ethic, and a long view. You want a credential that's recognized, transferable, and yours forever.
The dreamer-turned-doer.
You've been telling friends "I'd love to work in aesthetics" for years. Now you're reading this page. That's not nothing.
The 220 hours, explained.
Every hour is documented for Florida DBPR licensure. Below is the full breakdown — digital didactics plus hands-on practical hours in school.
CIMA Digital Platform — Didactics: text, test, videos, quizzes…
Florida Laws and Rules
4 hrsSanitation
10 hrsEthics
2 hrsBasics of Electricity
2 hrsFacial Techniques and Contraindications
50 hrsProduct Chemistry
8 hrsHair Removal
5 hrsMakeup
1 hrsSkin Theory, Disease including but not limited to HIV/AIDS, and Disorders of the Skin
67 hrsPractical hours in school — Basic
Facials, manual and mechanical, including masks, packs or treatments which must be performed on a variety of skin types, including normal, oily, dry, combination.
30 hrs5 daysSet up, use, and maintenance of electrical devices
1 hrsHair removal, including tweezing, waxing
10 hrs2 daysMakeup application for both daytime and nighttime looks
10 hrs2 daysLash and brow tinting
2 hrsEyelash application, individual lashes, and semi-permanent lashes
12 hrs2 daysManual extractions
6 hrs1 dayWe do not skip the boring modules. We do not add fluff modules to pad the hour count. Every minute is on the Florida DBPR- approved syllabus.
What a typical week feels like.
A focused weekly rhythm built for full immersion.
Day track
Mon–Sat · Office 9am–6pm
- MSI office
- Monday – Saturday · 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Hands-on
- Tuesday – Friday · 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Hands-on
- Saturday · 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Best for: full-time students, recent graduates, and career changers ready to immerse.
$6,000 all in. Three ways to pay.
Tuition, registration, books, kit. Every dollar disclosed up front. Detailed breakdown lives on the Tuition page.
Pay In Full
$6,000
Pay $6,000 once. Done. No payments, no reminders, nothing to track.
In-House Plan
$1,500 down
Remaining $4,500 on a monthly plan you set with admissions — sized to your budget. 0% interest first 12 months, no credit check.
Affirm Financing
From $98/mo*
Soft credit check, instant decision.
MyCAA, VR&E, and CareerSource Florida benefits accepted — see details on the MSI admissions page.
Where this takes you.
Graduating MSI is the start, not the finish. Here are the most common paths our career-changer alumni take in their first 24 months after licensure.
Path A
Employed esthetician at a Florida med-spa
~54%
First-year income: $48,000 – $62,000
Median first-year W-2 income (varies by city, service mix, commission structure). Typical role: facial specialist at a single-location med-spa or clinic. Some commission, some salary, often hourly + tips.
Path B
Spa or salon esthetician (commission-based)
~24%
First-year income: $38,000 – $58,000
Heavily commission/tip dependent. Typical setting: full-service salon, day spa, hotel spa. More client-volume training, less medical-aesthetic exposure.
Path C
Self-employed / home-based / studio rental
~16%
First-year income: $32,000 – $72,000
High variance, depends on speed of book building. Chair rental in a shared studio, room rental in a salon, or fully home-based (Florida permits home-based esthetics with a county license).
Plus the remaining ~6%: continue to advanced training (laser, injectables prep, additional certifications), join MSI's MyMedSpa MyMedSpa business platform — AI agents that run their front desk, marketing, and storefront — or move into industry roles (product company sales, brand education, training).
220 hrs
Direct-to-license, no state exam
87%
employed within 90 days
2,184
active alumni
100+
Florida med-spas employ MSI grads
All numbers from MSI's 2025 Outcomes Report — available from admissions on request. Methodology, survey population, and source data disclosed in the report. Median Year-1 income figures are illustrative, not a guarantee of income — individual results vary.
Verified Google Review★★★★★
"Dr. Arviv and her entire team truly set the standard in this industry."
"At this stage in my career, I am very intentional about the environments I choose for professional development, and I seek spaces where beauty, health, and wellness are not merely services offered, but values that are consistently upheld. Dr. Arviv and her practice exemplifies that standard."
"From the moment I enrolled in my courses, I felt welcomed and supported. The training placed a strong emphasis on patient care, precision, safety, and overall well-being, all of which were evident throughout the hands-on clinical experience. This program extended far beyond technical instruction, highlighting ethical responsibility, professionalism, and the meaningful impact this work has on patient confidence and long-term health outcomes."
"The opportunity to learn alongside knowledgeable, compassionate, and like-minded professionals reaffirmed my passion for wellness. The support, integrity, and professionalism demonstrated by the entire staff — especially Jess and Anastasia Galperin — were exceptional and truly distinguished this experience."
"I highly recommend Dr. Arviv and her team to anyone seeking excellence, integrity, and genuine care in this rapidly growing field. Her leadership sets a benchmark for the industry — with grace, expertise, and unwavering professionalism."
Who can apply?
We accept applications from anyone meeting the Florida Board of Cosmetology minimums for the Facial Specialist program.
At least 16 years old.
Under-18 requires parent/guardian co-signature on enrollment.
High-school diploma, GED, or college diploma.
Foreign-equivalency accepted.
Government-issued photo ID.
FL driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport.
English language proficiency.
Coursework in English. Spanish tutoring support available.
Physical ability for program requirements.
Standing, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination. ADA accommodations available — talk to the registrar.
6–10 week commitment.
Discussed during your admissions consult call.
Learn from licensed professionals
Every MSI instructor is a Florida-licensed practitioner with an active clinical practice. Meet the MSI faculty →
See our Florida licensing and accreditation for the 220-hour Facial Specialist program, or read the Florida esthetician career guide for the full role breakdown.
Questions, answered honestly.
One application. One conversation. Then a real decision.
Nine minutes to apply. One business day to hear back. No fee. No pressure.